I recently posted a thread on the trouble I'm having fitting 27 x 1 1/4 Paselas into a fork that wasn't meant for them. Thanks for all the input. I'd like to keep the bike period correct if possible and these old rims are in nice shape, and, I'm not too keen on spending another hundred bucks on a new set of rims, etc. My question here is, am I flirting with danger using old non-hook bead 27 inch clincher rims? Been doing some reading on various blogs and forums, guys mentioning modern tires like Paselas blowing off old rims with no hook for the bead, ie; straight wall rims from the 70's, trouble getting the tire to seat properly, etc. Were tires built differently back then? What's supposed to hold the tire bead in the rim? When did they stop this practice in rim making? Am I flirting with danger ? ARE THESE OLD THINGS SAFE?
Thanks

I wouldn't use them but plenty of people do. Just don't overinflate them or they will blow off with a VERY LOUD BANG that will scare dogs and small children for miles around. The innertube gets pinched and that's what blows up and knocks the tire off the rim. The pressure in the tire forces the sidewall against the rim, making a somewhat tight seal as long as you keep the pressure below 70psi or so. Plus, they are heavy and ride heavy. And braking in the rain on those steel rims is entirely optional. I had them on a Raleigh 30-speed. Bought new wheels shortly after having a blowout

Not wanting to spend the cash to upgrade is a worthwhile reason to keep riding on the old rims but know your limitations.

But, since they don't work with the fork you have it's all a moot point. Sounds like you have a fork for a 700c wheeled bike. Probably best to get some 700c wheels and some new tires. Or maybe find another fork that will work.

Not if you keep the pressure down. I have Paselas on 27" Weinmann rims at the moment and put no more than 5.5 BAR of pressure - some will say that's a bit high. Before I realised the need for lower pressure I was putting 7 BAR and had 3 or 4 leave the rim with a bang.

Good to hear from you, Dawes-man.

Not at any speed.

The tires meant for smooth sided rims have steel beads which don't stretch. Unlike modern clinchers, the tires don't fold up neatly. Steel bead tires are still available and can take more than 70psi without blowing off the rim.

Generally they are safe, tire wise, you need to be careful about two issues though.

1) Even if the tire is rated 500PSI, you NEVER inflate tires on those rims to more then 80PSI, the reason modern wheels have hooked rims is to hold the tire on the rim at higher pressures. All tires then were made with steel beads, when the wanted a high pressure tire (70-80PSI was considered high pressure at that time) the beads were made slightly undersized, and they can be a bear to get on.

2) Most often those rims are chromed steel, chromed steel is very slippery when wet, in fact it wasn't uncommon in the 70's to be riding in the rain, jam on your brakes and find your self picking up speed rather then slowing down.

As long as you keep these two things in mind, they are quite safe. It's period correct, but your far better off to look for period correct looking modern rims. I just put a set of 80's Weinmann 700Cs on my Raleigh, and can't wait to test them out. Actually debating about putting the old 27" rear wheel back until the end of trainer season..... Then when I do the annual maintenance on that bike, put the 700C back on. This is only to save the new tires from getting beat up on the trainer though.....

They work, they're safe, and I'm currently riding two with hookless steel rims (590 and 630 ISO respectively). My sister has a third as her college beater sporting 597's (the dreaded Schwinn).

Thank you. It's good to be here.

Everything Wogsterca said... unless, on the last point, you need 32/40 rims. Then the only way to go for high tyre pressures is tubular.

Thanks all. I infer from all this input that since Paselas do indeed have a steel bead in them they shouldn't leave the rim prematurely if the pressure is kept moderate, and that it is the foldable clincher tires that are more likely not to work. I note the good Colonel dissents and compares no-hook rims to Ralph's Corvairs. Hmmm...on topic era anyway, but kind of ominous. Yes, the wheels that came with this old Gitane were the old no hook chrome Rigidas which, though do have a certain funky cool factor, are heavy as hell and you might as well have bars of Ivory soap for brake pads in the wet. So, I thought I'd try a set of slightly earlier era alloy clincher rims I have, and a set of narrower Pasela tires to try to gain some clearance and lose some weight, but I note the rear of that set, a Rigida 27 X 1 1/4 also has no hook in the rim. The front does however, a Super Champion. Hence, my concern on using either set ,... but it sounds like I'll be Ok if I keep the pressure down. Yes, this bike was built for tubulars but I'm trying to devote this bike to clinchers and didn't want to invest much more in it, but looks like the wise move at some point will be to put some 700c's on it. Thank you all for the help.

I was kidding. As others have said, use a tire with a wire bead (like the Paselas you have), keep them inflated between 65 and 82.9 psi and you're golden.

Yup, hookless rims + steel-bead tire + 80ish psi = comfortable ride

Neal

Dawes man, Glad you're OK. Have you heard from Lenton58 or Robatsu? Is Mr S OK? Saw appalling footage of the situation on the news and worried about you all ever since.

rootboy, I thought you said in a different thread that the bike was originally built for 700c? If so a 27" rim sure isn't original whether it is period-correct or not. I've used Pasela TGs on old 27" alloy non-hooked rims. Only time I had one blow off was when I pumped it up really high, about 120psi. Yeah, it was loud.

Oh ...heh heh ..OK Colonel. I saw that picture of Ralph's serious mug and visions of Corvairs careening out of control ...on fire, dance through my demented skull.
Thanks for the help gents. I'm feeling safer already.

Hi Jim,
Not original to the bike, but found that way. I've got some 700c tubulars for it but it didn't come with the original wheels. When I say period correct I don't mean original correct. Just trying to use these wheels I have.