Well I have one spare left that I'll keep on the bike but am I the only one with constant sidewall failures and it is just based on overloading the tires or just bad luck? I've had the same problem with vredstien, 2 different schwalbes and primos since I've been riding bent in TX.  
I haven't used levers on the tires so it isn't that. They were at 85 or 95psi max so I wasn't pumping them up too hard.  
Other then the sidewalls giving out they have been great tires and they do last 3500+ miles before it happens..

Schwalbe Kojaks 406x1.35

What pressure do you run them at.  In my experience I have fewer flats but more sidewall failures with higher pressures,  rocks and such tend cut abrade the sidewalls instead of causing punctures, and the high pressure just plain wears the tires out structurally.  I haven't found that high priced tires last any better or are any more free of defects, you just get better rolling resistance usually.  If you got over 3000 miles out of a rear tire you beating my average!  The other sidewall failure issue can occur quickly if anything (mud, dirt, or the brake pad itself) at all rubs the tire and causes a week spot near the bead.  It doesn't have to happen long or cause an immediate failure, but it will cause it fail early at some point.
 
Take care,
Nelson.
 

Well I recently had a Stelvio succumb to a manufacturing defect after 2000 miles.  I kinda knew it had funny spot but chose to ignore it until it just exploded.  Mine was almost in the center of the tire.  I think I stress mine by riding every day as well.  I pump my tires up to the max several times per week.  I think the tire manufacturers generally get away with crappy quality control because so few people actually ride their bikes enough to wear out a set of tires or expose the problems.
 
Most likely the best manufactured tires I've ever had are the ones from Grand Bois.  But they generally don't come in recumbent friendly sizes.
Almost every other brand has given me some kinda premature failure of some kind.  For me Continentals and Michelin brands have maybe come in a distant second.  The Vittorias I got from Steve seem to be doing pretty well so far.  Pretty awful luck with Specialized and Kendas, and now I'm no longer so keen on Scwalbe either.
 
I bought some cheapie Metro K's from Performance (I figured they are cheap so if they fail early I not out much money), and although they seem pretty well made, and so far so good flat wise, they are quite a bit slower than the Stelvios they replaced.  I think Panaracer makes the performance tires, and my panaracer Col de la Vie's have been really good tires also, if a bit sluggish.
 
Take care,
Nelson.
 
 
 
 
Take Care,
Nelson.

One reason I don't want a bag too big!  Man I think 7 Pounds of redundant spares might be a little too much!  
 
I think you just need to buy a folding bike and slip it in there and be done with it!
 
Anyway, if you ever discover a tire that combines great mileage, rolls well, is light, is cheap, and puncture resistant please let us know. I'm pretty sure it doesn't exist!  Have you ever tried those Maxxis hookworks on one of your 20" wheelsets?  I had them on a RANS Vivo I owned for awhile, those things were well nigh industructable. I think they weighed as much as a heavy duty 26" tire, like an inch of rubber between the air and the road!  Maybe you want something like that for your commute, you don't seem to be to be squeamish about a few extra grams!  
 
Take Care,
Nelson.
 
 
 

Well I am squemish about grams on the wheels. The kojaks were 230 g a piece which was pretty good. The marathon plus that are on my xtracycle are 980 g a piece (580 in hurricane size)
 
The kojaks were pretty good. I had no flats on that rear tire, they rolled well and they were pretty light. $34 is pretty mid priced for tires I've looked at but the sidewall failures kinda ruin it. I took another look and the rear brakes have a few mm before the tire. Maybe I scrubbed it against something because that sidewall is paper thin compared to the tread portion.
Take the positives with a huge grain of salt considering the source (schwalbe) but it seems they think the sidewall is a weak point.

It's not a case defect.  This is a known issue with stelvios.  It's what caused my nasty road rash last year on the tica.  If I'd known you had stelvios I'da warned ya.  I'm sorry!
 
Quote from Kwijybow on May 12^th, 2009, 9:48am: