Do Pasela 27s still have the tread unique to 27" or have they gone to the same tread pattern as the other diameter Paselas these days? Manufacturer/vendor websites disagree on this.

They have the same tread now. I didn't know about the other tread until last weekend when I saw an older one.

When did new bikes stop being sold with 27" tires? Early 80's? It's amazing to me that there are enough 30 year old bikes on the road wearing out rubber that factories are still cranking out 27" tires in production volumes.

It indicates the lasting impact of the bike boom.

Tuesday night on my commute home I encountered only two other bikes, both from the 70's. Including mine, that made 100% C&V iron. I guess when the going gets tough, only the tough remain going.

The 1-1/4" Paselas are really, really fat.

The 1-1/8" Paselas are like most other brand's 1-1/4" tires, so check your clearances before going with the fatter size.

The Michelin 1-1/4" tires are similarly huge, even bigger than any others that are labeled 1-3/8".

I can't say I'm a proponent or detractor yet since I haven't ridden it, but in a pinch recently, while in a location slightly north of BFE, I purchased a Bell 27x1-1/4" tire at Wally World (that was the only 27" size they had (BTW, they had no 700C, not that I needed it). Anyway, the point I want to make is, this tire is closer to 1-1/8"" than 1-1/4", based on comparison to other 1-1/8" tires I have. For me, that is just as well, for the bike in question, 1-1/4" might have been challenging for fender clearance.

I also used to get the now discontinued Forte GT2-k. I currently run Vittoria Zaffiro 27x1-1/8 tires on my 40-year-old Fuji. Love them, other than they are blackwall only.

1-1/4" Zaffirios are rated at a lower inflation pressure - 90psi max. I like 90-95psi front, and 100-105psi rear.

I'll be switching to Panaracer Paselas for the 'proper' skinwall look at my next tire change... they are also available in the 'tourguard' Kevlar-belted.

I like 32 over 28. Tried 28 on 29 inch wheels with an aluminium cheap roadie. Beat me up... really uncomfortable. However 27 1 1/4 is really nice. Fast enough and really comfortable for what I need it for. Even rode 171km last week on them and they flew along.

I agree. Pasela 1 1/4 inch seem too fat to me too. I like the 1 1/8 inch, and even the 1 inch Paselas seem about the same "size" as the old 27 inch 1 1/4 tires I remember from the 70's.

One thing to consider is whether or not you have hook walled rims. If the inside wall of your rims are straight, you might not want to get a 1 1/8 inch tire, as they run at higher pressures. If you don't have hooked rims, they'll blow off the rim. I bought some 1 1/8 zaffiro tires and they would not seat on my rims at the pressure you need to run. A 1 1/4 tire will run at less pressure (~75 psi) which is the max I would run on hookless rims. This is one of the reasons I like the Michelin World Tours for hookless rims. They are an older design, made back when hookless rims were common.

Yes indeed. And make sure to get wire bead Paselas if you have hookless rims.

Pasela's come in blackwall? I didn't know that, every seller I've seen carries the gumwall. Where do you source those?

Jeeze, I'll have to look, FF. I have a set of 1 inch all black Paselas, but I can't remember where I got them. Seen here;
http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/...5/LeChamp3.jpg

Here you go.
http://www.niagaracycle.com/categori...5c-black-steel

also in 27 inch, which is what I have. BTW, I remember having to ask what "bsk" meant.
http://www.niagaracycle.com/categori...-1-4-black-bsk

I'm digging up an old forum here, but I've been 27" tire shopping, and dig the look of these schwalbe hs159s too. Question for you (or anyone) since you're the only one who specifically mentioned them: several sites seem to stress (more than they do for other brands) that these aren't recommended for smooth inner-edged rims, only for hooked. Have you used them on vintage flat edged rims? Any issues/more of less than any other 27" tires?

In fact, I have. But on the advice of my LBS mechanic, I kept them at a mushy 60psi and found them unsatisfying. He explained the risk of blowing the tire off the rim was significant if I went much higher than that. It did seem like a fairly loose fit; a little too easy to get on and off the rim. On modern hooked rims I run them them at a nice and stiff 90-95psi with no problems yet.