Fifty Plus (50+) - Learned something today

A lady friend of mine asked me to put new tubes and tires on a couple of old bikes of hers. Both appear to be in very good shape for their age. One is a Nishiki Mountain Bike and the other a Huffy ladies road bike ten speed. The Mountain Bike, of course, had 26" tires and when I checked the Huffy and the sidewall read 26 x 1 3/8. Since these bikes will be used exclusively on pavement, I ordered the same 26 x 1.5 Forte City tires from Performance for both bikes, on sale for 9.95 ea. less 15%. I was right on with the Niskiki and the tires went on easily, but the tires didn't get close to fitting the Huffy rims. In an email to Performance, I was told that a tire with a fractional size has a totally different rim than one with a decimal size, even though both read 26! They advised me to try and find the correct fractional size from X-Mart, Target or even to have a LBS order them!! Phooey!

Ned

Have been bitten by a similar problem - unfortunately I did not consult Sheldon's website until afterwards:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tire_sizing.html

Have been bitten by a similar problem - unfortunately I did not consult Sheldon's website until afterwards:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tire_sizing.html

Upon checking your link, I realized that I had read Sheldon's info on tire sizing, just didn't remember it at the time.

Upon checking your link, I realized that I had read Sheldon's info on tire sizing, just didn't remember it at the time.

This seems to be something I do frequently... forget what I already knew. Did Performance let you return the tires?

Upon checking your link, I realized that I had read Sheldon's info on tire sizing, just didn't remember it at the time.

Funnily I read it too many years ago but something must have gone wrong- I can remember the article. Not that I have ever had to use it but it is just one of the useless bits of knowledge that I have not forgotten.