Panaracer Race A Evo 2 tyre

Panaracer Race A Evo 2 tyres are a light, fast and durable alternative to better-known tyres.

The Panaracer Race A Evo 2 tyres have impressed with good durability - I've run a pair for a 1,000 miles so far and there's barely a mark on them or any sign of wear - speed and weight. The fact they're a competitive weight makes them a worthy alternative to the more popular tyre choices at this price.

As is popular with modern road tyres, the tread is made from two rubber compounds, which Panaracer call ZSG Dual Compound. This means a grippier compound on the shoulders combined with a harder rubber for the middle section. This combines to create a tyre that zips along well when ridden straight up, with plenty of grip when leaning over through the corners. There's a plentiful supply of grip when you do bank the tyre over to confidently exploit gravity's assistance on the downs.

While the tyre shines in the durability, weight and speed stakes, it is less than impressive in its suppleness. The tyre just doesn't offer the same smoothness and vibration absorption in the casing as other 23mm tyres I've tested, such as the excellent Michelin Pro4. For the record, I tested the tyres on the same wheels and bike, the same tyre pressures and on the same roads. It's a close run thing but back-to-back testing shows they just lack the extra degree of suppleness.

Though the tyre lacks the ride quality offered by rival 23mm tyres (like the excellent Michelin Pro4) the tough casing does stand up well against the punishment dished out by rough roads scarred with potholes and cracks, where it's more than tough enough to cope. Similarly, the tread compound has impressed with virtually no cuts or slices.

When it comes to warding off punctures, Panaracer have given the tyre a PT Shield fabric layer. Testing how puncture resistant a bicycle tyre in real-world testing is always a tricky old job: you can go three months at a time without getting a flat, then get three in a row. I didn't experience any flats in my 1,000 miles of testing, but how much that is down to plain old luck or the the PT Shield is impossible to say.

The Panaracer Race A Evo 2 tyre is also available in 25mm width with a claimed 240g weight, if you prefer your tyres to give a bit more cushion.

Verdict

Durable, quick tyre with good grip, but lacks the ride quality of other tyres at this price and weight