Newb question... Tubes.
 

The wife's Suburban runs 27x1-3/8 size tires. What tubes do I get? And more importantly, how do I found out in the future?

I have tried finding articles on this, to no avail. I have searched the forums, Google, Sheldon Brown, etc. I don't know what I'm doing wrong, but I am failing at gathering information in some paramount way...

Any help would be much appreciated. :(

700c x 35mm(ish) tubes are what you want--they work fine on the bigger 27" wheels.

I should mention that I already ordered and received 26x1-3/8 tubes. Not sure why, but that's the size I ordered. These won't work, even though they stretch a bit?

Someone correct me if this is bad advice, but I would think that any 27" or 700 tube would work, provided the stem (presta, schraeder, ...) matched the drilling in the rim. However, you'll want tubes for the wider dimensions (e.g. 35, as lostarchitect suggested, is a wider tube/tire), as there are narrower ones for racing tires.

The diameter of a "700c" -- 622 -- and '27"' -- 630 are so close (8mm) that they are effectively interchangeable. This is rubber we're talking about after all. :)

Lostarchetict is correct.

The only other issue: make sure you get the correct valve stem. I'll add this on the chance tghat you ahve not encountered this before. Look at the valve stem on the old tube. Does it look olike the one on your car's tires, with a flat top? That is a Schrader valve. Or does it have a narrower valve stem with a little doohickie on the top that you have to unscrew (not a removeable cap, but a doohickie that extends from the middle of the stem itself and stays atached when you unscrew it as far as it will go)? That is a Presta valve.

My guess - and it is only a guess, so be sure to check - is that a Suburban is running Schrader valves. Also, a Presta valve is narrower than a Schrader valve, so a Presta valve will fit through a Schrader valve sized hole in the rim. Don't do it. Please. Trust me on this. The valve stem needs to fit snuggly in the rim's valve stem hole.

With that, you should be able to get the right tube. If you already knew all this, please accpt my apologies. But since you self-identified as new to this, I thought it better to err on the side of over-explaining - better to have and not need than to need and not have, and all that.

Tailwinds.

OK, 26X1-3/8 is substantially smaller than 27 ... 590mm v. 630mm, so that probably won't work.

Just be sure of the actual tire size.

http://sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html

I know the difference between the valves. For some reason, however, I have just absolutely blanked on tube sizing. Maybe because it's not a real definitive thing...

Well, crap, another Amazon return. >.< Ugh!

Nope, too small. That's for an old English 3-speed. If you know someone with one, you could maybe trade them for something.

We don't know anybody around here. :(

I made the mistake of ordering a bunch of 700Cx3* and 27x1 1/4" tubes from Niagara once.

Got two bunches of 700C tubes :p

It's always better to be a little undersized on your tube rather than over sized. The 26 is going to be too undersized.

I'm adding another noob tube question in here-- explain to me how much money I should pay for tubes? Do cheap ones work fine, or do I need to go find name brand ones? I've got a small budget and wonder if this is a place where I can save a couple of bucks?

does this go for width too?

You could get many many opinions on this.

From my personal experience, cheap tubes seem to work fine. I usually buy cheaper tubes, and have not noticed that they have any issues at all. Expensive tubes can be lighter, so if that's a consideration you might want to spend more. Don't waste money on slime tubes and stuff like that, that money would be better spent on a better tire.

Actually, I should've split my two statements. From what I've seen and been told, it's better to be undersized in tube cross-sectional width/diameter and it's ok to be slightly undersized in wheel diameter i.e. 700 would work in 27 or 650b would work in 700.

I've heard of people using 26er tubes on 29er bikes. I have attempted this with no success. In the same sitting I tried to use a 32mm 700c tube in a 29er tire. My room mate might have pinched the tube, or it simply exploded. Either way, it didn't work.

I was aware of those risks when posting my question. ;) I mostly just wanted a little validation before I ordered cheapo tubes. Thanks!

You don't have a bike shop near you?

Okay... So... Wife's Suburban's tire is 27x1-3/8. My Varsity's tire is 27x1-1/4. Will same size tubes work for both?

I am thinking of getting new tires as well. (May have to replace the original ones on the Varsity) :(
Can the Suburban run 27x1-1/4 tires, just to keep things congruent?


Amazon is cheaper when you group together for free shipping. LOADS cheaper.