louky

I need to get some tires for bikes that are to be donated. These bikes are from the 80's (I think), one Huffy All-pro, and one Free Spirit. Both tires are labeled 26 x 1 3/8. The last time I looked for these tires they didn't have very many. Is there any other size (that might be common to a co-op) that I could substitute? TIA

squirtdad

key is 26, in that diameter there are not a lot of tires narrower than 1 3/8, you can go larger than 1 3/8 , but you need to look at how much clearance there is for a larger tire both frame and brakes, some frames can go bigger some cannot amazon looks to be around 20 buck a tire

Dave Mayer

I'm aware of several different 26" tire standards. Do you have the common: ISO 559? Or the larger ISO 590 standard? You can tell from the tire sidewall.

I volunteer regularly at a Co-op, and this time of year we are drowning in bikes. Especially now that pandemic-era bike purchases are being dropped on us as folks return to recreational activities that they really want to do (not biking). You might want to check with your Co-op. Don't mean to seem snobby, and we accept all donations, but any bike labelled: 'Huffy' or "Free Spirit" would be immediately disassembled, and every single part would go straight to recycling, no matter how good of a condition it was in.

JoeTBM 

More then likely they are ISO 37-590.

Bikesmiths have them in stock, if you need 4 they are $61.56 +tax including shipping not too bad of a price.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/29466845315...Bk9SR-CesZO6YQ

JoeTBM 

We also are drowning in bikes at our volunteer shop, guess we are not that picky.

Bill Kapaun

Probably NOT-
A 26x1-3/8" is typically a 35/37ish x 590mm. (37- 590 on the side wall.)
Schwinn had a similar size that was 597mm Bead Seat Diameter.
The 590 or 597mm is the IMPORTANT part.
The tire selection is not very good in that somewhat obsolete size.

Typical "mountain bike" 26 is a 559mm BSD.
USE THE ISO SIZE!
From Sheldon-

FBinNY 

It sounds like these tires might predate the ERTRO sizing system. So go to the prior standard marking, which is most likely EA-3. This was the standard tire size for 3-speed "English Racer" tires. A proper replacement would be xx-590. These were super common BITD, but unfortunately harder to find now.

It might also be a 650a but these were much rarer back then. In any case, finding a proper replacement will start by finding a proper standard marking, then translating to ERTRO.

dedhed

common size for boom US 10 speeds 590 ISO, EA-3

veganbikes

The key for tires like that is to match that tire exactly with no substitutions. Get the most direct replacement you can. Don't change size or anything like that because frequently it may not fit right. Kenda is usually the modern go to for the bikes that had those odd sizes but check with your local shop and bring the old tires and wheels and have them double check. Find someone who knows the size and don't mention it as a 26" mention it as the ISO diameter only. 26" is the worst size ever because it is 3-5 sizes all different and a lot of folks don't know this especially if they are younger and haven't come across the other sizes or don't realize that 650B is another 26" size

KerryIrons

While 26 is key, so is the fractional width number. Tires with decimal width markings are different than tires with fractional width markings. If there is no ERTRO marking, the fractional width marking is your only clue.