Tire Test - Panaracer Race L Evo 3

Test Summary

Conclusion: 4 / 5 Recommended
Weight: 199 grams
Rolling Resistance: 13.9 watts
Puncture Resistance: 14 / 6

The Panaracer Race L (Light) is Panaracer´s fastest and lightest road bike tire. When compared to the Panaracer Race A (All-round) which comes with a puncture belt that runs from bead to bead, the Race L comes with a puncture belt that only covers the tread area. To save some more weight and also lower the rolling resistance a bit more, Panaracer reduced the tread thickness from 2.7 mm to 2.2 mm. It does look like Panaracer uses the same rubber compound as used on the Race A which means grip wise, there shouldn't be any large differences.

Buy Panaracer Race L Evo 3 at Amazon.com

Although this is Panaracer's lightest tire, it doesn't compete with ultra-light tires like the Continental Grand Prix TT (read review) and Grand Prix SuperSonic (read review) as those tires have an even thinner tread and a very thin puncture belt, or no puncture belt at all. As I've already mentioned in the Panaracer Race A review, the Race A is a much stronger tire than the all-round name indicates. The Race L is also a much tougher tire, it's best to compare the Race L to all-round tires like the Grand Prix 4000S II (read review).

If you're also interested in how the Race A Evo 3 and Race D Evo 3 perform, you can compare them side by side on the comparison section of our site here: Race A Evo 3 Vs Race D Evo 3 Vs Race L Evo 3

Manufacturer Specifications
Brand	Panaracer
Model	Race L Evo 3
Year	2018
Tire Type	Tubetype (clincher)
Supplied By	Bought in store
New or Used	New
Mileage	0 km
Price Range	High
Price	Amazon.com
Part number	RF725-RCL-B3
TPI	-
Compound	ZSG Dual Compound
Bead	Folding
ETRTO	25-622
Size Inch	28"
Width	25
Specified Weight	200 grams
Max Pressure	140
Made In	Japan
Available Sizes	23-622 (700x23c) 25-622 (700x25c)

Test Results

Size and Weight Measurements

Size and Weight Measurements (Bike Wheel: 622x17C, Pressure: 100 psi / 6.9 bar)
Specified Weight	200 grams
Measured Weight	199 grams
Measured Width	27 mm
Measured Height	24 mm
Total Tire Thickness Center	2.2 mm
Total Tire Thickness Sidewall	0.5 mm

Weight. With a measured weight of 199 grams, my sample of the 25-622 Race L comes in a tad lighter than the specified weight of 200 grams.

Size. On a 17c rim, at an air pressure of 100 psi / 6.9 bars, the Race L has a maximum width of 27 mm. The measured height comes in at 24 mm.

Tire Thickness. The total thickness of the tire at the center of the tread comes in at 2.2 mm which is 0.50 mm less than the Race A. The sidewalls have a thickness of 0.50 mm which is 0.30 less than the Race A. The thinner sidewalls clearly indicate this tire doesn't have reinforced sidewalls. The 0.50 mm sidewall thickness is very similar to other fast road bike tires.

Rolling Resistance Test Results

Rolling Resistance Test Results (Speed: 29 kmh / 18 mph / 8 m/s, Load: 42.5 kg / 417 N)
Inner Tube	Conti Race28 (100gr butyl)
Rolling Resistance 140 psi / 9.7 Bar	Not Tested CRR: Not Tested
Rolling Resistance 120 psi / 8.3 Bar	13.9 Watts CRR: 0.00417
Rolling Resistance 100 PSI / 6.9 Bar	14.6 Watts CRR: 0.00438
Rolling Resistance 80 PSI / 5.5 Bar	16.4 Watts CRR: 0.00492
Rolling Resistance 60 PSI / 4.1 Bar	19.0 Watts CRR: 0.00570
Use the formula: RR (watts) = CRR * speed (m/s) * load (N) to calculate rolling resistance at a given speed and load

Just like the Race A (read review), the Race L doesn't perform all that great in the rolling resistance tests. With a rolling resistance of 13.9 watts at the high air pressure of 120 psi / 8.3 bars, the Race L lags behind the Continental Grand Prix 4000S II (12.2 watts) by 1.7 watts. At the lower air pressure of 80 psi / 5.5 bars, rolling resistance comes in at 16.4 watts which is 2.7 watts more than the Grand Prix 4000S II (13.7 watts).

When we compare the Race L to ultra-light tires from competing brands, the gap widens even more as you can find light tires that come in somewhere around 10 watts at 120 psi / 8.3 bars. If you're looking for a really fast no-compromise tire, the Race L, unlike the name might suggest, doesn't seem to fit the bill.

Puncture Resistance Test Results

Puncture Resistance Test Results (higher is better)
Puncture Resistance Tread	14
Puncture Resistance Sidewall	6

In the puncture resistance tests, the Race L performs much better than what we would expect from a 'Light' tire. In the tread puncture test, the Race L scores 14 points which is higher than most other 'all-round' tires that usually come in somewhere between 11 and 13 points.

In the sidewall puncture test, the Race L also scores higher (6 points) than many other all-round road bike tires with a similar sidewall thickness (4 - 5 points). It looks like the casing material used by Panaracer is stronger than what's used by other manufacturers.

Conclusion

Just like the Panaracer Race A, the Race L scores much higher in the puncture resistance tests than the name suggests. Unlike its low weight, the Race L provides a better puncture resistance when compared to heavier tires from competing brands. Unfortunately, rolling resistance also comes in higher than what we would expect from a 'light' tire. Compared to light time-trial tires from competing brands, the Race L is uncompetitive in the rolling resistance tests.

The conclusion here is pretty much in line with the Panaracer Race A (All-round) (read review) which I've suggested to be more of a 'protection' or 'endurance' tire. Yes, the Race L is a light tire with a measured weight of 199 grams, but its performance in the rolling resistance and puncture resistance tests is more in line with all-round tires from competing brands.

Buy Panaracer Race L Evo 3 at Amazon.com

RATING: 4 / 5
TEST VERDICT: Recommended

Comments