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:

Quote from Kwijybow on May 12^th, 2009, 11:02am:

 
From what I understood, I had thought it to be a problem with only the 406s.  Then it happened to me on my 451, so after that I was done with stelvios.  I'm trying out the ultremos now.

I think I'm off schwalbe as well, I may try some panaracers next time around.  I'll see how long I can stand the Metro K's on the Strada.  Haven't exactly warmed up to them yet.  The only person I know who had the Vittoria Randonneurs liked them alot (Dennis Cook).
 
Take Care,
Nelson.

Quote from Kwijybow on May 12^th, 2009, 2:09pm:

 
I had a new Panaracer Stradius Pro blow out on me during my final lap of the 12hr Tejas TT:  It is hanging on my wall as a reminder to never buy that brand again.
 
Bryan
 

Quote from Killer Bee on May 12^th, 2009, 2:45pm:

The only lady riding a Strada I know should have tires outlast mine by at least 2-3x so that might not be the best endorsement
 
Oh well I ordered a pair of vittorias and I'll keep a kojak in my bag as a spare. I can use the same tubes. They are a little heavier and larger so maybe a higher carrying capacity and they have a reflective sidewall which we all know I need. Reflective Rim: Check, Reflective Spokes: Check, Reflective Tires: Check!  Hm all I need is a reflective valve cover  
Hey look they just sqeek under 500
Size: 40-406 | 20x1,50 reflective
Colour: Black
Weight: 440
Psi: 45/95
Not much of a sidewall though  

 
I'll go easy on them for a few weeks before I push them and even if they are a tad slower that'll be ok I just hope they are at least as good as the kojaks have been with flats.
 
Quote from Kwijybow on May 12^th, 2009, 3:18pm:

The failures I've had aren't enough by themselves for a single event to put a tireout but repeated ones are a sign that maybe the tire wasn't designed with me or my bike in mind, no matter how much I think I like them.
Vredstiens perfect Moire tires are one I'll never do again at least on a recumbent and I thought those were great. The bead failed at <1000 miles on multiple tires the exact same way each time and supposidly they were from different batches/years. They sure rolled nice, kept flats off and were pretty.
Now I've had at least two kojaks fail the exact same way, a marathon plus blow out the center and two slowly bulge then blowout the sidewall similar to the kojaks but they actually had a real sidewall not a paper thin sidewall.
 
 

The Vredstien tires were on the Giro on two different rims. I had read on BROL about multiple people having the same exact issue. They were originally designed for cruiser type bikes that probably would be ridden a few miles at a time a few times a year, or ever, so yeah maybe it was the whole use part.
 
The only tires I've had on the Hurricane are the schwalbe kojaks. It came with some mismatched worn out tires which I rode once just to ride the bike but I already had the kojaks in hand.

Hole? I guess my comment was misinterpreted because I meant it to be complimentary.  
 
Or maybe I shoudl say what trouble did you get into that your are trying to deflect on me eh?  

Quote from aikigreg on May 12^th, 2009, 12:35pm:

 
I recently installed Ultremos on my Corsa. I first tried them at 145 psi - too rough a ride. I'm running them at 100 psi now, and have not noticed any decrease in speed when riding on the mix of road surfaces on pay rides. What pressures have you tried and what have been your experiences with regards to their effect on speed and ride quality, so far?
 
Jay G.

Quote from evblazer on May 11^th, 2009, 9:50pm:

 
I always run mine at 100

That's interesting that they found your post!  hmm.

Quote from evblazer on May 14^th, 2009, 6:45pm:

 
Thats about the stupidest thing I've heard from a manufacturer yet. I've done maybe 5,000 miles on 2 sets of Kojaks and haven't had the problems you have, bad batch of tires?
 
You might also try the Schwalbe Durano, supposedly a long lasting fast tire

Day two with the Vittoria Rando tires. Wheel spins fine by hand and no brake rub front or rear but it feels like I am riding with seized brakes or something. Maybe it'll make me stronger and get a better workout right?
They did feel a little better today then yesterday. Last night when I was riding home it felt like I had to pedal to maintain speed downhill and I had a slight tailwind. They still won't takeoff downhill as I can't even hit 30 on a pretty steep downhill without pedaling hard where before I could coast that fast by the time I hit the bottom.