Bicycle Mechanics - Question regarding tires.

Could anyone please share some information about the tire specifications. To be exact: my bicycle has 27x11/4 tire on the rim right now, that is needed to be replaced. However, bike shop does not stock tires of this size and says that they were only used by Schwinn for 10 years, and my only options is to check with Schwinn dealers.
Does anyone know what other size tire can be used, or are this sizes still available at other bicycle stores?

That is crap. Anyone can get these tires if they choose to. I am sure that there are plenty of shops in the LA area so I recommend that you call around and find a better shop. These size tires are available from Continental if you want a higher end tire or from many sources as replacement cheapo tires. Cheapies should run about $10 a piece while the contis are probably about 15-20 a piece. If you cannot find any let me know and we will work out something because I have tons in the shop.

-Ryan

Thanks Ryan, price isn't a problem here. Good to know they are around. I will check out few more shops this Saturday.

Thank you, sir.

First of all Schwinn was not the only bike company that offered that size tire. That size tire was very common on every brand so in America up intill about 1984 or 85 when the 700's started to make inroads. In fact I still have a set of 27 inch tubular rims that I use to race on!

Nashbar still sells a 27 inch tire under their house brand and so does IRC called the Winner II and Triathlon also at Nashbar and all on sale. My local LBS can still get plenty of the 27 tires. True, higher quality 27's are now gone, so if you want a high quality racing or training tire you may have to get some 700 rims.

There is such a thing as a Schwinn specific tire. A 27" Schwinn tire is not the same as a standard 27" tire. I know that if your LBS has a Hans Johnsen account they can get them easily if your rig needs such a tire.

See those articles by Sheldon Brown. The first article is on general tire sizing (including various Schwinn-specific sizes) and the third one says that (in the middle) 27" was standard.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tires.html
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chicago-schwinns.html

If your tires have also ISO designations, you might see something like 32x630 (the 630 is important, here).

In terms of replacement, 27 x 1 1/4 tires have almost disappeared, and the few remaining ones (at least around here) are very low grade. There are, however, plenty of 27 x 1 1/8" tires and 27 x 1 3/8" tires.

The narrower ones will fit all bikes, though some tires need hooked rims and your rims might not have them (but that's the only issue to consider, unless you weight 250-300 lb).
The wider tires are better for snow, soft trails and other off-road conditions, and cyclocross tires are available in 1 3/8". However, you might need more room under the stays and fork crown than your bike allows.

Finally, if space is tight, you might use a 1 1/8" in front and 1 3/8" in the back... On my "period" bike, I have more clearance issues in front, so that would work...


P.S. If you are not sure what fits, many shops around here will exchange a tire if it doesn't fit.

Regards,

And just because the bike is a Schwinn does not necessarily mean that the WHEELS are the Schwinn-specific 27". My Schwinn Voyageur has the original Wolber 40-spoke wheels which take a standard 27" tire. It had 27x1 1/4 (ISO 630x32, ie, 630mm rim diameter, 32 mm (1 1/4") tire width). I am currently running Performance GT-2 Kevlar 27x1 (ISO 630x28). I believe these tires also come in 1 1/8 and 1 1/4. Check performancebike.com. I have only had them a couple of month, but I am pleased with them so far. I commute 22 miles round trip on trashy urban streets so I am all about flat prevention and go through tires every 1000 miles or so just from debris shredding, not wear.

in a pinch these tires can be obtained from *shudder* walmart

Specialized Turbo Armadillos (www.specialized.com) are available in 27x1 1/4 size. $29.99 each. A bit costly, but you won't have problems with flats. I have the 700x25 size and zero flats in the last 600 miles or so since I got them.

You can order them right off their web site. I would expect them to be availble from any Specialized dealer as well.

Originally posted by supcom
Specialized Turbo Armadillos (www.specialized.com) are available in 27x1 1/4 size. $29.99 each. A bit costly, but you won't have problems with flats. I have the 700x25 size and zero flats in the last 600 miles or so since I got them.

You can order them right off their web site. I would expect them to be availble from any Specialized dealer as well.

Inoplanetyanin(or anybody else looking), if you cant find good tires locally, PM me. I have some of these 27x1 1/4 Specialized Turbo Armadillos sitting in my closet. They have less than 150 miles on them. I also have these on my bike and my moms bike, we have never flatted.

Originally posted by nemo
in a pinch these tires can be obtained from *shudder* walmart
Yes, that's right. Indeed, yesterday, I saw exact same size 27x 11/4 at Wal Mart... for $5.99, they only had two left.
If I wont find any better pattern at the bicycke stores, I will buy Wal Mart ones, even though they have white wall, that I dont particularly like...

Originally posted by Hunter
There is such a thing as a Schwinn specific tire. A 27" Schwinn tire is not the same as a standard 27" tire. I know that if your LBS has a Hans Johnsen account they can get them easily if your rig needs such a tire.


You ARE good at tires, sir!

The saleman in the bicycle store, WAS talking about that specific Schwinn tire that is not the same as regular 27", because the tire was meausred differently, I dont exactly remember how he said, possibly inside diameter rather than outside.
That person was NOT a newbie, he needed to look at the actually wheel to verify it correctly, but he warned of a chance not being able to fit regular 27 inche tire.
Anyhow, I am on my way to few more bike stores right now...

Thanks for reply, everybody!