dmw

Hey guys its my first post on Bikeforums so be gentile please lol, I just purchased a 1968 Schwinn Collegiate for my daily rider around Chicago. I want to change tires on the original Schwinn rims but the tires are much larger than my old road bikes (huffy Omni 10) which i thought were the same size? Is it possible to but skinny tires on the old Schwinn rims or do I need to go out and buy a new set of rims to fit the skinny tires? Also I want to hook up an old Schwinn generator light to it, I know the lights aren't that bright and just used to let drivers know your there, but it I attach 2 generators can I double the power to the light? just a thought
Thanks Guys

Retro Grouch 

You just opened Pandora's box.

My advice is to take your bike to a bike shop - preferably one that's been in the same location for a few decades. Schwinn tires can be goofy so nothing else will fit on some Schwinn rims.

Changing wheels isn't going to be easily done either. Your fork probably won't fit the axle diameter of a modern wheel and a modern rear wheel will be too wide to fit the dropouts.

LesterOfPuppets

Check the tire sidewalls for two numbers separated by a dash and surrounded by parentheses. These are the only meaningful tire size numbers for replacing tires.

Chances are good you've got (37-597) tires on there. You can get (32-597) tires here, which would shave about 5mm off width.

These look kinda skinny but they don't quote width
https://harriscyclery.net/itemdetails.cfm?ID=1836

Beyond that, +1 to what Retro said. If you're looking for really skinny like 25mm or less, you'll need new rims, which might require new spokes also. Or new wheels which might require some fork dropout modification. Dremel makes quick work of it if you're careful. I just did it to a Free Spirit.

It's often cheaper to get another heavy 10-speed with the tires you want on 'em than to go with wheel rebuild/swap options unless you can get really cheap parts/labor.

cpt. Howdy

I'm pretty sure the collegiate uses 27" tires. 700c is too small. yes they do make 27" road tires

hueyhoolihan

according to a 67 catalog and my failing memory (i bought a 5 speed derailleur equipped Schwinn Collegiate in about '63 , about 65 dollars), collegiate's had a 26" (probably 597mm as previously mentioned) x 1 3/8's tire. at that time they came in a 3 speed IGH too (my friend had one, i remember the 3 speed's top gear was higher than minel, which irritated me to no end!). i think Schwinn resurrected the line about 20 years later with different specs.

Jeff Wills

Ditto to all of the above. Yes, your Collegiate has 26 x 1 3/8" tires (I grew up on a couple different Schwinn Collegiates way back when) and they fit a different rim than the 26 x 1 3/8" tires on your Huffy. Don't ask why, it's just the way it is.

When you shop for tires, you need to look for 26 x 1 3/8" to fit S-6 rims. Avoid any tires that don't specify or say they fit EA-3 rims. Here's one: https://www.bikepartsusa.com/bikeparts/item/01-82477/ . The cost and complexity of changing rims and tires to something lighter is very large, and probably not worth it. It'd be kind of like putting a turbo on a Yugo.

Get a modern LED light if you want more power. Lights have improved a bunch in the last 5 years, much less the last 40.