dbaka

I just bought a 1972 Steyr clubman and it still has it's factory tires but the rubber is pretty badly cracked and they need to be replaced. I just started up bicycling and so I don't really know anything so my question is what type of tires do I replace the old ones with and what are some decent cheap ones and what are some good quality ones?
Here's a picture of the bike by the way.Attachment 561949

palincss

What size tires does it have on there now?

Lascauxcaveman 

What size (if any) is marked on the tires? That vintage might be a 26" or a 27" rim, depending on where sold. What country are you in?

Welcome to the forums.

USAZorro

All that follows presumes you're looking for something comparable to the original tires for the purpose of riding mostly on pavement.

Tires make the ride. If you're looking to put any sort of mileage on the bike, that wouldn't be the place to skimp. Your link didn't direct me to a picture of our bike, but I did Google images, and it looks like it either would have 27" or 700c wheels. If yours take 27", go with a 27 x 1-1/4" as a minimum size. Some folks think skinnier = faster, which simply is not the truth, and going with narrower than 1-1/4" for this bike would be a mistake, imo. If 700c, something in the range of 25mm - 28mm would be appropriate.

Also, "cheap" is a relative term. That might mean under $12.00 to one person, and under $25.00 to another.

If you're not in a huge rush, consider ordering from Nashbar or Niagara, both of which carry an assortment of sizes at discounted prices. In 27", the Kenda K35 skinwall looks like it would provide a comparable look and a decent ride. If 700c, there are dozens of options. Panaracer, Schwalbe and Continental all have quite good overall reputations. Compass and Soma have excellent reputations if you want a premium tire.

Andy_K 

I've got a 1974 Clubman, and mine came with 27" wheels. If your wheels are original, they'll be steel and you should consider replacing them with aluminum wheels if you have the budget. Aluminum wheels will be a lot lighter and your brakes will work better.

Anyway, if you stick with the 27" wheel, the tire I'd recommend is the Panaracer Pasela. If you're in the U.S., this is a good source:

https://www.biketiresdirect.com/prod...6cwaAmrN8P8HAQ

If you decide to get new wheels, you should consider 700c wheels as that will open up your tire choices a lot (though Paselas would still be a good choice).

randyjawa 

Look very closely at the documentation on the tires. The size is often easy to see, an example being 27 x 1 1/4 but there might be smaller numbers. Report those also since they help to define what rim they will fit. Pictures might help also since the link did not work for me.

Slightspeed

I just mounted my first set of Panaracer Pasela PTs. I used 700c x 28 on my restored '73 Raleigh SC. I like the vintage gumwalls, they ride very smooth and I don't feel much slower than the Gatorskins I'm used to. $71 at Chain Reaction, 2 tires, 2 tubes, free shipping.