Classic & Vintage - Inexpensive 27" tire find

I just placed an order for some Bell Sports #113629 27"x 1 1/4 gumwall tires thru Grady's Hardware (by way of Amazon). They are on sale for $4.89 each. Shipping is something like $5.75 for the first, but around $0.60 for each additional. 4 tires is costing me $27.67, or $6.92 net each. Not bad!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LOO05Q/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller=

I called Bell to confirm that it is a steel wire bead tire (not Kevlar), so it should stay in place better on older non-hooked rims. No, it is not a high end product, but provides a suitable low cost solution for replacing rotting rubber on my little fleet of occasionally used classic bikes.

Just ordered (4) myself. Hope I don't encounter the same problems the reviewer did though (getting a no-name knockoff with a Bell wrapper:mad:)

I was a little concerned too, but decided to take a chance. His comment was a while ago. I called Grady's and they said they have plenty in stock.

If/when I need more, I'll just go to Merv's and get Kendas for $7.42 each, tax included. I'll have to see what he has in 26" and 700c. :D

Googled "Merv's" and came up with a shop out your way. Great price, and local as well. Nice.

Unfortunately, a basic like Kenda K35's are listed at $19.95 at my LBS. I really like these guys, but I just cannot pay them 2-3x.

Received mine yesterday. They are Bell Streetsters, but unlike the photo in the Amazon listing, they are blackwalls, not gumwalls. They have a treadwear indicator strip on the tread that is supposed to change from green to red when the tire is worn out, not sure how useful that will be, but they were cheaper than any I have been able to find locally. :)

If you could please check to see what the max PSI is?

Bell Sports #113629 ... on sale for $4.89 each.

I paid about a buck more each for Cheng Shin C732's. I think they're blackwall 90psi'ers, for anybody not wanting the gummy wall.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31fk7T1wG2L._SS500_.jpg

If you could please check to see what the max PSI is?

Sidewall says 75-90 psi.

Sidewall says 75-90 psi.

Bell Streetsers = Wal-Mart tire. Good for Schwinn Varsities and flippers.

-Kurt

They might be good for a cheap beater. I think the Serfas Seca is the best tire for price and performance. It rides as nice as the continental gatorskin but costs about half. It might not have the puncture protection like the continental but they roll very good and grip well.

REI has them for 18.00$

If they do a bait & switch (send you something other then what was ordered) on you - report them to Amazon and do a charge-back on your credit card.

Bell Streetsers = Wal-Mart tire. Good for Schwinn Varsities and flippers.

-Kurt

Uhm, yeah, that's why they're, ah, less than $7 each with shipping. You want to compare them to tires that cost 2-3x as much, sure they're not going to be as good.

Oh, and the cheapest tire at Wal-Mart (who doesn't sell 27" tires anyway) is still 2x that price.

http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_constraint=0&ic=48_0&search_query=bicycle+tires&Find.x=20&Find.y=8

Oh, and the cheapest tire at Wal-Mart (who doesn't sell 27" tires anyway) is still 2x that price.

Until about a year ago, they used to sell wire-bead tires; 27" gumwall Bell Streetsters were about $8 or $9. Some of the others were $7 (26x1-3/8" EA3, IIRC). When they decided to claim themselves some more floor space, they changed to Kevlar-beaded versions of the same thing. Raised the price up to $12-15.

Gave up and went to K-Mart whenever I needed a cheap $10, 27" gumwall.

-Kurt

I usually get mine from Niagara. They sell a variety in the $5 to $6 range.