I also just replace the tubes. I hate flats. Plus, I can NEVER find the darn hole even with inflating it & dunking it in water. Grrr...

Tires - I swear by Continental 4 seasons. A bit pricey, but I love that they have a bit of tread (great for that fine layer of sand that you don't see & scream through) and they really seem to hold up well. My LBS said they're the last "real rubber" tire - whatever that means. I just know that they hold up well with the AZ nasties that AZFiddle illuminated on. Oh - and don't forget jumping cactus pods in the bike lane. Must be the season for jumping cactus to shed or something