Thanks for letting me know this. Those walls looked pretty straight to me (This is my first pair, only bought in March of this year). I've been using heavy, wire-bead tires. Now that I know this, I can go to something lighter and higher pressure.

I have a Panasonic Touring Deluxe that has 27x1 1/4 tires on it right now.

What is the widest tire that I can run on these rims?

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

The rims don't limit the width of tires that you can use. I used to race XC on 45c Panaracer Smokes mounted on MA40 rims with 13mm inside width.

A better question might be "how (actually) wide of a 27" tire can you find" or "how wide of a tire will fit the Panasonic frame and fork".

Note that the stated size is only loosely related to the actual size of the tire, and that the tire's width is affected by the rim's width.
I've seen 27x1-1/4" tires measuring as small as 26mm wide and as wide as 33mm wide, depending on the particular tire and rim.
I've used 27x1-3/8" tires that measured only 29mm wide, and I've never seen one that measured wider than 33mm wide.

The 27x1-1/4" Pasela tires seem to run as wide as any, actually true to inflated size or perhaps a mm or two larger, depending on the rim width.

You're right, my question should have been "where can I find wide 27inch tires"?

I was running 38mm wide tires on a 700c wheelset and it worked out great on the Panasonic but I would like to give the original wheelset a try.

I had a heck of a time finding some Pasela PT folding tires in 1 1/4" but finally
https://www.ebay.com/usr/bellsbikeshop
They have a few left.

Nice!

Good to know I have a few more options than just the Kenda k35s

I just rode a 200k Brevet on an old '83 Trek 620. I had the Ultra Sport II tires (27x 1.25 @ 60psi) and they rolled great and were very comfortable for the whole 130 mile ride. We even had an 8 mile crushed limestone section, and these tires went over it with no problem.

However, it seems continental has discontinued the Ultra Sport II's and now have the Ultra Sport III tires out. Hoping they are nearly the same, if not better.

For what it's worth, Universal Cycles seems to have a really good selection of 27" tires online and their prices are competitive. I wanted to find some gumwall tires for my World Voyageur and ended up ordering from UC. I received my tires in only two days (they're in OR and I'm just in Seattle, so YMMV). And lest anyone think I'm a shill (honestly, I avoided Bike Forums for a few years because even the most innocuous review of a product or business seemed to be met with accusations that a poster was a shill), I have no connection, formal or otherwise, to Universal Cycles; I was just happy to find a selection of 27" tires for a good price from someplace other than Amazon. Few shops around Seattle have 27" tires in stock.

I just ordered a couple of sets of Conti Ultra Sport 3s in 27X1-1/4 from Amazon at 19.99 ea. It is really hard to beat those for the money if you are riding fairly clean paths and roads. I have a hard time paying more that $20 a tire, so I am glad there are still some bigger brand options at that price point. It seems like the 27" tires are getting hit hard with the current COVID bike boom of folks pulling out of the garage or buying older bikes. Supplies were low for 27" pre-COVID and now we have blown through all of that stock on hand. It actually might end up ensuring us better supplies of 27" in the future due the the resurrection of so many older bikes and the spike in demand for that size.

This is a pretty cool site for tire comparison. I know I like the new Conti Ultra Sport 3s. https://www.bicyclerollingresistance...sport-iii-2020

Are kenda tires a good tire or are they pretty average?

Generally they are low end though some of them are decent.

thanks

I just picked up a set of their cheapie K35 27" tires because they look the part (had to have gum walls for my World Voyageur and I don't really like Paselas) and I don't expect much of them but I will say that in 700c Kenda makes some better-than-decent, actually-really-good tires - its been a couple of years but I've used some of their road/race (Kaliente) and gravel/cyclocross (Small Block Eight) tires that I really liked and were a fantastic value.

I was stripping down my most recent stupid acquisition and to further the chagrin I found the rear wheel to be 27x1 1/4 Araya silver alloy with a decent Pasela 27x1 skin wall. Hub is Shimano but no other markings, 126.

I am keeping the DA freewheel unless you really want it. 6-sp corncob.

In order to get a new acquisition rolling quickly I needed to throw some 27" wheels on the bike (I didn't have a spare 700c 5-speed) while I rebuilt the wheels it came with and bought some new tubulars. The 27 x 1 1/8 I had on the wheels barely cleared. So I ordered some 27 x 1 Pasela tires. They look and ride great. I did the first ride on them today and they were the best 27's I've had so far (Not saying a lot, I've only had 4 different 27's so far). These will definitely be my goto 27's going forward.

I am overhauling a 1981 Miyata 210 mixte for my niece and am now at tire choice time. The nice aluminum Araya rims are hookless I believe, and I am looking at the traditional Kendas for this novice rider. On my vintage Schwinns, I have been running Kendas at lower pressures for comfort. Never had a tire pop on those Weinmanns at 80+ psi either. Anyhow, it seems that the seldom seen K34 lists 70psi and a slightly heavier construction with the same tread as the venerable K35. What’s not to like, I ask here?

I am also possibly looking at black walls for aesthetics on this bike. All gum walls for me but this gray bike with black cables and seat may look less “old” to her. I am also putting upright bars and changing the brake levers. Has anyone had experience with the K34s in black wall?

I also see a Kenda in 1 3/8” that could be interesting and may even fit nicely. The rims on it are labeled 27x1 1/4” which means little I know, but they are fairly wide. The stock tires are so checked at the gum wall sides as to be unreadable. They measure 27-28mm and are shot from age and exposure, although I did take a mechanical shake down ride with those on it. Thanks for any info on these Kenda alternatives. Trying to keep price down for her so no high dollar alternatives considered.

Update, these are hooked rims. Rear has a pronounced flat spot in one area that won’t come out but will be okay for recreational riding for niece.

The Kenda 1-3/8" tires may measure just a couple of millimeters wider than the ones on there now, nowhere near the suggested "35-630" molded onto the tire.

Flat spots can usually be pulled out with a 3-foot rope tied to a post and to the rim at the low spot. Remove three spokes first and loosen two more adjacent to those, and don't over-do it with too much yanking impact. You can always go back and do a little more correction but there is considerable work tensioning and truing after each effort.

Thanks for the info on the dent. Perhaps I will give it a try. Dent is very localized between two spokes which is worse than over a larger area. Looks like not many 27” tires out there now anyhow.

Might be worth checking out a local bike co-op to see if they have an inexpensive replacement rim as well.

Some deals I have run across recently:

Schwalbe HS159: https://www.biketiresdirect.com/prod...7-x-1-1-4-tire

Paselas: https://www.thebikesmiths.com/produc...707682#ui-id-3

EVO Dash multi-packs: https://www.thebikesmiths.com/collec...35142644531360

Zaffiro: https://www.nashbar.com/vittoria-zaf...00318/p1256360

Did the Serfas Seca get reintroduced in 27" because of the 2020 bike boom? The last time I seen them offered in 27" was like 6 years ago. I wonder if they're the same as the old ones.

Serfa Seca

Panaracer Paselas appear to no longer be available in 27" on Panaracer's website. However, the Pasela Protite is. I'm not sure if the 27" tires being crossed out means they're discontinued, or just not currently in stock.

https://www.panaracerusa.com/collections/commuter-city

Soma Fabrications' online store does still carry their model of Paselas in 27 inch 1-1/8 and 1-1/4. I checked with them a couple of weeks ago.