BFisher 

Neat idea. Let's see if it sticks.

Here's a link to bike tires directs 27 inch selection. They even carry Paselas in 27 x 1 1/4, as some were searching for a while back.

https://www.biketiresdirect.com/search/27in-road-tires?adl=1&msclkid=999dfbdbbc1b136f324aa682fea4d60c&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Bik e%20Tires%20and%20Tubes&utm_term=27x1%201%208%20bike%20tire&utm_content=27"%20Tires

ThermionicScott 

@mainstreetexile, you still around? Great thread.

mainstreetexile 

Thanks, didn't realize this thread was getting stickied!

My main rides are no longer 27" tired (mostly ride my 26" '85 Cimarron these days) so I haven't kept on what's available as much, but I see there are lots of new suggestions in here. I'll work on snagging some photos and links and updating the original first post soon.

Edit: Fixed a lot of broken links, removed some tires that no longer seem to be available, and added a couple new ones mentioned in recent posts.

ryansu 

Not sure if they are on the thread somewhere but I will shout out for the Swift Sand Canyon 27 x 1 3/8, made by Panaracer, they are a bit spendy ($30 a piece), you can go cheap and do the Kenda's in this size, but very supple and they give a plush ride. I have them on my 87 Nishiki Cresta GT. So if you think you have to go 700c to get a 35c equivalent think again.

Also in addition to the standard 27 x1 1/4 Pasela's also come in 27 X 1 and 27 x 1/18 - see bike tires direct

Phamilton

I’m not going to read back over the thread history, but I have over 4,000 commuting miles on a pair of Bontrager T1s, $20/pc at the LBS, in 27 x 1 1/4. I didn’t get many flats, they have excellent traction wet and dry, and at around a pound per tire they’re far from the heaviest out there. Great value. 100psi rating, I generally rode them between 70-80. They’re a little dead feeling below that. They were starting to show some cracking so I replaced them, wanted to try some Paselas for a long time but couldn’t kill the T1s.

Paselas are wonderful tires but I don’t have enough miles on my pair to comment on durability. This time I got 27 x 1 1/8, wire bead, black sidewall, $25/pc at my LBS. I have no idea what pressure I have in them, my gauge quit a month ago and I haven’t replaced it, but I’m pretty sure they’re less than 70-80. I figure so long as I don’t pinch flat they’re OK, and I haven’t yet, and they are still so fast and comfortable. Amazing tires really.

Edit: for reference (re pressures) I’m around 180 lbs.

Later edit: I first clicked on go to last page so I didn’t see the updated list on the first page. Sorry then that I didn’t have any new options to give. But please consider my post an endorsement for the sticky status of the thread as I am one of many who enjoy 27” wheel bikes and there are still a lot of them left to enjoy as long as we can still get nice tires. And also the tires I mentioned really are still nice tires for the $$.

noglider 

@Phamilton, I'm glad you like the Paselas so far. See, it wasn't too much to spend. Next time, consider the folding version, as they are lighter. Or maybe even some even nicer tires.

Phamilton

Yeah I was very happy to get them at $25, and honestly having great tires on an already great bike - I can’t say no. It’s genuinely inspiring to ride. I’d be an idiot to get rid of it. I’m so glad good tires like this still exist in 27”.

mkeller234

I'd like more on the subject of nicer tires. Lately, it seems like all of my bikes have 27" rims. I bought the Pasela PT folding tires for my cannondale because the seemed like the nicest option. Most other options, like the swift sand canyon mentioned above are made by Panaracer... so I assume that they are Pasela like.

I'd like to buy something a little more "special" for my new Melton bike. Even if it's only a difference in my head. What are the fancier 27" options these days?

noglider 

I've finally started to treat myself to upper-tier tires, and I see why people spend the extra money. And I don't give a hoot about puncture protection. If you're ready for that, I think you have to switch to 700c. There's a Continental that looks like it might be as nice as the Pasela, possibly more durable, but I don't it's anything like the high-end René Herse (née Compass) or Continental or Vittoria tires. Ooh, look, I have foreign characters on my keyboard.

I just switched my Super Course from 27" Paselas to 700c Vittoria Voyager Hyper 37mm. Man, I'm ready for anything on these tires. I have some Compass tires I'm about to try soon.

Padgett

Hey guys! I own a 1973 Schwinn Le Tour that i use as my daily commuter. I am currently running the 1 1/4" Kenda K35s. I like the tire, however the roads are not the smoothest and i have the occasional gravel section/curb hop (sorry.) My commute isn't long but I am wondering how the K40s would fare, anyone have any advice? Will the width difference be noticeable? Any other suggestions? Thank you.

scozim 

+1 for the Bontrager T1's

Mechanicjay

I commuted on K40s for a while. Then switched to Paselas. I found the K40s to not have a great longevity to them. 1300 miles and the rear was done, the front wasn't far behind, sidewalls became brittle and started cracking within three years.

I have 800 miles on the Paselas and they're hardly showing any wear, they also feel about 300 times better when pitching it into a hard turn.

Conclusion: Cheap tires just aren't worth it.

Murray Missile 

K35's have been my "go to" on lower end flip bikesso I usually stocked up when I'd find a good sale. In the past couple years I have had 2 blackwalls with a VERY noticeable twist in the tread, almost like a broken belt in a radial. I got the first one replaced but by the time I discovered the second one I couldn't send it back. It never occured to me that there would be 2 in the batch and you couldn't see it until the tire was mounted and aired up. It was very annoying when riding. I tried using one on my trainer but it "thumped" on every revolution of the rear wheel. Never an issue with the gumwalls.

noglider 

That's too bad. So CST isn't the only tire company with a high defect rate.

mkeller234

I decided to try the swift sand canyons based on reviews in this thread. I hope they fit!

ryansu 

They fit great on my Cresta GT but its a touring model so I would expect good clearance, not sure how they would work on something more racy. Hope they work for you!

Chris_in_Miami

I've got a set on the way for a Trek 640, will follow up when I've had a chance to install and ride them.

mkeller234

Good news, they fit! I’m excited to give them a try. I just have to wait on some brake cables.

dddd

I have yet to install any 1-3/8" tire that is actually any wider than a 1-1/4" Pasela or World Tour (which measure an actual 33mm or so depending on the rim width and on inflation pressure).

I had 1-1/4" Specialized Transition tires a couple of decades ago which measured all of 26mm wide on a Mod58 rim.

I've had better luck with Cheng Shin tires over the years than with Kenda, though both make tires at various price points and you get what you pay for to some degree.
The "S-bend" in the tread is an outer-ply failure, usually due to incomplete/insufficient overlapping of the middle and outer plies under the tread (and most common on cheaper tires).
On well-used tires, an outer-ply failure can also occur at the sidewall, due to combined effects of aging and/or abrasion.

I especially like the 1" Paselas, which measure a full 26.5mm wide on medium-width vintage 27" rims. These let the old bikes keep their sporting character, and are I believe the fastest size after tire-size pressure adjustment is taken into account.

riva

I put cheap C637 27x1 1/4" tires on a bike recently. Seem to ride ok, barely cleared the brakes on that bike.

Ditto what ddd says for me, I've had worse luck with thumping Kendas than CS myself. For what I paid not unexpected. I think a fiver each, which I haven't seen prices like that lately.

Speaking of 27's. The bike I put the Cheng tires on, a centurion, I scored in a curbside trash pile thanks entirely to a 27" tire. The previous owner had a 1 3/8" tire on the back wheel which was crashing into everything preventing the wheel from rolling. At least this is what I assume is the reason it was in the trash pile. He probably got fed up with the tire swap not going smoothly on the old junker. I put 2 and 2 together after getting it home in the dark..

GBearFan

I've been riding the Continental GSkins for 7 years now. Love 'em!!!

noglider 

I had a Cheng Shin tire that wouldn't seat right and gave me a thumping flat spot. I know my sample size is low, but I prefer to buy from the other big tire companies. I know Kenda has a high defect rate as well, but so far, so good for me. I made an exception: I put Kenda tires on my English 3-speed, and I like how they feel better than the expensive Schwalbe tires.

Ged117 

Hi Tom. How do the Kendas feel on the Rudge compared to the Schwalbe tires? I really like how my Panaracer col de la vie tires feel on my three-speed, and I want to recreate that experience for my gf's '72 Sports rebuild but with a little more protection for her commutes. Are the Schwalbe tires dull feeling? The greenguard regular marathon tires I had on my hybrid were pretty dull. I've discovered the folding 27" Pasela PT tires for my touring bike, and they are fantastic. I'm putting a new pair of those on my Peugeot's new 700c wheelset when the time comes.

noglider 

Haha, it's funny how people remember my bikes. I don't remember most people's. Oh well.

The Schwalbe Delta Cruisers were described by people here as plush. For whatever reason, I found them quite harsh. Maybe I should have pumped them up less. I don't remember which Kendas the Rudge has, but they were cheap, and I'm happy. I hear the Col de la Vie is the plushest tire in that size.

The Pasela is a pretty nice tire, especially for the price. You can get nicer tires for more money, but I think they're the best at that price.

Blightybiker

I have a Raleigh Grand Prix, fitted with the original Sturmey Archer 27 x 1.25" wheels. The tyres on it were fitted when I bought the bike about seven years ago. The tyres are Kenda, with a size of 27 x 1.25". I don't use the bike a lot and not at all in wet weather. I have no complaints about the tyres and have never had a puncture. It amazes me to be able to write that although I am now, of course, tempting Providence.

I do have a general question, in anticipation of when I need to buy new tyres: namely, it seems from several posts that 700c tyres can be fitted to 27" rims. Is that correct?