Classic & Vintage - Miyata 310 and new tires

I replaced my old gum wall tires with a set of 27" x 1.25" Conti Gatorskins. I mounted the new tires (with new tubes and new rim tape), inflated to 90PSI and left the bike in the garage while running some errands. Within a couple of hours my wife heard a loud bang from the garage. The front tire blew off of the front rim splitting the inner tube in the process. I took the wheel down to my IBS where I purchased the tubes assuming the tube had failed. They asked me how old the bike was. When I said around 20 years (I'm being conservative as I purchased it in '81) they kringed and suggested I not inflate the tires over 85PSI. When I asked why they said the newer tires are not going to seat well in my old rims. I asked if I should replace my rims at which point they said "don't put anymore money into a 20 year old bike". My BS meter began to peg on that statement.

Is this going to be a safety issue for me? Should I put new rims on it or ditch the bike? The bike seems to be in perfectly fine shape and rides like a breeze.

My BS meter is still reading high as I suspect the IBS was wanting to sell me one of those "fancy schmanzy" bikes for >$1.5K.

Cheers,

Don

I've had problems with old rims only when they were really rusty. I had to put three tubes on one a couple of days ago because every time I inflated the tire some rust would rip a hole in it. (Boo-minus!)
Other than that I can't see any problem with using old rims provided they're not too banged up. Those guys don't know crap. Or, they do and they're hoping you're clueless. They sound like salesmen, even if they were holding a wrench.
After you get the tire and tube on, but before you inflate it, squeeze the tube and tire in towards the center of the rim and make sure that the tube isn't caught between the rim and tire. Go all the way around the wheel checking. To be extra sure, inflate the tire half-way, deflate it and then pump it all the way up. This helps seat the tube in the tire. Sometimes you might hear a gentle THOP! when doing the initial inflation. That is the tube seating itself.
My newest bike is almost 20 years old. I wouldn't trade in any of them.

Happy cycling
Rob

I just this week put tires on a 20+ bike. 125psi no problem other then finding some place that could pump 125. Almost all the old bikes I get need tires and I get about 3 a month. Most of them dont need new rims. I replace tires all the time with out much problem. Just make sure you get them on right and look them over while you inflate them.
Make sure you're going to a bike shop and not a bike store.

My rims are alloy, so, rust isn't an issue. It could be I didn't have the tires properly seated the first time. The tire has been sitting at 70 PSI for a couple of hours now and no explosions. Time to put them upto full pressure :-).

My rims are alloy, so, rust isn't an issue. It could be I didn't have the tires properly seated the first time. The tire has been sitting at 70 PSI for a couple of hours now and no explosions. Time to put them upto full pressure :-).

I recently had a gunshot blowout on a brand spankin' new Mavic Open Pro rim. Either tire wasn't seated properly, or tube was pinched (though I'm always very careful about inspecting these things).

At any rate, I +1 the BS. Those shop mechanics/sales staff are thinking of old straight walled (no hook) rims.

I don't consider calling a 26 year old bike a 20 year old bike as being conservative. I'd call it inaccurate. Especially, when it may concern the type of rim the bike has!
Are your rims hook bead or straight wall? IF straight wall, you can't can't run as high of a pressure.

Few 27" rims had hook beads. Straight wall rims reduce the maximum pressure you can run. Replacing 27" rims on this bike probably isn't sensible. I think your BS meter is overly sensitive.

Thanks for the responses. Since remounting the tire and making sure it was properly seated all the way around it has been holding fine at 90 PSI.

Not too long ago there was a 'what tire on hooked/smooth wall 27" rim' thread here; a quick search should find it.
FWIW, I mounted up a set of Contis I got in a trade on a set of smooth wall Weinmann rims and ran them up to 100psi with no problems. Been riding them for a week with to problems, albit while watching them very closely.
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