Panaracer Tires
#1
Some Weirdo
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I'm building up a red Maruishi frame I recently acquired and wanted some opinions on which tires I should get. I'm stuck between the Pasela ProTites in 25 (250g) and the GravelKings in 26 (240g). They are identical in price. I will be riding mostly on well maintained (and freshly repaved!) bike paths, but I am doing a tour in June. Which would you choose? I am open to other suggestions under $40, no wider than 26mm (the frame doesn't have any more clearance), and tanwall/gumwall/skinwall. The bike will have yellow Benotto tape and a black saddle. The bike in the picture is not mine.
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Last edited by Ferrouscious; 02-22-19 at 09:11 AM.
#2
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Paselas, but I ride on the paved road.
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I'm very happy with my Pasela PTs. I have them on 3 vintage bikes. My other go to tire is Continental Gatorskin. The Paselas seem just as durable, 2 flats in almost 3000 miles. I do mostly paved normal roads and bike paths, with probably 100 miles of dirt and gravel fire roads, including Eroica. With durability of the Gatorskins, but a nicer ride and the classic skinwall look, I'm happy with them. I do have 28s on these bikes, which run a little small when mounted. I measure them at between 26.5 and 26.7mm, mounted and inflated, two sets on Mavic MA40s, and one set on Sun CR18 rims.
Paselas on my Peugeot.
My Raleigh with Paselas.
...and with Gatorskin 25s for comparison.
Paselas on my Peugeot.
My Raleigh with Paselas.
...and with Gatorskin 25s for comparison.
Last edited by Slightspeed; 02-22-19 at 10:43 AM.
#5
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I don't have any experience with the GravelKing line, but I much prefer the tread pattern over Paselas. Those "sipes" in the Pasela tread don't have any functional benefit that I know of, and they can allow small pointy things to puncture the tire easier. Eventually, they act as a "stress riser" allowing the fabric to flex more and develop weaknesses in those spots.
It's a shame because I otherwise think Paselas are a great value and ride really well.
It's a shame because I otherwise think Paselas are a great value and ride really well.
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The clear choice to me is the Gravelking.
I've ridden both the Pasela and Gravelking in various sizes and the Gravelking is the clear winner. The sidewalls are slightly more supple, the tread more appropriate for paved riding (despite the name), and the weight is slightly less. As far as I can tell they both offer really good puncture protection. The ride feel of the Gravelking has been noticeably better for me.
I would guess many on the C&V forum haven't tried the GK yet because it is a newer product. But definitely worth it.
I've ridden both the Pasela and Gravelking in various sizes and the Gravelking is the clear winner. The sidewalls are slightly more supple, the tread more appropriate for paved riding (despite the name), and the weight is slightly less. As far as I can tell they both offer really good puncture protection. The ride feel of the Gravelking has been noticeably better for me.
I would guess many on the C&V forum haven't tried the GK yet because it is a newer product. But definitely worth it.
#7
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I have only limited riding experience with the PT, none with the GK, but looking at slightly wider, slightly lighter, and a better tread pattern - I'd bite on the GKs.
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I currently ride both. I can't think of a problem I've ever had with the Paselas, while sadly I have sliced open a Gravelking descending a rocky hill during the first 5 miles of Eroica California. I chalk it up to bad luck and so-so skills, but I also think the Gravelkings are a little more supple, a little softer. If you're not charging harder than conditions permit like I was, you'll be fine with either. In the end I've used a strip of tyvek and rubber cement and still run the Gravelking tire with that 3/4" slice, problem free since that once incident. The other 6 Pasela tires on my bikes... yeah, I can't remember when I've had a flat. I probably need to ride more!
#11
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I prefer the Gravel Kings. Have them in size 32 (actual size 30mm) and size 26 (actual size 28) and like both of them. Rode Pasela 32's at Eroica last year (actual size 30mm) and had a flat at about mile 65...and that was not my first expriencek with flatting Paselas, even with the tourguard option.
Used the gravel type GK's at Cino several years ago and sliced a sidewall at about mile 15, but it made it thru the rest of the weekend on very rough gravel, so there's that.
Cosmetically, I prefer the tan sidewall of a Pasela (or Vittoria Corsa), as the GK sidealls really are brown-ish. Just be aware that the sizes are not consistent.
Used the gravel type GK's at Cino several years ago and sliced a sidewall at about mile 15, but it made it thru the rest of the weekend on very rough gravel, so there's that.
Cosmetically, I prefer the tan sidewall of a Pasela (or Vittoria Corsa), as the GK sidealls really are brown-ish. Just be aware that the sizes are not consistent.
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#12
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Another vote cast for GKs! I haven't tried the 26 yet but I've got three in other sizes and love them. Maybe not quite as flat-proof as a PT but the only flats I've gotten on my 32s after a year of commutes and club rides are snakebites caused from playing around with air pressure. I've also never, not once, gotten a flat from a PT and I've had several of those, so the comparison really comes down to ride quality. GKs are more supple, feel faster, and really glide over everything. The file tread also looks much classier, in my opinion.
#13
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I've never tried the Gravel Kings, but people I've talked to like them. I just mounted a new set of Pasela 28s on my Legnano on a new set of wider CR18 rims. It spreads out the tire a little and rides really nice. I'm around 200 lbs. and like a hard tire, so I usually run around 100 psi (105 max printed on the sidewall). Two of the 3 flats I've had were pinch flats, due to the flexible sidewalls even with 100 psi. Or maybe just bad luck. I haven't noticed the tread picking up any extra road debris. Here's the Legnano:
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#14
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Both good tires IMO. There are many reports of the Gravel Kings being a bear to mount on certain rims. I have 32 mm Gravel Kings on my Poprad and they are equally at home on gravel, dirt or pavement. I’ve had many sets of Pasela Tourgaurds and have never had a flat on one, other than a side-wall blowout in an all black one. The Paselas were easier to mount in my experience. Looks like a great build, enjoy!
#15
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It appears the GK is strictly a 700c tire, correct? Whereas the Pasela is available in 700c, 27” and 26. I think a GK in something like a 26 x 1.9” would be pretty sweet.
#16
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The GravelKing is available in 650b as well as 700c. How wide does the GK in 26mm inflate to on 14mm inner and 19mm outer width rims? Clearance width-wise is tight. As far as mounting is concerned, I don't think I'll have any issues. I'll be running Weinmann LP18's with Veloplugs. Paselas have been easy to mount, even with Velox.
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Hopefully someone else can speak to effective size on the 26mm GKs, I'm curious too.
All three GK sets I've mounted absolutely required a KoolStop tire jack to mount the first time. They're real tight, which I suppose is a good thing if you were to run them tubeless.
All three GK sets I've mounted absolutely required a KoolStop tire jack to mount the first time. They're real tight, which I suppose is a good thing if you were to run them tubeless.
#18
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I ride mostly on the road but see nothing wrong with the Pasela. I’d the Protite a renaming of the TourGuard?
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#19
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I think it is yet ANOTHER renaming of the Tour Guard/Protection Technology/Kevlar/Aramid belted tire...
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#20
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Yes, that seems to be the case. Rather curiously though, Panaracer's website still has them listed as separate models. Also, I just tried a set of Specialized Roubaix Pro tires I had sitting around to check clearance. They're labelled and marketed as "25/28" tires, meaning they have the width of a 25c tire (runs true to size, tested on the Weinmann rims) and the height of a 28c tire. I had 2.5mm of clearance per side at the chainstays and plenty everywhere else. I tested with 2 US pennies, which is equal to 2.5mm.
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#21
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I've never tried the Gravel Kings, but people I've talked to like them. I just mounted a new set of Pasela 28s on my Legnano on a new set of wider CR18 rims. It spreads out the tire a little and rides really nice. I'm around 200 lbs. and like a hard tire, so I usually run around 100 psi (105 max printed on the sidewall). Two of the 3 flats I've had were pinch flats, due to the flexible sidewalls even with 100 psi. Or maybe just bad luck. I haven't noticed the tread picking up any extra road debris. Here's the Legnano:
#22
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I just bought a set of 700x35s PTs for $15/each on Amazon. They're going on a cheap steel tourer I'm building.
#23
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1300 mostly-paved miles on a set of 650b x 38 Gravel Kings - no flats - file tread is starting to get faint in the middle of the rear tire.
I have a set of PTs in 27 x 1.25 size that I have ridden only a short distance - seem ok.
With such a narrow tire (25 - 26 mm) at relatively high pressure (80 psi +?) you may not notice a difference in ride quality.
I have a set of PTs in 27 x 1.25 size that I have ridden only a short distance - seem ok.
With such a narrow tire (25 - 26 mm) at relatively high pressure (80 psi +?) you may not notice a difference in ride quality.
#24
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I choose wider.
Wider than 26.
Wider than 26.
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#25
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Me too. I start at 28 and go up from there; as big as my frame/fender clearances will allow.
I'm a Pasela guy through and through, but from many miles of experience, I think they are a tad fragile in the narrower sizes. Although the Tour Guard and ProTite versions I've ridden have never flatted on me, so that's a plus.
I'm a Pasela guy through and through, but from many miles of experience, I think they are a tad fragile in the narrower sizes. Although the Tour Guard and ProTite versions I've ridden have never flatted on me, so that's a plus.
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