john hawrylak

I mounted a pair of 27x1 1/4" Aramid Bead (folding) Pasela TourGuards on Araya 27" x 1 1/4 rims approx 24 mm wide (outside to outside). The tires measured 28 mm when infalted to 80psig and 100psig. Here are 3 additional facts
Tires are marked 27x1 1/4 and 630 x 32 on sidewall
Box tires came in was maked same as sidewalls
Tires were bought at Nashbar on clearnace ($14 each) back in 2003 and only mounted in 2010.

Here is 2 observations
The actual tire width is approxiamately a 1 1/8" (28 mm) verssu a 1 1/4" (32 mm)
The rim appears wide enough and is stamped 27x1 1/4

Questions
1. Did Panaracer grossly undersize tires back in 2003.
2. Does Panaracer still undersize tires
3. It is possible they stamped a run of tires incorrectly, stamped as 32 mm but actually 28 mm.

The truth is out there somewhere

jgedwa

Haven't we figured out a long time ago that stated tire widths are pretty unreliable?

jim

tashi

I seem to remember a thread that hashed out the actual widths of Paselas once mounted. No idea what it's title was though. A quick search might find it. (but probably won't)



Dang I'm helpful sometimes.

jimmuller 

IIRC, it has been stated in BF that most tires are rated wider than actual and that Paselas are more accurate than most. I measured a set of 28mm (1-1/8") Paselas a year ago and they came out pretty much dead on.

mickey85

Does it matter?

southpawboston

I have the wire-bead version of the Pasela TGs in 27 x 1-1/4 and they measure an honest 32mm fully inflated (~80-90lbs). They are on 1-1/4" wide rims.

cudak888 

Oh, the HORROR.

Panaracer - of all companies - is lying about 3 millimeters. The shame.

-Kurt

USAZorro

Does that number represent the width of the tire, or the height of the tire above the bead seat?

Road Fan

USA, if it's printed on the side of the tire it should be width.

Henry III

I've got Pasela's on my Bianchi Nyala and their legit and measure out correctly.

surreal

like most others, i've experienced tire size discrepancy.

If the tire is thinner than advertised, you've lucked out, b/c at least it'll clear your frame/fenders. Just try the next size up when those wear out.

Running 28mm tires never hurt anybody on a road-going bicycle. Just keep em inflated

-rob

auchencrow

Any time they try to sell you something described in millimeters or centimeters, you can be sure it's a trick.

If they stick with sensible, honest inches, then you can trust them.

Grand Bois

In my experience, Paselas run larger than other brands with the same size markings.

rhm

Yes. I have a tire somewhere that has the size "622 x 28" molded into the side, and a silkscreened label that says "630 x 28" applied to the sidewall. Mistakes happen. As for the other possibilities you list, I wouldn't rule them out. As for the myriad possibilities you didn't list, I wouldn't rule them out either.

wrk101

Yep, been discussed many times here.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ran-narrow-but...

+1 The good news at least they are narrower than advertised. Wider than advertised could be a problem, depending on clearances.

bobbycorno

Only if you care about silly things like ride quality.

SP
Bend, OR

bobbycorno

To look at it another way, that's 10% smaller than the nominal size of the tire, and 21% less volume. If you're buying wider tires for better ride quality, yes, it matters.

SP
Bend, OR

bobbycorno

At least the old Paselas were only 10% under the nominal width. I had a pair of "700x32c" Continental Top Tourings that measured 26mm - narrower than my "700x25c" Michelin Axial Pros (which measured 27+). But then Conti's always been pretty "creative" with tire widths.

SP
Bend, OR

ColonelJLloyd 

+1 This thread is silly. They're tires; not calipers. There are literally hundreds of rims available. Tires measure differently on different rims at different air pressures. There are too many variables at play to expect a printed tire size to measure exactly that on YOUR rim.

noglider 

Neither, actually. They're supposed to get this number by flattening the tire out, measuring linear distance between the beads, and dividing by 2.5. Then you're supposed to assume that this will be width.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

Same here although I've only ever used new Paselas produced in the last 3 years.

regardless, if you're gonna expect accuracy down to the mm you'd better take the rim width into consideration. The same tire will measure at different widths depending on the rim width.

john hawrylak

The 28 mm dimension is the width of the tire mounted on the rim. It is not the tire height.

john hawrylak

Thank you to everyone who contributed. I concluded the tires were most likely stamped incorrectly and are really 27x1 1/8. However, they do ride very nice.

I was concerned since I am buying new Pasela's for another bike with 27" wheels and wanted to be sure Panaracer is not overstating the width at the current time.

bobbycorno

Well, if that ain't the most cockeyed thing I ever heard... And it still doesn't explain the variation in actual size of tires of the same nominal size from different mfrs.

SP
Bend, OR

mickey85

Having 32c and 28c Paselas (and other tires - they're my two primary sizes) on a variety of bikes, I can tell you that, give all things equal, if 3-4mm of tire difference makes THAT much of a difference to your butt, you must have princess and the pea syndrome. Especially if we're talking 80-100psi. I mean, really? Now, 32-38, I can see that. 23-32? sure. But 28-32? I certainly can't tell much of a difference.