Wow reading this thread makes me realize how limited we are on brands on Maui. Thank goodness for Ebay. I didn't realize how expensive tires are, in comparison to how cheap the tubes are. It is kind of strange because they are both rubber and essential to riding. Anyhow my Specialized Ruby Elite Triple came with Specialized All Condition tires, but after only 200 miles they were hamburger. I soon learned from the LBS I bought them from that usually the stock tires that come with a bike are crap.

I wish I paid more attention to what tires came with the bike because I had to dish out about $100 for tires and tubes already. Now I have Michelin Lithion and am gonna give them a try. Here in Hawaii they are $15.00 a piece (and tubes are $5). I don't care about speed, I just want puncture resistant for now. It sure is a b*tch to put on road tires like putting a condom on a watermelon. At the very end when I can't push the last 6" of tire over the rim, I use the tire levers very carefully like a shoe horn to lift the tire over the rim. But you have to be careful not to pinch the tube against the rim!!!