Originally Posted by cudak888
An ample selection of 27"s in all popular widths (X1-1/4, X1-1/8, X1, & X1-3/4) are available today (for both straight-wall and hooked bead), and the selections should be quite sufficent for any form of riding you wish to do on your International.
Using 700C wheels for improved tire selection is ridiculous. For that matter, the endless selection of 700C tires is equally ridiculous - after all, a bike takes two tires max.
Additionally, when dealing with a vintage machine, one usually sticks with gum, skin or blackwalls, all of which are available in the 27" size. Of course, you can get both black and skinwall tires in 700C, but not in a selection any more substantial then what is available in 27".
Furthermore, the majority of 700C tire selection is comprised mainly of various nearly-identical blackwalls, color-tread tires, and other odd, modern mutiliations that are mostly useless, particularly in the case of this fellow's Raleigh International.
P.S.: 700C may allow for considerable width selections (19C, 20C, 23C, 25C, 28C, 32C, 35C, etc...), but the four sizes available for 27" tires are quite sufficent to satisfy most any rider.
-Kurt
If you look at the image of the bike, hook bead tires are out, (note the schrader valve stem) this will limit one to the 75 - 85 (maybe) psi tires in this case, wire bead, a bike of this caliber would ride and handle much better with a 28 or larger section tire and higher pressure. And weigh less. Handle even better with tubulars. If one wants to handicap the abilities of the bike with a less than optimum tire selection, to each his own.
To be constructive, why not provide the exact makes, current models and stocking sources for the vast array ot tires you cite. It will probably not be a local bike shop.