3 speed English
 

A person at work asked me what size tire is common on the classic 3-speed English bike? She owns one and knows nothing of bikes. What diameter and width? I suspect there is a good deal of variety or maybe not.

Thanks, Laurel

Typically, most 3 speeds use 26" x 1-3/8" tires. Some "roadsters" use a 28" diameter tire.

English roadsters use a 28 inch oversized tyre that is 635mm / 28 by 1 1/2...

Many higher volume 700c tyres come with a 28 inch marking but it is important to know they are not the same size as the rim is 622 mm.

Canadian roadsters use the 700c wheel and their fractional measurement is 28 by 1 3/8 by 1 5/8.

26 by 1 3/8 is the most common size on English made bikes and is also pretty much standard on many older 3 speeds including CCM bicycles.

It is important to know that this 26 inch size is not the same as a modern 26 inch mtb tyre and the tyre must have a fractional measurement.

See Sheldon Brown:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/english-3.html#tire

If you look for EA3, or 590, or 650A, or 26x1 3/8", you can find a surprising number of tires. Some wheel chairs also use this tire size. Someone on this board put together a list of tires he's found in bike shops, hardware stores, big box stores, internet, and discount stores, and it was quite long.

Thanks all.

Be sure to note that the Schwinn 26" , on the 3 speeds, etc., is a special tire !!
http://sheldonbrown.com/tire_sizing.html