Classic & Vintage - 27" replacement tires, suggestions

long story short

THERE IS TOO MUCH INFORMATION OUT THERE!!!!

i cant sort it all out, i dont know where to go for parts, dont know what i need to replace, i know squat.

show me a laptop and ill spout out its specs and tune it up just right, a bike, im lost.

i bought a schwinn varsity '78 last week and i love it, but its got all stock parts (AFAIK) and the tire is literally falling apart, the sides are just falling off. it rides fine, did about 5 miles yesterday but i want to get a new set of tires and probably just use the tubes till they pop (unless someone warns me different), but i dont know where to start.

i found these http://cgi.ebay.com/27-x-1-1-4-blackwall-tires-pair-NOS_W0QQitemZ300315941276QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCycling_Parts_Accessories?hash=item45ec39999c&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72:1205|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:0|293:1|294:50

which i would gather is cheap, i guess i want to make this a beater bike, its my first but i also want it to be special, ya know?


if people want ill take pictures and you can judge for yourselves.

Thanks :)

NOS tires in that ad are probably OLD as the hills and probably worn.

Just go to a local bike shop. Get a 27 x 1-1/4 tire or two. They are fairly common. If you can't get them locally, order them online at somewhere like Niagara Cycle (http://www.niagaracycle.com/index.php?cPath=131_167). These (http://www.niagaracycle.com/product_info.php?products_id=12258) are probably closest to what came on the bike. Panaracers are nice, but they run a little big. If you get them, I recommend getting 27 x 1-1/8 (http://www.niagaracycle.com/product_info.php?products_id=13838) size, especially if your bike has fenders.

Make sure you post up pics of your bike here (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=458007).

Have your tried Harris? They have a decent listing of 27" tires.

thanks :) ill probably get them online, id gather theyre cheaper and i have to try and study for my last exam of the year, so even looking stuff up isnt the best idea right now :p

try the pasela panaracer tour guard, Nashbar usually has a pretty good price

great tires have vintage looking gum sidewalls

Stay with the wider 1-1/4 tire. Older bikes like the Schwinn have very wide rims that look goofy with smaller 1-1/8 tires.

+1 for Niagara. I would suggest going ahead & getting new tubes & rim strips as well. Might as well do the job right & avoid problems later. Do a search here, & read articles on installing & seating the tire correctly. You need " GOOD brake pads " on those wheels. If your cables are old & frayed, order those & replace too.

Performancebike.com has 27" tires, even 27 x 1".

Bike Tires Direct has lots to choose from and good prices

http://www.biketiresdirect.com

I bought Continental Gator Skins from them - great tire

+2 for Niagara Cycle Works

http://www.niagaracycle.com/index.php?cPath=131_167&sort=2a&filter_id=&sort=3a

I use the Panaracer Pasela Tourguard on my '86 Univega and like them a lot.

Niagara Cycle Works...are those low prices for real? Do they have good customer service, and are they reliable?

Older Schwinns had special rims (as original and as dealer-supplied parts) that required Schwinn tires. That's an important question, because they didn't "accept" non-Schwinn tires very well. I can't say if in 1978 they were still using that design, but it's kind of important to check that out.

Older Schwinns had special rims (as original and as dealer-supplied parts) that required Schwinn tires. That's an important question, because they didn't "accept" non-Schwinn tires very well. I can't say if in 1978 they were still using that design, but it's kind of important to check that out.

Didn't that apply only to 26" tires? I have not heard of any issues on 27" tires...

Their 26" tires were odd-ball sizes. For example, their 26 x 1 & 3/8 was not the same as every one else's 26 x 1 & 3/8 . Even those can be differentiated by looking at the ISO size.

Niagara Cycle Works...are those low prices for real? Do they have good customer service, and are they reliable?

I ordered some stuff from there recently. It was delivered to Texas in about a week using the cheapest shipping (non-priority US Mail I think). To keep the prices low, they are maybe a little slower than some of the other places, probably by running with a minimal staff. Check by email to make sure your stuff is in stock to avoid any glitches.


Didn't that apply only to 26" tires? I have not heard of any issues on 27" tires...

Their 26" tires were odd-ball sizes. For example, their 26 x 1 & 3/8 was not the same as every one else's 26 x 1 & 3/8 . Even those can be differentiated by looking at the ISO size.

I have a couple of Schwinns with 27 inch tires, one from the 70s and one from the 80s. Both have steel rims (i.e., the old Schwinn stuff) and both are okay with normal 27 x 1-1/4 tires. My LBS said they have issues with some Schwinns accepting tires and even said they switched the exact 27 inch tires they stock to get one that is more Schwinn-friendly. That said, I have one of their old tires on my 73 Varsity with no problems.

When mounting all my bike tires, I've gotten into the habit of kneading the tire after it is on the rim but before I put the air in to to convince myself it is seated evenly around the whole circumference of the tire. I had had problems with bulges and stuff but since I've started doing that my tires are seating better.

Bike Tires Direct has lots to choose from and good prices

http://www.biketiresdirect.com

I bought Continental Gator Skins from them - great tire

:thumb: for Bike Tires Direct. I've bought from them - good prices, great service, nice people to deal with.

Niagara Cycle Works...are those low prices for real? Do they have good customer service, and are they reliable?
Yes, I buy from them regularly. They are slow, so just factor that in on your planning. I use their Chen Sen on flippers, just ordered a bunch more. Also a good place for loose ball bearings, cables, cable housings and brake lever hoods.

FWIW, I had a bad experience with the Panaracer 27 x 1 1/4s (nasty bulge, straight from the factory), but I've always been happy with the Performance store-brand tires. I recommend the Kevlar model -- they cost a bit more, but I've never had a puncture.

I like the Schwalbe Marathons for a comfortable tire with some thread on it. I got mine (700 x 28) at Niagara. Biketiresdirect.com has them in 27".

I have ordered plenty from Niagara Cyles. HUGE selection of all kinds of parts. I do get a list going before I order , to save on shipping. Always takes about 1 week to get my order.
A regular 27" fits your wheel, but seat it correctly & don't overinflate. I run about #75 of air. The odd Schwinn was the 26". These bikes need good brake pads, [ Kool Stop works good ]. Look over the bike well & make an inventory of all of it's needs & place an order. I like to ride those old Schwinns.

+1 again on the Panaracer Pasela TG. I have them on three of my bikes and really like them.

I've been pretty happy with my 27" Specialized Armadillos. They ride pretty rough, but are absolutely bulletproof.

Panaracers TGs, 1/4, with fenders. Tight fit but plush ride.

Go to your local bike shop.They are usually in the $12 a tire price range and you wont pay an extra $6 a tire shipping.Its also a good way to meet a local shop owner that could be handy down the line.

I like the Panaracer TG Paselas - but they do run large. The 27 x 1 1/4 ones would have required me grinding down parts of my FD to get clearance.

...

i found these http://cgi.ebay.com/27-x-1-1-4-blackwall-tires-pair-NOS_W0QQitemZ300315941276QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCycling_Parts_Accessories?hash=item45ec39999c&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72:1205|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:0|293:1|294:50

...

That is mindnumbing that two no name old tires go for $26 with shipping. Incredible. You can hit a hardware store or a Walmart or KMart and get them for half that.

15 bids, too. Amazing. There is just no end to the suckers on eBay.

Another vote for the Panaracer Pasela TG. I also like IRC Road Winner II Duro's, but they aren't always easy to find.

Local shop has tires for $8 each

Even Ace Hardware has 27X1 1/4 tires cheap. You might have to ask them to order from the Ace warehouse.

I like the Panaracer TG Paselas - but they do run large. The 27 x 1 1/4 ones would have required me grinding down parts of my FD to get clearance.

+1

1/4 rubbed against the rear brake bracket on my largish 23" 1988 World Sport. Switched to 1/8 and it's much better.

I have a $200+ parts order in now with Niagara. It has been a week, and per my last call to them they don't have my order together yet. They list a wide selection of parts at very good prices, but don't actually stock much of what they sell. You place an order and then wait for them to have the parts shipped in. When everything is received, they box it up and ship it out. No partial shippments - another way of controlling cost.

I told them to alert me if anything is on backorder, and we'll drop those items so that we don't extend this out too much further. If you are patient, it can work. If you are in a hurry, maybe go elsewhere - or place the order by phone and ask about the availability of each and every item.

I've recently been using 27" Specialized Armadillos and been very happy with them. They even hold high pressure with old rims.

+1 for Paselas

I have not had the negatives mentioned above although only have about 50 miles on them so time will tell I guess. Ordered them through my LBS.

I run Bontranger (Trek) Select K's in 27x1, 27x1 1/8, and 27x1 1/4. They run $24 locally, but no shipping or anything and the wear like iron. If you max out the psi, they do run a bit hard, but they don't look like the cheap gum-wall things.

I like the way Panaracers ride, but have also had quality issues (bulges/casing issues) with NEW tires. If you have to mail order them, it does not seem worth the risk.