1987 Univega Nuovo Sport Tire Question
 

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Bought this bike on CL and discovered that the wheel is Araya 26 1 1/4 and the tire is Kenda 26 1 1/4. I'm trying to fit some fenders on it and was hoping to buy a lower profile tire so that the fenders fit in between the brakes and the tire. Problem is, I can't seem to find any online, are 26in road bike tires almost non-existent?

Do you think that the bike originally came with those 26in tires? Is that normal on a vintage road bike? Maybe since the frame is so small, they put the 26in wheels on? Should I try and put 700 wheels on in order to have more options when it comes to tires?

Thanks for any help!

You've got the correct size wheel on the bike. A 700c would work too, and give you some more room, but test fit them first to make sure your brake reach is long enough (The pads will have to be adjusted downward to work on the slightly smaller rims. Have you got a set of 700s you can try on it, or know where to borrow some?

Another way to get more room for a fender is run 27x1" tires. They're pretty skinny compared to what you have now, but they could make the difference.

Here is a discussion of 26 x 1 1/4 wheelsets: http://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...wheel-set.html

Post 3 suggests that 700c might work but the OP will have to try it out. I wouldn't go with 27 inch rims and tires.

The thread also discusses tire availability for this size wheel.

This is also useful, 26 Inch Bicycle Tires

Yup I have a bike with 700c wheels. I guess the only downside is that I would need to buy a new wheelset as well as new tires. And it's also nice to have the original equipment on the bike. I just wish I could buy some more road bike type tires instead of the fat kenda tires. I don't think the 27in wheel works, the tire jams into the brakes because the diameter is larger. Even if it did fit, it's the same problem of needing to buy a new wheelset (if I went that route, I'd go 700c).

Seems like the cheapest option would be to find skinny road bike tires for 26in. And if not, buy 700c wheel set and get new tires for that.

The 26" size can mean any of five different rim sizes. I am assuming that these are 559 mm or mountain bike rims. Most tires will be stamped with the bead seat diameter. If you want fenders, a 700c wheel wouldn't work very well as the rim would have a 63mm greater diameter, thus you would have less room. You would also have to move the brake pads up 31.5mm.

Another possibility is 650b.

If you want to stick with 26"tires Compass has some that are supposed to be pretty good. www.bicyclequarterly.com

27" and 700c wheels would not be a good solution on a small frame like this.