Touring Bike Tire Test: Panaracer Pasela PT (ProTite)
Contents and Test Summary
- Introduction
- Manufacturer Specifications
- Size, Weight, Thickness
- Rolling Resistance: 20.6 Watts
- Puncture Resistance: 76 Points
- Static Wet Grip: 63 Points
- Conclusion: 3.5 / 5 Recommended
- Comments
- Panaracer Pasela PT (ProTite)
(100% is best)
The Panaracer Pasela is a touring bike tire that has been around for as long as we can remember. The Pasela is popular as a "supple tire" tire with the added benefit of good worldwide availability and decent pricing. Although we don't test "suppleness" in our lab, we're very curious about how the Pasela compares to the competition in our tests.
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This is a test of the folding version of the Pasela PT (ProTite) in the 38-622 (700x38c) size which happens to be the most "high-end" version of this tire. The PT or ProTite part of the name indicates an extra layer of Panaracer ProTite anti-puncture material has been applied under the tread section of the tire. The casing is made of "400D Light Extra Cord" fabric that gives this tire the suppleness and responsiveness it's known for.
The Pasela PT is available in a very large range of sizes that range from 23-622 up to 42-584 (see table below for all sizes). All sizes are available in folding bead and also wire bead versions. Besides the obvious higher weight of the wire bead versions, we're not sure what else is different between the folding and wire bead versions but our experience with other tires has been that the wire bead tires are made to a lower quality.
Manufacturer Specifications
| Manufacturer Specs | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Panaracer |
| Model | Pasela PT (ProTite) |
| Year | 2021 |
| Supplied By | Bought in store |
| New or Used | New |
| Mileage | 0 km |
| Price Range | High |
| Buy At | Ad Amazon.com |
| Manufacturer part number | RF738-LX-18PT2 |
| TPI | - |
| Compound | - |
| Bead | Folding |
| ETRTO | 38-622 |
| Size Inch | 28" |
| Width mm | 38.00 |
| Specified Weight | 420 grams |
| Max Air Pressure (psi) | 90 |
| Made In | Members Only |
| Available Sizes |
23-622 (700x23c) 25-622 (700x25c) 28-622 (700x28c) 32-622 (700x32c) 35-622 (700x35c) 38-622 (700x38c) 25-630 (27x1) 28-630 (27x1-1/8) 32-630 (27x1-1/4) 32-559 (26x1.25) 37-559 (26x1.50) 42-559 (26x1.75) 42-584 (650bx42) |
Panaracer Pasela PT (ProTite) Test Results
Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
| Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements | |
|---|---|
| Specified Weight | 420 grams |
| Measured Weight | 408 grams |
| Measured Width | 35 mm (un-round) |
| Measured Height | 34 mm (un-round) |
| Tread Depth | 1.4 mm |
| Total Tire Thickness Center | 3.6 mm |
| Total Tire Thickness Sidewall | Members Only |
| All size measurements are taken at an air pressure of 60 psi / 4 bars on a 17.8 mm inner width rim. | |
Rolling Resistance Test Results
| Rolling Resistance Test Results | |
|---|---|
| Inner Tube | Conti Tour 28 (170 gr butyl) |
| Rolling Resistance 75 PSI / 5 Bar |
18.9 Watts CRR: 0.00567 |
| Rolling Resistance 60 PSI / 4 Bar |
20.6 Watts CRR: 0.00618 |
| Rolling Resistance 45 PSI / 3 Bar |
Members Only |
| Rolling Resistance 30 PSI / 2 Bar |
Members Only |
| All numbers are for a single tire at a speed of 29 km/h / 18 mph and a load of 42.5 kg / 94 lbs. Use the formula: RR (Watts) = CRR * speed (m/s) * load (N) to calculate rolling resistance at a given speed and load. |
|
Puncture Resistance Test Results
| Puncture Resistance Test Results (higher is better) | |
|---|---|
| Total Puncture Score Tread | 76 Points |
| Total Puncture Score Sidewall | Members Only |
| Tread Puncture Force Sharp Needle | Members Only |
| Tread Puncture Force Blunt Needle | Members Only |
| Tread Total Tire Thickness | 3.6 mm |
| Sidewall Puncture Force Sharp Needle | Members Only |
| Sidewall Puncture Force Blunt Needle | Members Only |
| Sidewall Total Tire Thickness | Members Only |
Static Grip Test Results
| Static Grip Test Results | |
|---|---|
| Wet Grip Average | 63 Points |
| Wet Grip Center | Members Only |
| Wet Grip Edge | Members Only |
| Grip in points = coefficient of friction * 100 Tour/E-Bike grip test rim width = 23.0 mm |
|
Conclusion
- Panaracer Pasela PT (ProTite)
(100% is fastest - lightest - thickest - strongest)
The Panaracer Pasela PT is a decent performer in our tests. Rolling resistance is average at higher air pressures but gets stronger at lower air pressures which is good for a supple tire where comfort is important. Puncture resistance of the tread is also decent although the tread thickness isn't very spectacular for a touring bike tire; a price you pay for a supple tire.
We did find that the sidewalls are extremely weak on this tire. The "400D Light Extra Cord" is the weakest casing material we've seen yet. We even experienced our sharp needle penetrating the sidewall with just the bare weight of the needle + support mechanism, which is something we haven't seen on any other tire yet. It's probably another price you pay for the suppleness of the tire.
Performance is ok, but we only recommend this tire if you're into supple tires. If you're not, get something else.
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RATING:
3.5
/ 5
TEST VERDICT:
Recommended