Panaracer Category Elite

Price Paid:  $10.00 at Nashbar

Summary:
These tires where a big improvement over the heavy 25mm tires I was using. But that's not saying very much.

They are very light and felt great on the road when they where new. They seem to sit a little taller than other tires which may actually make your wheels a little more aero but I'm not really sure.

I rotated them after about 500 miles and the tire that was on the back had become very "squared" off. I'm sure this has a negative impact on the control and rolling resistance of the tire.

The side walls are very thin and weak. I hit a rock on the first day out with these tires and it put a hole right through the side of the tire and tube. Nashbar was great and sent me a new tire at no extra charge. They didn't even ask to see the old tire. Nashbar ROCKS!. Maybe they just can't get these things off their hands??? Since then one of the other tires has developed a bulge in the side wall. They say they are to be inflated up to 125, and I never went higher than 120. They're just too weak. Maybe they are meant to be used for racing only and not every day use.

Another problem is that the bead never seated very well in my wheels. I would have to struggle with them quite a bit to get them even all the way around the rim. A huge pain in the A$$.

I bought some Conti Grand Prix Supersonics for a recent race and I now know what a good tire is supposed to feel like and how easy it should be to mount.

Like usual, you get what you pay for.

Strengths:
Cheap
Lite
Good feel when new

Weaknesses:
Weak side walls
Bead does not seat well
Wear out relatively fast.

Similar Products Used:
Conti Grand Prix Supersonics

Price Paid:  $20.00 at Kennewick Schwinn

Bike Setup:
Lemond Tourmalet, with Ultegra

Summary:
Purchased these tires as replacements. Bought the wire beads, great price at 19.99, nice max pressure at 120. They rode nice FOR ABOUT 200 MILES. Then the tire delaminated from the INSIDE so badly that it put a pronounced wobble in the tire and rubbed on the brake arch. So much for cheap Panaracer tires. The MTB tires seem to be holding up pretty good though.

Strengths:
Price. Price. Red Sidewalls.

Weaknesses:
Durability. Quality. Workmanship.

Similar Products Used:
Conti Super Sport Ultras, Michelin Prestige, Vittoria Action HSD

Bike Setup:
KHS Aero Turbo

Summary:
These tires came on my bike. I rotated them at 1500 miles and still have not had a flat. I ride in the city with less than clean streets.

Strengths:
No flats

Weaknesses:
?

Similar Products Used:
None

Bike Setup:
Schwinn Circuit(853), 105, cxp21 rims

Summary:
Put approx. 1500 miles on tires before rotating and this was too late as the rear tire was pretty worn at this time. Tires ride great and I only had one flat caused by a wierd piece of metal that looked like a bristle off a wire brush but was much stiffer. Tires suffere no cuts or gouges and I ride on shoulder of 4 lane frequently and we know what thats like. Paid $25 at lbs and considering everything I would probaly purchase same tire.

Strengths:
reasonably priced, smooth rolling, durable, and comfortable

Weaknesses:
a little bit heavy

Similar Products Used:
specialized comp, schwinn 66(terrible stock tire about as round as a rock)