Specialized Roubaix Armadillo Elite

Price Paid:  $55.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
Any rode with new pavement

Bike Setup:
Felt F55 (63 cm), Krysium Elites, Selle SMP Plus Saddle

Summary:
If you would rather spend time riding then fixing flats then you need to consider this tire. Yes, it looks big, yes it is a little slower and doesn't roll as well as your cool race tires, but they WILL NOT Flat. I would especially recommend this tire to any rider over 200 lbs. Big guys, and really big guys, believe me, this is the only tire you need. I am 6'6" and my summertime riding weight is about 260 and I have destroyed more Michelins, Vittoras, annd Contis than most of the little guys can ever dream of. I have used these exclusively for over a year now, and after close to 2000 miles I have not have a flat. And this is riding on the same roads that I could not go 100 miles without flatting other tires. Highly recommended for big guys, and also recommended for those of you who are past the wannabe-racer- gotta-look-cool-like-a-racer mode, and just want to ride without fixing a flats. The only major downside is that big riders will square off the back rather quickly. But by rotating them, you should be able to get more than 1000 trouble-free miles out of a pair (much more if you are a little guy). Don't get me wrong, I like to push myself and try to go fast, and I love the road feel of some of the racier tires, but they just do not offer the protection of these tires for a big rider like me.

Strengths:
Flat Protection--Nothing even comes close
Flat Protection--Armadillos rule!
Did I mention Flat Protection?

Weaknesses:
Will wear out quick under big riders
A little pricey
Limited distibution (Since they have the "Specialized" name on them, the only place you tend to find them are Specialized dealers and the Specialized web site)

Similar Products Used:
Michelin Lithion, Michelin Krylion, Continental Gatorskins, you name, I have tried it and destroyed it

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Personally, I hate these tires. While it may be true that you increase your puncture protection with these tires, you do so at the expense of increasing your chances of a compression flat. These tires need a lot of air. They are bulky and feel like you are on a touring bike. I bought these specifically for riding downtown to avoid puncture flats, but overall my "flat-tire rate" is no different than when i had Michelin pro 3 racing tires on my bike.

Overall, i guess these tires ARE designed to do what they do, but you may find you are unnecessarily compromising on other aspects of your ride by using them.

Strengths:
puncture protection
sticky - for wet conditions

Weaknesses:
VERY difficult to get on rims.
Slow and bulky

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Bicycle Village

Favorite Ride:
Lookout Mt from downtown Denver

Bike Setup:
Felt F45R W/ Ultegra and DA

Summary:
No more flats, easy to get on my Mavic Cosmos wheels and hold a line well

Strengths:
The ride is smooth and I have yet to get a flat. Before I was running Michelin Open Pros and got flats often. I have money and time by not having to change flats (so far ;).

Weaknesses:
These bad boys are wide. The tire lists as 23 but it looks larger than a 25. The first time I saw them on my Felt R45 it looked a commuter bike. But after 100 or so miles I grown accustomed to the look. I run 115 psi and seem to bounce a little on broken pavement, so I am still looking for the correct PSI for each ride.

Similar Products Used:
Open Pro2 and 3
Kenda Kaliente (good value)

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
16 S from Kerrville to Medina

Summary:
Awesome, awesome tire. Rides as fast as the 23c tires I have used, but very plush ride. Excellent durability and puncture resistance. Takes the sting out of poorly paved roads, common to the Texas hill country. Not particularly heavy considering high volume and tough shell.

Strengths:
Excellent puncture resistance. Fast, plush ride.

Weaknesses:
Extremely hard to get onto the rim. Use lots of talc.