cblessing8

I just bought a mid to late 70s Columbia Twosome tandem bike off craigslist. I need to put new tires on it, so I bought some 26" tires but they are too small. So I tried some 700c tires I have around the house and they are too big. Any suggestions? Any help or advice is welcome.

Thanks

Chris_in_Miami

I have a Twosome with 26" wheels. What are the exact measurements molded on the tires?

For what it's worth, mine has the rim size stamped on the rim near the valve hole, though I'm not sure those hoops are original.

wrk101

There are several different sizes of 26 inch tires. Sheldon Brown has some details.

StephenH

Do the original tires have any markings?

Note on that Sheldon Brown site, that some tires have a size number/ designation that you may not immediately recognize as a size.

I was thinking the only 26" tires normally encountered on recent bikes were the standard size still used, the 26x1-3/8 size used on 3-speeds, and then an odd Schwinn-size tire, which I wouldn't think would be used on a Columbia. Maybe there's others. Or maybe you bought the oddball Schwinn-size tires, but they don't sell them at Walmart.

cblessing8

Thanks for all the input, the original tires are torn to shreds and have no identification, neither do the rims. The tires I got for the bike are 26" x 1.5", standard size for a cruiser or tandem bike. Just to make sure I communicated the problem clearly, the tires are too small to fit on the rims (diameter of tire is too small), however the rims are not large enough to accept a 700c tire. Even if they were 27" tires, that is close enough to a 700c to fit , am I wrong?

I thought I new about tire sizes, now i'm just really confused.

jacksbike

I sold these when they were new, and to the best of my recollection you require 2 26 X 1.75 tires and tubes. You will probably have to go to a bike shop to get them. The rims were standard 26 X 1.75, unlike a Schwinn size. If you go to a department store that sells cruiser type bikes with the fat tires, this is the size that you need.

Glennfordx4

On my Columbia Twosome that I sold last year it had 26"x 1.50 Kelly Safari tires on it and I tried to put a fatter 2.00 tire which was a no go but I was just able to fit a Schwinn typhoon 26x1.75 on it and that was tight with no room for error.

cranky old road 

I put Michelin 26 X 1.5 tires on mine with no problem. 27" tires are larger than the 700c.

cblessing8

I just picked up the right size tires from my LBS, it need 26 X 1 3/8, 590 mm diameter, the ones I originally had were 559 mm. Thanks again for everyone's input, now I can get the bike up and running.

Chris_in_Miami

Strange, the wheels must have been replaced, that size is typically found on "middleweight" roadsters like the Raleigh Sports. It might be a bit faster with the 590s than if you had big balloon tires on it (my Twosome will accept 2.175" tires without rubbing the stays.) Glad you got it sorted out, be sure to post some pictures when it's back together.