Paselas for off-road / dirt tracks

[tom_cat]

Hi, first post here, although I've been lurking and gathering info for a while now.

Slowly amassing parts for a tourer, I think I've settled on Paselas (26 x 1.75) as the tyres, but the details of one of my first long trips show there to be some off-road, probablly just dirt paths, nothing too heavy. Will the Paselas be able to deal with this or am I better going with something more hardcore like Marathons?

[PW]

Fine on towpaths/old rail lines. It's rocky singletrack with rough lumps which can damage the sidewalls which you need to be wary of. I use Paselas all the time in 700 X 25 - 32C depending on bike and time of year, they're a good, hardwearing tyre with a low rolling resistance and decent grip.

[mark a.]

I've found my 32mm Paselas better at off-road than my 28mm Gatorskins, but I couldn't tell you if that was because of the tyre itself (construction, tread pattern etc) or just because they're bigger.

They're not as good off-road as my hybrid CX tyres, obviously, but still pretty good.

As above, avoid sharp rocks. I've been fine on towpaths, bridleways and forest roads.

[meic]

The Paselas have vulnerable sidewalls and the standard Marathons are almost indestructable.

So saying in real life I have had one Marathon fail due to internal cord damage and none of my Paselas fail.

I am not sure of the sums with 1.75" but I did the sums and found that three Paselas are equal or less in weight than 2 Marathons.

If you have the money then you can protect yourself against total tyre failure by using Paselas and carrying a spare all for the same weight.

Yet giving you a much nicer ride.

[531colin]

26x1.5 Marathon is a pretty good all round tyre for me for mixed road and roughstuff. Probably tougher than the paselas, better in mud, more drag on the tarmac. You pays your money..,.,,..,...

[al_yrpal]

I have done lots of miles on canal banks and tracks on my Paselas. They have been absolutely fine. Wouldnt be good on mud or very rough surfaces though. Schwalbe Land Cruisers for that.

Al

[tom_cat]

Thanks for the re-assurance. Should be ok then. The ride in question is the Sustrans Coasts and Castles route, so I'll just have to read up a bit more on the terrain, but reckon these should be fine.

[MrCharly]

They'll be fine.

I've done thousands of miles on 26"x1.5" paselas. They are far more sturdy than most believe.

Don't over-inflate them. It doesn't gain you any speed and you will be more prone to punctures. 65psi is ample in 1.5".

[meic]

They'll be fine.

I've done thousands of miles on 26"x1.5" paselas. They are far more sturdy than most believe.

Don't over-inflate them. It doesn't gain you any speed and you will be more prone to punctures. 65psi is ample in 1.5".

Can I, respectfully, dispute that?

I think that increased tyre pressures help to reduce the number of punctures.

If you have the time to wade through this.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=54531&hilit=pressure+punctures+schwalbe

[MrCharly]

There is a difference between 'pumped up properly' and 'too hard'.

'Pumped up properly' means hard enough to avoid pinch flats.

'Too hard' means harder than the maximum or harder than required for your weight.

Think about it; if you are running a fat tyre and that tyre goes over a sharp object, what happens?
If the tyre is pumped up so hard that it is lifted off the surface, the entire weight on the wheel is now concentrated on the point of that sharp object.

If the tyre is soft enough, it will deform over the object, part of the tyre remains in contact with the road and bears some of the weight. That reduces the pressure on the sharp object and reduces the chances of it penetrating the tyre.

[meic]

That is certainly a compelling argument.

I have to admit that I dont know the answer
I dont think that there is enough to convince me towards either side of the argument.

[geocycle]

It is particularly important to have paselas well inflated as the side wall is very thin and vulnerable. They are OK on towpaths but will pinch against rocks and coarse pebbles. Mine lasted less than 120 miles before I cut the sidewall off road. I'd agree with Meic that these need to be well inflated.

For the coast and castles route of the OP, I think you will be OK. I don't recall any serious offroad. Some paths across fields but nothing very rocky.

[hufty]

'Pumped up properly' means hard enough to avoid pinch flats.

Accepted practice for mountain biking where grip is a major issue and you don't want the bike bouncing all over the place, surely not correct for riding on a nice smooth road?

My experience of Paselas is as others have posted above - the sidewalls are the weakpoint. Last time I was in Scotland I was basically on metalled roads with the odd forestry track at the end of the day and I picked up a worrying sidewall cut. Now I use Marathons.

[JohnW]

I have done lots of miles on canal banks and tracks on my Paselas. They have been absolutely fine. Wouldnt be good on mud or very rough surfaces though. Schwalbe Land Cruisers for that.

Al

I can agree with that - except I've never had good experiences of Schwalbe. I use 25 and 28mm Paselas, all the time, on bridleways, towpaths, occasional farm tracks and for mile after mile on-road, and never a problem. I do agree that the sidewalls can be vulnerable, but that has never been an issue with me until the tyres are nearly life expired anyway.

I have three bikes on the road at the moment and two of them have Paselas. The third will have Paselas when the spring comes.

[MrCharly]

'Pumped up properly' means hard enough to avoid pinch flats.

Accepted practice for mountain biking where grip is a major issue and you don't want the bike bouncing all over the place,

Hmm.

I have to say, in all the years and countries I've ridden in, on all the bikes, I've never had a bike bounce.

I've had a bike with rock hard tyres hit a pebble and spang off to one side tho'.