Hello everyone,

I want to gift my father with a set of tires/tubes for his older Schwinn (I don't know the model/type). He gave me a piece of paper with this on it: 26 x 1 1/4 - 1 3/8

From what I've read, Kenda is the only manufacturer of old Schwinn tires. Is this the correct tire? https://www.biketiresdirect.com/prod...8x1-1-4-37-597

I was confused and wondered if swapping the 1 1/4 and 1 3/8 made a difference in sizing?

And for the tubes, do I order the 26 x 1 3/9 Schrader (32/40-590)?

Thanks for any help!

Rene

The Schwalbe HS 130 is a 26 by 1 1/4... probably the best quality tyre ever made for this size.

They are hard to find and you might check wheelchair suppliers as these are used more widely in this application than they are for bicycles these days.

No material difference between the two sizes you referenced, stick with the advice from below. Shraeder valves are correct.

Tire Sizing Systems

Many to pick from, including the crowd favorite, Panaracers. Save some money too, over BT Direct.
Tires & Tubes - Tires - 26" - 26 x 1-3/8" - Niagara Cycle

Thank you, and thanks for the tip about ordering from Niagara! I see I need to make sure it fits the Schwinn S6 but other than that, much better pricing!

You can use a 590 tube in an S6 / 26 by 1 1/4 with little issue as the diameter is only 7mm smaller.

Niagara only has the Kenda in the S6 size... none of the other tyres they offer will fit a 597mm rim as they fit the 650A which is 590mm.

This is a rare tyre size that has not been used since the 1960's although there used to be more companies that made replacements, when Dunlop stopped making bicycle tyres they also stopped making what was a high quality S6 tyre and then the Japanese picked up the slack for a time.

Kenda makes decent tyres, the Schwalbe HS130 appears to be in production limbo but if you could find a set of these you would have some really excellent tyres.

I am hoarding a few sets of 597 tyres as I ride vintage Raleighs that use these... a friend had a stash of them that he was never going to use.

There is only the Kenda S6 in a blackwall or gumwall version here.

The 26 by 1 3/8 by 1 1/4 (EA1) is not the same as 26 by 1 3/8 (650A).

Thanks for the clarification. I did order the Kenda tire for the Schwinn S6. It is quite confusing!

A couple years ago I had to buy some Schwinn (597 mm) tires and the only ones I could find were the Kenda black wall. Now Niagara offers Kendas in that size in both blackwall and gumwall as well as two matching offerings by "Cheng Shin." My suspicion is that they are probably identical tires made in the same factory.

What a timely thread for me...

This spring I replaced my tires (and tubes...) on my Schwinn Collegiate with the Kenda blackwalls. The tires that were on it were not the right size (too small, made by Bell) and were a bear to get off.

Anyhow my wife's Collegiate also is in need of tires. Is there a difference between the blackwalls and gumwalls aside from appearance and price? The bike currently has gumwalls on it, but I don't think she will care one way or another.

Thanks,

J White

No, Cheng Shin does not share manufacturing with their rival Kenda. Different tires.

Mounting tires on Schwinn steel rims and getting them to seat evenly tends to be very difficult at times.

I suggest using some rubbing alcohol in a sprayer to wet the surfaces, then inflate and deflate repeatedly until the tire can be made to seat fully and evenly on both sides of the rim.
This can be moderately to extremely difficult depending on the particular tire and rim.

Do not use any kind of metal tool to pry the tires on the rim. Work some slack into the tire bead (going around the tire) as the last portion is coaxed into the rim channel using plastic tire irons, or the fabric that wraps around the wire bead will be easily damaged and can lead to blow-out.

I would choose Cheng over Kenda any day myself. Note that Niagara always charges full shipping cost on each and every item that they put in the box, several dollars each for each tire!