Panaracer Tire Pressure — Correct Pressure for Panaracer Bike Tires

Panaracer Tire Line — Made in Japan, Gravel-First

Panaracer manufactures all tires in Japan and built its modern reputation on the GravelKing line — the dominant choice in gravel racing for years

Panaracer has manufactured bicycle tires in Japan since 1952. The GravelKing series, introduced for the modern gravel boom, became one of the best-selling gravel tire lines globally. The brand's quality consistency comes from in-house manufacturing, which is rare in the tire industry where most brands outsource production.

ZSG Gravel Compound

ZSG (Zero Slip Grip) is Panaracer's gravel-specific rubber compound. It is a dual-compound formulation: a harder center tread for roll efficiency and a softer outer shoulder for cornering traction. ZSG is tubeless sealant compatible — the compound does not react with latex or ammonia-free sealants, preventing the compound degradation that affects some tires when first converted to tubeless.

ACV — Anti-Cut/Abrasion Veil

ACV is Panaracer's puncture protection layer embedded beneath the tread. It sits as a woven veil between the outer tread rubber and the casing plies. ACV does not alter sidewall flexibility and does not change the recommended pressure range — its protection is against tread cuts, not sidewall pinches. ACV tires are identified by the "+" designation in the model name (e.g., GravelKing SK+, Colonel+).

Casing TPI

Standard Panaracer tires use a 60 TPI casing. TLC (Tubeless Light Casing) variants use a lighter, more supple casing that improves tubeless bead seating and reduces casing weight. TLC tires carry the same pressure range as 60 TPI equivalents but feel more compliant at a given PSI.

Panaracer GravelKing SK Tire Pressure

GravelKing SK (semi-knobby) — the most widely ridden Panaracer tire, with a wide tubeless pressure range

The GravelKing SK's semi-knobby tread works best when the casing is deforming enough to push the tread blocks into the surface. At the high end of the tubeless range (45–50 PSI), the SK tread behaves almost like a slick — fast on hardpack but with reduced grip on loose terrain. At 26–35 PSI, the tread blocks activate and provide genuine cornering bite on mixed gravel.

Panaracer GravelKing SS and Plus Tire Pressure

SS (slick) rolls faster; Plus (file tread) balances speed and grip — each requires its own pressure window

GravelKing SS runs 5–8 PSI higher than the equivalent GravelKing SK in the same size because the slick tread pattern relies on higher pressure to maintain its rolling advantage. The SS tread has no knobs to deform into the surface — the contact patch itself carries all the traction load, which requires a slightly firmer casing.

Panaracer MTB Tire Pressure — Colonel and Dart

Colonel MTB and Dart XC — Panaracer's mountain tire range has a smaller footprint than its gravel line but covers XC and light trail

Panaracer's MTB range is narrower than its gravel offering. The Colonel is the main all-terrain model and the most searched for MTB pressure guidance. In 29×2.1, the Colonel runs well at 24–28 PSI tubeless for a 70–75 kg XC rider on mixed terrain.

Panaracer Road and Commuter Tire Pressure

RibMo, T-Serv and Pasela TG — commuter and touring tires with high tubed pressure

RibMo uses Panaracer's DuraSkin puncture protection layer, making it one of the most puncture-resistant urban tires available. DuraSkin adds lateral stiffness that means the tire should not drop below 65 PSI in 700×28c — below that pressure, the tire feels vague on wet roads because the DuraSkin layer resists the natural deformation that gives grip.