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What's the difference between T-Servs and Paselas?

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What's the difference between T-Servs and Paselas?

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Old 02-24-16 | 01:02 PM
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I was curious about this because I had never been able to spot the difference between a Pasela TG with black sidewalls and a T-Serv. They even have the same tread at the sizes I've looked at. I've used both and they felt about the same to me. Looking at the Panaracer site for the new ones, it looks like the T-Serv uses a different rubber compound ("ZSG Natural Compound for excellent all-weather performance") and that may have been true of the old ones too. I didn't keep either one long enough to have an opinion on durability (sold the bikes they were on). I got a two flats in 1000 miles with the T-Servs, but those were on my commute route which challenges even the best of tires (bike lanes full of debris). This leads me to think the puncture protection is just average (for a tire that claims good puncture protection), but two flats isn't a lot of data so it may just be a couple of flukes.

I wouldn't say the ride feel is great, but it isn't terrible either. I would rate them as a little better than a Panaracer Ribmo and a little worse than A Maxxis Re-Fuse, nowhere near as good as a Continental GP 4 Seasons.
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Old 02-24-16 | 01:11 PM
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I've owned somewhere around a half dozen sets of non-TG or PT Paselas. I like 'em for what they are. Affordable tires that feel fine and look right.

Never had a problem with flats or sidewalls.

I use 'em on commuter bikes that get banged around and ridden on MUP's and mellow trails.

I check my tire pressure every other day or so. Mostly.
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Old 02-24-16 | 01:40 PM
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It sounds (from what Chas said) like the Pasela tires are being re-made into a higher-performing tire with a finer casing but still with their traditional tread cap(?).

I sort of remember Paselas from 10 years ago having a finer-looking casing fabric than those I have come across in the last couple of years. Some of the recent ones appeared to have a rather coarse weave.

The older Paselas had only a very thin coating of sidewall rubber that would effectively evaporate in short order here in smoggy California. The sidewalls then would be most vulnerable to even the most minor abrasion, leading to the all-too-common "outer-ply failure" and the appearance of a deformed casing local to any abrasion.
It remains to be seen which sizes of Paselas will appear in their new guise first, as changes move from manufacturing through the supply chain.

I'm not a huge fan of Paselas, but their tread pattern is versatile and there are only so many good 27" tires out there, so they remain on my radar.
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Old 02-24-16 | 02:40 PM
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I run wired Pasela PT in 38c and 32c on my bikes, I love them, Ive abused them on fire roads and driving in the woods and had no complaints.

My next tire is gonna be the Gravelkings in the brown gumwall from japan
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Old 02-24-16 | 06:21 PM
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I have one, unfinished pleasure bike with 27" wheels that will sport Paselas. My only other ride that has 27" wheels is a working bike, and so is shod with somewhat more rugged rubber. The rest of my fleet either came with or has been migrated to 700C rolling stock, and with 700C I see no reason to be constrained to Paselas for any application, other than possibly their price point, but for me that is not enough of a differentiator compared with the other options. I have a number of new and slightly used Paselas I could let go of in a package deal if someone is interested.
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Old 02-24-16 | 06:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Hypno Toad
I have both, I use T-Serv on a number of bike (my go-to, general-purpose choice) and I have the Paselas on my old steel road bike. I got the Paselas for the looks of a classic tire; they are my newer tires (bought them early 2015 and have 1200 miles on them), I can't say I've noticed the difference in comfort and I have no complaints.

I believe the T-Servs are heavier duty, I've put mine through some crazy hard riding (ie gravel centuries) and never had an issue. My Paselas will never see anything but typical road conditions, since I won't take that bike on any crazy rides.
I use T-servs on my commuter bikes (26 x1.75) and regularly roll over broken glass, although not by choice. After two years, no flats to speak of. I think they are great tires.
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Old 02-24-16 | 06:49 PM
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Originally Posted by carbomb
I think personal 'luck' plays the biggest part with flat protection =)
yeah. and for me, it depends where i ride and my ability to dodge debris.

years ago, i used to get non-debris related flats, but then i figured out what tire works best for me (pasela) and how best to mount and inflate it.

then i realized that if i were to ride through the industrial section of town, through which all the big rigs roll, throwing their metal shards all over the road, i shouldn't really complain about the occasional flat.
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Old 02-25-16 | 12:19 PM
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Originally Posted by verktyg
It looks like Panaracer may have discontinued the Pasela and Pasela TG tires???

When I went to their new website the Pasela TG link takes me to the new Pasela ProTite page.

"Excellent urban or touring tire with 400D Lite Extra casing cord for a supple and responsive ride and ProTite puncture protection." (wonderful "Jinglish" description)...

Pasela TG ? Panaracer Bicycle Tires

It doesn't mention whether they come with tan sidewalls or just black???

Looks like I may have to stock up on some Paselas?


verktyg

Chas.
They've been in the process of phasing out the Pasela "TG" tires in favor of the "PT" tires for a few years now. One story I heard is that they had to switch suppliers of the aramid fabric so they reformulated the tires and gave them a new name. Or maybe that's coincidental because they also wanted to use the "TourGuard" name for a specific line of tires. I dunno, it's confusing, and the new website which its typos here and there (one link tries to take you to their "pamela" tires) doesn't help. I miss how the old website had lots of nice pictures of their offerings.
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Old 02-25-16 | 02:04 PM
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I do like the Pasela TG tires for many applications. I had to give up on them, though, when I moved to New Mexico and they were just constantly bombarded by goathead thorns. I ended up not riding the one bike on which I kept them, and I got my first flat in California when I rode that bike and the embedded goathead was pressed into the tire...

I always found that those 'S' check marks on the absolute center of the tire would pick up sharp-looking debris. Not surprisingly, none of my tires now have that feature. I should commend Panaracer on one thing, though: Honesty in sizing. Anyone who thinks their tires run large for a given size needs to learn how to use a basic measuring implement. I'm also running one of their aggressive city tires, 'Crosstown,' which has not given me a problem at all over the last 3 years or so.
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Old 02-27-16 | 01:25 PM
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Again, since I just grabbed a catalog...

The T-serv PT...
has "ZSG Natural Compound"
is available in 700x25-35C, 26x1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2.75x1.75 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" cord and "PT Belt" armor
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Old 02-27-16 | 01:43 PM
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According to biketiresdirect.com:

Pasela PT 700 x 28mm = 280 grams
T-Serv Protex 700 x 28mm = 281 grams

In other words, not much of a difference in terms of weight.
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Old 02-28-16 | 12:07 PM
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I visited the Panaracer booth at NAHBS on Friday. The Japanese guy there spoke limited English, but when I showed interest in their displayed Pasela tire he put great emphasis on the tire's supple casing fabric as the highlight of that tan skinwall tire, even unwrapped one to have me handle it and flex the sidewall. The sidewall was nice and thin I have to say, reminded me of the good traditional tan-sidewall tires I used to always deal with back in the day. It was somewhat convincing what he was saying and showing.

Anyone going to the show today, you can talk to this guy and check it out. He's near the front toward the left, and on the left side of the aisle.
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Old 02-28-16 | 12:10 PM
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Originally Posted by ThermionicScott
They've been in the process of phasing out the Pasela "TG" tires in favor of the "PT" tires for a few years now. One story I heard is that they had to switch suppliers of the aramid fabric so they reformulated the tires and gave them a new name. Or maybe that's coincidental because they also wanted to use the "TourGuard" name for a specific line of tires. I dunno, it's confusing, and the new website which its typos here and there (one link tries to take you to their "pamela" tires) doesn't help. I miss how the old website had lots of nice pictures of their offerings.
I don't know if anyone from panaracer reads this stuff but I hate their new website as well.
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