OK, I've got a newbie question. I've done some research and think I'm pretty up to speed on different types of frames, as well as different component groups. However, one critical area that I feel ignorant about is wheels and tires. What are the things to look for in the wheels, when I'm looking at bikes? Is there some hierarchy of quality levels that I can use as a shortcut, like there is with component groups? What trades (if any) are there between performance, comfort, and durability?
Any thoughts, advice, or pointers to websites with info on wheels and tires would be much appreciated.