Touring Bike Tire Test: Panaracer Pasela PT (ProTite)

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  • Panaracer Pasela PT (ProTite)
Performance compared to all other touring bike tires
(100% is best)
Pro Members get 11-point radar charts



Panaracer Pasela PT (ProTite) road bike tire on a rolling resistance test machine

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
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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

Panaracer Pasela PT (ProTite) Touring/E-Bike on a rolling resistance test machine

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

Panaracer Pasela PT (ProTite) Touring/E-Bike on a rolling resistance test machine
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

Panaracer Pasela PT (ProTite) road bike tire on a grip test machine
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)
Performance compared to all other touring bike tires
(100% is fastest - lightest - thickest - strongest)

Pro Members get 11-point radar charts

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.


Ad Buy Panaracer Pasela PT (ProTite) at Amazon.com


RATING: 3.5 / 5
TEST VERDICT:
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