Panaracer Mach SS tyre

Panaracer’s Mach SS represent great value if you are looking for moderately paced, mixed terrain fun on a crosser, hybrid or beefier tourer and sticking these on an old bike might be a very cost effective way of sampling cross.

Designed and marketed by Panaracer as a 'semi urban' MTB tyre it is available in both 26in and 700c versions. Given that, it's no surprise that the Mach SS is best suited to light trail duties, when things get stickier the tread is prone to clogging, presenting potential clearance problems-especially on bikes sporting mini V brakes. Road orientated semi-slicks with puncture protection and reflective sidewalls are though well suited to the high street scramble.

Popping them out of the box, their wire beads feel pleasingly supple, shipping aboard ‘cross rims without popping thumbs or the need for tyre levers. In essence, the Mach resemble a cross tyre that’s been to the barbers. Shallow “shark fin” knobbles protrude from honeycomb centre ridges for fast passage and nominal drag while the shoulders sport aggressive, MTB inspired knobblies for traction when cornering hard on loose surfaces.

In use this concept works surprisingly well. Despite weighing a portly 528g each, their bulk is largely forgotten when inflated between 75 and 80psi, generous 35mm profiles insulating rider and machine from road or trail buzz, carving gracefully through green lane and farm track alike. However, they lack zip around town, introducing rain (especially of the biblical proportions we’ve had recently) and dung revealed a spiteful, skittish streak – particularly in the early test miles. 

I was worried that the relatively soft casings would be vulnerable to sharps but the tread doesn’t trap glass and flints in the way some can and the sidewalls should entertain some lightly laden weekend touring. In fact, they’ve yet to succumb to the dreaded hiss and within a hundred miles service cornering improved on wet roads but there’s too much compromise for anything more challenging than dry roads and forest trails.

Verdict

Stout and inexpensive rubber but best for dry conditions.