chas58

Wow, that chart is wonderful! Thanks!

I like that the clement LAS 33 is actually 36mm. I tried one on my bike, and it was huge (did not fit).

I tried some 32mm gatorskins and 32mm 4 seasons. Gatorskins fit fine, 4 seasons not even close to fitting – they are much bigger


I tried some Michelin pro4 25 (SC) and 28mm (E) and was shocked to find they were the same size. I even laid them out flat, and they are the same width. The 28mm has wider tread for a larger contact patch and presumably a different shape, but they are both the same height when inflated. The handy chart shows the 25mm tire at 27.8. It is big! But the 28mm is the same size.

Thanks for the good recommendations. I like them, and may end up with the GP4000s. That may be one of the biggest tires that fits short reach calipers. I wonder about the smooth Panaracer gravel king – could be even better than the pasela. I do have the 30mm Kenda Kwick. Not sure about the durability as a rear tire, but they are surprisingly good on hard dirt and cement (if you don’t lean it over hard on the pavement).

I appreciate the input! (I have lots of rims, mostly 19mm wide on the outside, some a bit wider)

veloz

Just checked. My T-Serv 28's measure a full 28mm on Velocity A23 rims. Also have a set of Pasela TG 32's, mounted on 25mm (O.D.) rims, they measure 33.5mm wide so a little fat. Both tire sets are 1-2 years old. The T-Serv used to be sold as a lighter weight but slightly tougher urban tire - the difference was in the belt, sidewalls and the rubber. I think they changed Pasela TG's suffix to PT a year or so ago. Both tires belts are now listed as the same but still different rubber between them. They're both fine tires and I doubt I could tell the difference in ride.

bigbenaugust 

I will add the Panaracer Tour to the Pasela TG and the T-Serv. I have used all three in various sizes.

My not-as-regular commuter has Vittoria Randonneur Pro City's with reflective sidewalls, but they run narrow (for 32's) and have less tread than the Panaracers.

I miss the Avocet Cross II-K's a lot. They were a favorite too and are long gone now.

jeffpoulin

On my road bike, I recently replaced my 700x28 GP 4 seasons with 700x32 marathon supremes. I like the change. The GP 4 Seasons are 100g lighter and a little faster. The supremes are more comfortable and longer lasting. Although I've never had a flat with either tire, I've never felt comfortable riding on my GP 4 Seasons without a pump and patch kit. With the supremes, I often ride without flat repair tools even on rough stuff and, honestly, I don't worry about it. These are my 4th set of 700x32 supremes (I have them on my other bikes too) and I just feel very confident with them.

HardyWeinberg

I tried to go to GPs from marathon supremes but they are not ready for the roads I have, so back to supremes it has been. Had 3 GPs fail on me during one summer. There is no ride improvement from GPs that is not more than cancelled out by 'will I get there' anxiety.

browngw 

Just recently put Panaracer Pasela PT (protection technology) 32-630 (27") on my all rounder Supercycle Excalibur. It was like getting a new bike! The previous Kendas were recent but flat prone in crushed limestone. I like a with a solid feel yet lively. I have Schwalbe Marathons on two bikes (Raleigh 3sp and Giant folder) and they are tough, but a little heavy and hard.

jorglueke

I ride on Bontrager Race Lite Hardcase tires. Mine are 28 but they come in 32. No flats, they pick up the glass and other star debris and keep going. Before I used these I would go 300-900 miles before a flat due to a tire getting shredded by the urban road debris.

canklecat

What do you think about the T-Serv compared with the Pasela? I'm considering those for a rigid fork bike. All I have now are most-terrain tires with more tread than I really need for mostly paved roads. I'd like something that doesn't feel harsh, can run at somewhat lower pressure without pinch flats, but also narrow enough to fit my SKS fenders -- needs to be 700x35 or narrower, the 700x38's I have now are too wide.

idiotekniQues

Another vote for Panaracer T-SERV PT. I have them in 28's but you should be able ot get them in 32. Favorite tires.

bigbenaugust 

I rode the T-Servs on a different bike (26x1.75), so proper science is impossible. I have used Pasela TGs and Tours on the same bike (700x32), and I think the Tours wear better, but the tread pattern is more-or-less the same between all three.

JanMM

I'm running 26x 1.25/32mm T-Serv on one of my bikes and really like them so far. About 100gm lighter than the forte tires they replaced - these are folding tires and they measure an actual 28mm mounted on velocity aero heat rims.

Darth Lefty 

The T-serv PT...
has "ZSG Natural Compound"
is available in 700x25-35C, 26x1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 27.5x1.75 aka 650Bx42
is available in black, red or blue tread, but only black wall
is available with folding bead only

The Pasela PT...
has unlisted compound
is available in a few more sizes (700x23-38C, 27x 1, 1 1/8, 1 1/4)
is available in all-black or gumwall, but no colors
is available with folding or wire bead

Both have...
"400D Lite Extra Cord" casing and "PT Belt" armor

fietsbob

How fast can you fix a flat tire?

wsgts

+1

osco53

Bontrager H-5's Very Tuff....

They wear like Iron.

700 X 32C's on my bike..

chas58

Good call. Thanks again! So, I went and bought some calipers and tires...

Trimmed the knobs off the Kenda Kwick Cross 700x30, and it worked fine (although cornering hard at 25mph is a bit hairy with the knobs on the front tire).

Michelin Pro4 25mm, 28mm and Conti 4season 28mm all measure the same size (27mm as I recall).
How about that. A 25mm and a 28mm tire - same model and brand, are the same size (the 28mm does have a wider tread for lower pressures I presume)

GP4000s 28mm and Gatorskin wire bead 32mm measure the same at 29mm actual width.
How about that 28 mm and 32mm tire from the same manufacturer are the same size!

A new folding gatorskin 32mm measures 30mm actual width
A super rare conti 4 season in 32mm measures 32mm actual width.

That 28mm Conti GP4000s is an amazing tire. Light, very supple, sticky. I love it. Too fat for my rear, I need a smaller 28mm for the rear, but it makes a wonderful front tire.

Abe_Froman

Yea I have heard nothing but good things about the 4000s. I think I may end up deciding a more flexible 28mm is comfy enough for me. I have a set of Panaracer Ribmos in 28mm and the ride really is not bad.

RubeRad

I heard very bad things about GP 4000S II just this morning, from BF member @tsl.

(But I don't think he's talking about 32's)

chas58

For commuting, I tend to put something light, fast, and supple in the front, and something more bullet proof in the rear. It is extremely rare to get a (non pinch) flat in the front, so I'm more concerned about the rear. The rear takes the extra wear and tear, and any road debris the front throws at it.

Besides, its emotionally easier to fix the front tire for some reason. LOL.

Craptacular8

I've not tried the Pasela version, though I currently am running a set of the T-Serv in a 35 width with SKS longboards. I tend to ride all of my bike tires with lower pressure, and these are no exception. I've had 0 issues with them on my commuter. They don't feel as light and plush as my Challenge Gravel Grinders in a 38 width (mounted on another bike), but they definitely feel smoother/plusher than the stock Kenda tires this bike came with. BTW, I've tried this commuter bike with these tires on my typical gravel loop at home, and they handled there just fine as well. I just run them at even lower pressure than I would on pavement. On pavement, I'm typically running them at around 55-60 psi, no pinch flats.

Another one that has not been mentioned is the Bontrager H2 Hard Case Lite hybrid tire. Similar tread pattern to the T-Serv, also supposed to offer flat protection. It isn't a 120 tpi tire like the T-Serv, but IIRC, similar weight to the T-Serv. I've got a set of these on a bike that I use for gravel and pavement, and have to say that it rides pretty good. I run around 50 psi on them for gravel, no issues with pinch flats or punctures for the past few hundred miles I've been using them. They are pretty reasonable at $35 if you're a high mileage rider. I've got a friend that's put around 2000 miles on her's so far, but thats only on pavement. I'd be surprised if that hold true for me given that they've seen 80% gravel 20% pavement use.

HardyWeinberg

I also think the GPs are worthless, at least on my roads. Nice idea I guess.

Abe_Froman

Dozens of flats on each end equates to on average of, at a minimum, a flat every 50 miles. You'd have to either live in Aleppo or fill your tire with metal shavings before you change the tube.

tsl

No, what happened is that they changed the compound. In the dry, it's still a pretty good tire.

But if there's even so much as damp in the forecast, all bets are off. All the little sharp bits of gravel embed themselves in the tire, then work their way through the belt. Glass that I can usually ride right through penetrates the tire easily in the wet. I've never worried about metal bits until I got those tires.

Most interesting was a squirrel's rib bone. Again, in the wet, after dark, didn't see the squirrel/road pizza until too late. I mean, who else in the entire history of cycling has ever flatted on a squirrel's rib bone?

My record in the rain is first flat after 0.7 miles, second flat at 3.25, arrived at work 4.58. Found the rear tire flat again at lunch break.

But as I said, in the dry, they're pretty good. I can recall only one flat in the dry.

If you want 'em, I'll pull them out of the dumpster and send them to you. I'll even include one new in box. Can't wait to get rid of the effin' thing. Wouldn't wish 'em on anybody, except maybe someone who calls me a liar.

Meanwhile, you'll have to pry my stash of the original non-II version from my cold dead fingers. Those run through anything, wet or dry. My record with a rear on those is one flat in 6,300 miles. I still have three left.

chas58

Dang.

Yeah, one flat in the rain seem to lead to another. I picked up a wire in the rain about the size of a hair. Took me weeks to find it, it was so thin.

chas58

Good to know. Ever figure out what caused the flats?

Any good race tire is going to be marginal on flat protection. For commuting, In the rear I use a Michelin Pro4 Endurance or Conti 4 season for the stronger flat protection they offer. They litterally have twice the puncture resistance of a race tire like the Pro4 service course or GP4000S

I like the Pro4 because it offers bead to bead protection, but now its replacement doesn't have the bead to bead protection. I guess should order a spare...