They're smooth and don't have any grippy tread, but I love my Armadillos. They are skinny tires, but they are bombproof. I've had them on the bike a year and a half and haven't had a flat yet (and I get flats fairly often on my other skinny road bike tires). And trust me, I ride through all kinds of stuff. The gravely stuff on the shoulder, the salt grime stuff in the winter, and even on gravel roads. I think I paid $25-30 each.



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! Also be forewarned: Both the Armadillo and the Gatorskin, though tough, are also extremely difficult to take on and off unless you have fingers of steel (or work in a bike shop
). I recommend either tire, and if you're planning on commuting in the dark, I encourage you to consider getting one with the reflective material on the side. I think it's very eye-catching for most drivers seeing you in the dark.
