Please don't take offense to any of My suggestions as they are just that, suggestions. I at one time had a late 70's traveler that was running Shimano 400 components (anyone remember those?). That thing was a tank. It was a fine commuter, tough and durable, but I wouldn't call it versatile. The chrome 27" wheels looked nice but they sure did impact the performance. If I were you, I would but some new cheap bar tape on it, try and get $150.00 bucks for it, then sell the tubular rims for $75 as is without the $100 to 150 dollar set of tires that you had planned to spend. At this point you should have $225.00 plus the money you were about to spend on tires. What's next? Well since you were wanting big tires for a gravel grinder.... Du du duh.... Time to pick up a nice vintage hard tail mountain bike/ mbt atb whatever, for hopefully under $200, do a dropbar conversion and have a bike like no one else that can and will decimate all!!!