Yes, great idea! I just found out my '71 Schwinn uses a 597, 26 x 1 3/8, while my Royal Scot uses a 590, 26 x 1 3/8. Oh boy!

[MENTION=96605]smontanaro[/MENTION], not all Kenda tires are bad.

No doubt, but after enough experience (mostly with their tubes), I decided it wasn't worth continuing giving them money. There are plenty of other options out there.

True enough. I stick with the big name tires, given my experience. I had a bad experience with Cheng Shin tires. I understand they've gotten better, and so have Kenda. I had Schwalbe Delta Cruiser tires on my 3-speed, and they rode like rocks. Then I tried some Kenda tires, and they were great. Of course, that's not as tough test as you and I usually give tires.

I'm not picky about inner tubes, and I know I should be. I just haven't had many defects.

Has anyone found a currently available 27x1-1/4 that they feel rides better than the folding Paselas?

I have not. You might want to try the Continental Gatorskin or the Schwalbe Green Marathon. I gave up on 27" tires a few years ago, and I really liked the Pasela at the time. I switched my 1971 Raleigh Super Course over to 700c, and this allowed me to fit 37 mm wide tires which are very nice.

FYI, especially as a note to whoever maintains the sticky: the Vittoria Zaffiro 4 seems to have been replaced by the Vittoria Zaffiro V. Available in 27 x 1 1/4 and 27 x 1 1/8. Both widths are currently showing as in stock online form Performance Bicycles, with the 27" x 1 1/4" on sale for $15. Anybody riding these?

Almost ordered two but shipping to CA is $15.75

edit: ordered four plus two Schwinn 37-597 tires I couldn't find elsewhere, which pushed my total above $100, so free shipping. I will report back when I mount one of the Vittoria

I posted perhaps a couple years ago with reference to the Pasela ProTite vs the standard Red label version. At that time I was after the red label and the blue label ProTite was more available. I did eventually find the red label and was happy with the ride. Recently, the situation was reversed as I was looking for the ProTite for a bike I ride mostly in the city. I reluctantly finally just got the red label version.

So, I decided to switch some of these around from bike to bike having both 27X1 1/4” tires in hand. Of course, these are both the wire bead version for non hooked rims. The ProTite was a couple years old and ridden little and the red label is new. They both weighed the same at around 385 grams or so. I tried to feel for any difference in the tread for the ProTite belt, but both felt the same. I really couldn’t discern any difference in either version. No complaints as I love these tires, but just a reference point for others.

What's good in 27 x 1 3/8? I'm having a hard time finding anything except Kenda.

Sand Canyon.
But which are not significantly bigger than the generously-sized Pasela 1-1/4" tires.

If you want fatter than those two, I referenced some Chinese-market all-black Cheng Shin hybrid-style tires listed as 1-3/8 and marked 37mm on the sidewall. Mine measure all of 35mm and were only about $15 per tire from Ali Express.
Check the posts to this thread from 2/6 and 6/7/24 for details and photos.
These tires are not sold stateside, so a weeks-long AliExpress order will be required (I ordered six tires for about $100 shipped).

Michelin sold some brown-walled touring tires that are also pretty fat for 1-1/4 claimed width. The casing is low end though and it's a sluggish tire.

Going back three decades, Michelin sold a fine "Hi Lite Tour" 1-3/8" folding tire that was the real deal quality-wise and measured a full 35mm (and which I actually did a few CX races on using my Miyata Six-Ten tourer).

I have the Sand Canyons on one bike. 1-3/8 is just marketing hype. (They are otherwise fine tires.) Personally, I'd avoid cheap Chinese tires, but that's just me.

They updated the decal, probably. No, wait! I see it has a slicker tread than the old one. Who would have expected a new 27" tire in the 2020's?

The last 27" tire I bought was the Zaffiro IV wire bead, and the casing was pretty stout compared to a base Pasela. But it got me riding just fine.

The 1-1/4 Paselas only barely fit on my Paramount.

@wt160, some Kenda tires are fairly good.

To gravel riders on 27" rims, any suggestions for a good 27x1-1/4" gravel type tire?

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9c28dcd1b.jpeg
Went with these. I've pretty much used only Pasela's on my 27" rims in the past so this will be interesting.

I've been running those for almost 20 years. First in 700x28mm, then 27 1/14" which seemed twice as heavy. Over time I came to appreciate the bulk and robustness of the 27", but was shocked at the difference at first. I've been flat free all this time. Funny thing, I finally bought an ebike recently that came with these in a 700x1.95" and flatted in the first month.

I finally mounted a pair last week on my old straight rims. I liked them. Can't say much more because it was on a friend's mixte. I've got another pair to try on a flip. But I'm thinking I will buy more if I can get a good price again. I was a little surprised at the max 58psi rating, but that seemed appropriate for the old wheels.

any 26x1 3/8" (35-590) recommendations for my 3-speed? The best I've found is something like this. CST 26 or Kenda 26

Anyone running 27" Panaracer Urban Max tires?
Just picked up a pair for $18.82 each on Ebay.

I can finally write a review on those cheap but very fat CST hybrid-style tires, having been riding on them for the last few months, daily, on my Six-Ten.

These are a stiff tire. I have been running low-40's psi (both road and tough-trails use) for my 140# mass with nary a single pinch-flat and only a single puncture from a fine shard of wire. Obviously their stiffness is supporting significant weight!

Since I run the low pressure for all of my riding, these heavy tires are also slow rolling of course.

I see no wear to the tread as of yet, as the contact patch at 40+psi is big.

Traction off-road is excellent based on my ability to conquer familiar steep climbs when the soil is wet or relatively dry. On-road traction has seemed very good as well.

I like that their all-black color hides the accumulation of brake wash from wet rims.

The price has only gone down a couple of Dollars since I bought them, to around $12 shipped if you can believe it.

Since the colorful sidewall label appears to be in Mandarin, I don't know what part of the Mandarin-speaking world would be riding on Imperial-sized tires, but likely the bikes are older and may have originated as late as the nineties as US market-bound overstock that ended up being "dumped" in some part of the Asian market.

So in conclusion, I am happy "getting in a better workout" riding these tires, enjoying their seemingly flat- and wear-resistant qualities while always keeping an eye out for challenging trails to explore. Luckily, around here, there are plenty of such trails that I have yet to explore or haven't visited in years.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2a0575d619.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...144733e1bd.jpg

Good deal!

I was always a bit disappointed in the $7-8 gumwall Kendas that I rode on about 20 years ago for urban commuter purposes.

Recently I put (off-topic) two high end all-season touring tires from Kenda on my car. I didn't have many choices - five minutes until the shop closed and I needed a passing state inspection.

To my surprise, I like them quite a bit and consider them great value. My hybrid still chugs along without any change in its excellent fuel economy. Though the tires they replaced were a dog's breakfast of $70 to $250 tires...

Maybe not the best analogy where on the bike the rider is also the engine and part of the suspension...

Kenda makes tires for a wide variety of applications and price points. Some of their MTB tires run at the front of the pack!

Their 27" tire offerings are of course limited to the lower level where their intended destination is old, practically-free bikes from decades past which get put into service when for example someone loses their license upon attaining their third DWI.

And, whenever there is a crisis-sparked bike-boom (fuel prices, the economy or most recently a virus-sparked panic), bike shops and distributors immediately run out of 27" tires to sell.

Blame all of the Schwinn Varsities that refuse to die!