Bicycle Mechanics - Oddball tire size?

I have an oddball Norwegian bike with a strange tire measurement. A visit to a few local shops, and a quick look on Sheldon's tire chart, leaves me thinking that this is a one-off Norse tire size that only Vikings used.

The sidewall reads: 26 x 1 5/8 x 1 1/2

One shop told me that a normal 26" tire won't even fit the rim, but I haven't been able to test that theory, since I don't have any of my 26'ers here to try.

Any ideas? I'm hoping for that exact size in a whitewall (or even all-white), so it will match the original setup and fit under the stock fenders. If I can even find this size, I may have to settle for gummies.

Here's the bike before I tore it down for re-building:
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r252/unkushunkus/103_3200.jpg

Does it have an iso diameter in millimeters? 584, 571, or something?

Plus, it almost looks like the existing wheels are just a tad small. Maybe you could pop in some 590's (26x1-3/8) or 622's (700C).

No metric measurements are listed on the sidewall.
I measured the interior of the rim (beadset) and used Sheldon's circumference conversion chart, and with my measurement of ~72.25", these might be 650B?
Looking at that picture now, it does look like I could fit a slightly wider or taller tire on there, but my main concern -- if these are an oddity -- is finding the right bead seat diameter.

26 x 1 5/8 x 1 1/2 is (probably/maybe/'almost certainly') a 650B tire. They're available in a few widths, so you should be able to find one similar to what you have now. Maybe not in white though.

Any online sellers of non-knobby 650B tires? Maybe a randonneur supplier?
Pricepoint and the like don't seem to have that sort of product in their catalogs.

there are a few 650b tires in non knobby treads. Panaracer col de la vie. Grand Bois. Pacenti. And basic low end blackwall kenda, cheng shin, hwa fong tires in a 584 bead diameter.

they are out there.

We (Velo-Orange) stock the col de la vies, but most bike shops can order them from a couple different distributors who normally have cheaper options too.

there are a few 650b tires...So you figure we pegged the size? Is there an easy way to measure with a tape measure?

I have often found old, dried up grease in old bikes. Sometimes they need a repack. It would be wise to get on it especially if the bike has sat for a while. Some of the bearings may be unusual and hard to replace.

Oh yeah, don't even worry. I've already torn down the hubs, pedals, BB, and headset and packed in fresh grease (and bearings when needed), resurfaced the drum pads, polished all the aluminum parts and all that. The only thing I didn't touch was the paint job. It has a very cool worn-in patina. I'm even going to modify a cheap blinky-light to fit into the fender light too (which no longer has any bulb or electrics).

So you figure we pegged the size? Is there an easy way to measure with a tape measure?

And for future reference, I used this chart from Sheldon: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/rim-sizing.html
The printed size on the tire really threw me off, since it didn't match anything, anywhere. I guess I'll only know for sure when I try to stretch a pair of 650B's on.

Any online sellers of non-knobby 650B tires? Maybe a randonneur supplier?
Pricepoint and the like don't seem to have that sort of product in their catalogs.

Did you try Niagara yet? I know they sell them.

While I routinely buy from pricepoint, I find their tire prices to be on the high side.

http://harriscyclery.net/product/kenda-globetrotter-650-b-26x1-1-2-x-1-5-8-black-w-gumwall-1741.htm

According to the info on the tire in the link, 650B is the correct size... It looks like Harris Cyclery wrote the product description some years ago and has not revised it. Nonethelss, it seems that 650B should fit.

Yeah that's definitely an old description. "Hard to find" no longer applies to 650B, at least around here.

To the OP: before ordering new tires, whoever you order them from, measure the width of the ones you have, and make sure to order ones that will fit well in your fenders.

Thread, rise from the dead!

As a Norwegian with some experience restoring these commuters, I can say that ANY and ALL 26" rims on an Øglænd bike of this vintage (late 60s) will have an ERTRO diameter of 584 mm. The company was called Øglænd and DBS was their flagship.

In the catalogue, 26 x 1 5/8 x 1 1/2 would be called "half-balloon". A 44-584-tire should fit like a glove. If the fork and chainstays are more than 6 cm wide right above the rims, you could fit a 54-584 tire there. I use CST white-walls for that, and it looks just right. This kind of frame was built in two versions: One with narrow fork and chainstays for 28" rims, one wide for 26" rims.

Sorry for necromancing the thread, but you know how it is: I felt compelled.

Cheers, Johan

Does it have an iso diameter in millimeters? 584, 571, or something?

Plus, it almost looks like the existing wheels are just a tad small. Maybe you could pop in some 590's (26x1-3/8) or 622's (700C).

that may not be such a good idea unless the OP is willing to give up the front drumbrake

Thread, rise from the dead!


Oh, geez- zombies are everywhere, even Norway. *Sigh*.

Oh, geez- zombies are everywhere, even Norway. *Sigh*.

Seems that Norwegian zombies are highly informative.

The OP hasn't posted for more than a year. MrMook, where are you?

Relative newbie here, also necromancing the thread!

If anyone's trying to source these in the UK (whether you call 'em 650B, 44-584 or 26 x 1 1/2 x 1 5/8), as I've just tried to do, they are still not easy to find. Took me about 3 hours online last weekend to source some for my 1980s Peugeot Porteur.

After emailing 6+ bike firms (Wiggle, Evans, and lots of smaller ones I hadn't heard of) that I found against that tyre result in Google with a brand (Schwalbe, Panaracer, Grand Bois etc), all got back to me bar one saying 'Sorry, no can do'.

The only lead to find me a pair of Schwalbe HS159 gum wall tyres was the good folks at SJS Cycles: http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/. They've just got a set in, which I've now reserved.

I've always found SJS' service great too, having previously bought some pretty weird parts for this old girl below!

313984

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/page/find/?name=650B&page=1#filterkey=cat&cat=348&page=1&page=1&order=PRICE ASCENDING

/Sreten.