Panaracer Pasela PT Folding Tyre

The Panaracer Pasela PT folding tyre is a lighter version of the long-running and justly popular TourGuard tyre, and in my view it's a very solid and sensible choice for general riding. PT stands for ProTite, which refers to the system of aramid belt for added puncture resistance. The tyre also incorporates 400D cord technology, which supposedly offers greater defence against cuts while improving rigidity when cornering.

• Pros: Sizes available, compliant and quick rolling
• Cons: Tricky to mount on aero rims, wire bead is better value

One of its biggest draws is the sheer range of sizes: from 700x23 through to 26x1.75, not forgetting old school 27in for that authentic finishing touch to a classic. Mind you, they do seem very slightly narrower than rival brands, and proved tricky customers to mount on deep-section aero rims.

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Folding beads and deep-section rims can be a tricky combination to mount first time round. These were no exception, and after a few catapulted tyre levers and primal grunting, I reached for my workshop tyre wand. Leaving them partially mounted for a few minutes seemed to induce a little more stretch and, in turn, made for easier fitting. They're much easier with a more traditional wheel, such as Mavic's Open Pro.

Folding versions are extremely convenient for touring and similar contexts where carrying spares is welcome or you just want to save a few grams, but there's also a wire bead version for £24.99 which might be easier to mount and could have greater appeal to purists restoring an 80s classic.

Performance

At 256g apiece, our 25mm tyres were svelte enough for training and fast commutes. Noting their operating pressures of 85-115psi, I initially set them up on my fixed gear time trial bike to see how they'd deliver at the higher pressures. Even at their maximum, the ride never felt harsh.

Acceleration and rolling resistance isn't on par with more contemporary 25mm models, such as Vee Tire's Rain Runner. That said, they're no slouches and the relatively compliant, grippy nature inspired confidence when blasting along greasy dung-strewn back roads.

I wasn't overly surprised to flat a couple of weeks and 200 miles in – a very sharp thorn had pierced the sidewall. New tube, CO2 and we were back in business. Pushing them hard on long, 1-in-4 descents following a torrential downpour saw them bite pretty convincingly up to 30mph.

Running them at 100-105psi seemed their sweetspot, although in similar conditions a more contemporary compound encouraged me to push things that bit harder.

Fast commutes incorporating stop-go town centre sections with the usual hazards didn't tax them, and their sprightly persona kept things nimble and the right side of exciting.

No flats since, but I've been doing some post-ride tread scrubbing using a sudsy bucket and Oxford Tyre Scrub to shift embedded grit, flints and other sharps that can burrow inside over time.

> Buyer's Guide: 15 of the best winter tyres

Repatriating the Rain Runner to my TT build and popping the Paselas on my 1991 road bike, there was sufficient clearance between them and the BBB Slimguard mudguards. So what? Well, a lot of small manufacturers from this era decided they'd build a stock race frameset and add eyelets, thus marketing them as trainers. However, getting full-length mudguards to fit without fouling a 23mm section tyre sometimes proved impossible. This build still runs an 80s/90s Campagnolo drivetrain, so the amber walls also complemented this period feel very nicely.

Conclusion

I still rate the Paselas and reckon they're a good bet for training – especially on older bikes where preserving originality is welcome. The wide range of sizes also means they're worth considering for cyclo-cross or gravel bikes that double as winter trainers. That said, I'd stick with the wire beads and save £30 a pair (at RRP); while likeable, the folding versions are outclassed on value by faster-rolling, higher-pressure contemporaries.

Verdict

Updated classic that still performs well, but the wire bead version is better value