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review

Panaracer Agilest Light

8
£49.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Superlight tyre ideal for a hill climb bike or racing in all conditions, just not the softest ride
Very light
Can be hard to fit
Weight: 
181g

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The Panaracer Agilest Light tyre is a tubed version of the Agilest TLR that Steve reviewed at the start of last year, but it's 64g lighter on our scales, and made for a superlight hill climb/race setup. It provides good grip in all conditions and seems to be fairly puncture resistant too.

Our best road bike tyres buyer's guide rounds up our top tyre choices from less than £30 to over £80.

The Agilest Light is very similar to the tubed Agilest Folding tyre that Steve also reviewed, but Panaracer has trimmed 27g from it, and labelled it as an all-out race tyre or ideal for hill climbs.

I couldn't really feel the weight, or lack of, when I was testing the tyres – but I certainly noticed their speed. They felt a lot quicker than my usual training tyres, if perhaps not as fast rolling as my Continental GP5000 S TRs (which Jamie tested in 2021).

2023 Panaracer Agilest Light 700x28C 2

First off, let's talk about the grip these tyres offer. They don't look like they'll be overly grippy, but as I rode them down some wet, slippery South Wales lanes, I never once felt the tyres sliding from underneath me. The Agilest Light has the same ZSG Agile Compound outer casing as both the folding version and TLR, which Steve also found grippy enough.

I was expecting some punctures using these on my training rides, given that they're aimed at racing and hill climbs, but I'm still yet to suffer one (though I've almost certainly tempted fate by saying that now). A few cuts have recently started to appear on the tread, but that's it.

> Puncture prevention 101: learn how to swerve flats with these 11 top tricks

The main difference between the Agilest Light and the Agilest TLR, besides the weight, is that you can run the TLRs at a lower pressure as they're tubeless, which should make them more comfortable and compliant.

I didn't find the Agilest Light that harsh, and any extra harshness could be a result of the TF – or 'Tough & Flex Super Belt' – that is the innermost of the three layers making up the carcass. This is meant to aid resistance to punctures but does seem to have toughened up the ride too.

2023 Panaracer Agilest Light 700x28C 1

I did find the tyres a bit of an effort to fit the first time – though this isn't unusual for a folding tyre. I needed two tyre levers to help me finish getting both tyres on the rim, but this sort of effort shouldn't be required on subsequent occasions.

Value

The £49.99 price isn't that high for a tyre these days, though for that sort of money you're usually getting a tubeless tyre. But given their low weight and their racing and hill climb ambitions I'd say the price is reasonable. That said, if you're pairing them with a similarly light latex or TPU inner tube, that will push the overall cost up.

The Panaracer Agilest Folding Tyre is a fiver cheaper at £44.99, but although Steve found them grippy and light, I think the lower weight of the Agilest Lights makes them worth the extra.

You can get cheaper tubed tyres than the Agilest Light, such as the Hutchinson Challenger that comes in at just £29.95 per tyre. They are a considerable 120g per tyre heavier, but Stu appreciated their supple feel and good grip.

The Agilest TLRs are a tenner more than the Agilest Lights, but they are tubeless ready. Steve rated them very highly indeed, praising them for their grip and ease of fitting, among other things.

Conclusion

If you are looking for an out-and-out race tyre or you have an ultra-light hill climb machine, the Agilest Light is a really good contender. It would be nice if you could run them tubeless – but then you have the Agilest TLR, albeit with a weight penalty. And though they don't have the most compliant ride, they've still yet to puncture even with all the debris on the road.

Verdict

Superlight tyre ideal for a hill climb bike or racing in all conditions – though not the softest ride

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Panaracer Agilest Light

Size tested: 700C x 28mm

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Panaracer says: The Agilest Light has been thoughtfully designed from the bead to the tread with special consideration from the tread pattern to raw materials. The LIGHT incorporates the newly developed 'ZSG AGILE COMPOUND ' and TOUGH & FLEX SUPER BELT ' to create an ultra-light racing tire reduction rolling resistance."

There's no tread pattern on the tyres, which should be grippy, and they are very light.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

700x28c

Black Sidewall

Weight – 181g

Max pressure – 110psi

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
10/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

An out-and-out race tyre that is superlight with plenty of grip in the wet. If you pair it with a latex or TPU tube then you'll have a seriously light setup.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The low weight.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

It's not the most supple tyre.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

Well priced for a lightweight race tyre – although this is tubed and not tubeless.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

This is a superlight tyre which will make a great hill climb setup when paired with lightweight/fast-rolling latex or TPU inner tubes. They aren't quite as supple as a tubeless tyre, but for they money they're very good.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 23  Height: 185cm  Weight: 68kg

I usually ride: Dolan Rebus  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 5-10 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Semi pro

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, commuting, club rides, Always love some off-road with some mates.

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