Classic & Vintage - 27 x 1 Tires?

Not sure this is the proper forum, but it does relate to a vintage Motobecane bike I bought, so here goes. I bought a Motobecane last week that has 27"x 1" tires. First time I have ever seen this size. Forgive my ignorance here, but are these common, and where would I buy new ones? The tubes have presta valves (the narrow stemmed ones), and the wheels look different from standard 27-inchers. I had to leave on a business trip the same day, so did not get a chance to examine, measure, etc. Would a standard 27 x 1.25 tire fit the wheel?

Yes, a 27x1 1/4 would probably fit, but I think Bike Nashbar sells a 27x1 tire. 27x1 1/8 are not hard to find, either. The slightly wider tire would be more comfortable to ride, as long as you have the clearance on your frame. www.nashbar.com

have to be a little careful, as Continental for some reason that totally escapes me marks some 700c tires as 27x1. Tubulars mostly, though...

If you like narrow tires, and yours are clinchers, I saw 27 x 7/8 tires at Haris Cyclery's web site... If wider is better for you, then I have also seen 27 X 1 & 3/8 online at other sites with and without knobby tread.

As long as there is clearance on the bike and the rim width is appropriate, there are options.

Luker is correct. Many tubular tires are labelled as 27 x 1, especially if they are old models. If it is a tubular, a standard (i.e clincher) 27 x 1-1/4 will not work. A tubular tire has an outer casing that totally encloses the tube and is held onto a box cross-section rim using glue.

Try removing the tire to see what you have. If it is the standard tire construction, 27 x 1-1/4 tires will work on the rim. If it's tubular construction, then they won't. The bonus, if they are tubular tires, is that you have a higher end Motobecane.

Don't think they're tubulars, or the glue is completely gone if they are. Doesn't a tubular have a fairly shallow interior indentation, which is why they need to be glued?

Performance has 27x1" tires on sale right now, for something like $6.00/ea.

I think you have to be careful of your rim width. If it's made for a 27 x 1 1/4 tire, the tire may not hold. You also should check the tube--I think that someone told me that a 27 x 1" tire actually takes a 700c tube (maybe 28mm width?). Point: don't assume that the 27 x 1" tire is going to fit any 27" rim, because it won't, nor will it take any old 27" tube.

I bought a pair of these tires off of nashbar only to realize that I didn't have rims OR tubes that fit them.

You also should check the tube--I think that someone told me that a 27 x 1" tire actually takes a 700c tube (maybe 28mm width?).

Actually, most manufacturers don't make 27 inch tubes, but there are lists somewhere about which 700c tubes to use in various 27 inch tire sizes. This is perfectly acceptable because the tubes are extremely flexible compared to tires. :D

I refurb'ed a raft of mixte's last summer, and put 27x1" tires on most of them. All the tires went on ok and stayed on ok. The girls that bought the bikes loved 'em - made the bikes a little zippier. I used 700c -20/28c schraeder valved tubes that the LBS was blowing out for $1/ea. They worked great, and work great with 27" tires as well.

I still have a bag full of the tubes socked away for a rainy day...... :D