Originally Posted by DannoXYZ
The OP said that the replacement tyre was too big? MTB sized tyres in 559mm bead would actually be too small. Bigger than 26x1-3/8" would be something like 27x1-3/8" ??? What's the size printed on the side of the new tyre?
This is probably Schwinn's fault.
The traditional 26 x 1 3/8" size, used on most English 3-speeds is 590 mm.
For reasons not clear, back in the '60s Schwinn started using the 597 mm size and _calling_ it 26 x 1 3/8"!
This idiocy has wasted uncountable person hours over the years. If the tire says "Schwinn" or "S-[digit]" on it, it will be the 597 mm size, properly known in the English system as 26 x 1 1/4".
My guess is that the O.P. got stuck with a 597 mm tire.
http://harriscyclery.com/590
O.P.: See also
http://sheldonbrown.com/english for lotsa info about bikes like yours.
Sheldon "Anglophile" Brown
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