Stupid Walmart
08-18-17, 03:08 PM
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Stupid Walmart
I was given a Roadmaster BSO recently. I didn't really have much of a use for it, but after looking at it for a bit I figured I can use it for a gravel bike (lots of gravel roads around here) as well as something to just putter around town with.
I don't know how old the bike is, but it's virtually new. Aside from some rust on it from being left outside and dry-rotted tires, it has very little wear and tear. The tires still have the nibs on them.
So it's the tires where my main complaint come in. It's got 26x2" tires which would be great for gravel, and the way the tires look I'm leery about riding it as is. So I figured it would be a simple matter to run to Walmart to get a couple of replacement 26x2 tires and some tubes to throw on, right? The bike came from Walmart so they should have equipment to fit it.
Well, sort of. The thing that irritated me last night was while they have 26" tires, on the box it says that it fits 26x1.75, 26x1.95, 26x2.00, 26x2.125. Huh? How can one tire fit so many different sizes? I know that's what it says on the inner tube box, which makes sense, but the tire? I pulled the tire out and found that it was actually a 26x1.75. Not quite as big as I wanted. They actually did have a Goodyear 26x2.125 tire. Only one. And of course nobody around to ask to see if they had any more in stock.
I guess they just market these tires to people who don't really care what size tire they need, as long as they get a 26" tire. That's the only reason I can see them marking the box that way. But it still doesn't make sense.
I did find a set of decent tires & tubes on Amazon, so they should be here next week. But I should have known not to rely on Walmart for anything bike related.
I don't know how old the bike is, but it's virtually new. Aside from some rust on it from being left outside and dry-rotted tires, it has very little wear and tear. The tires still have the nibs on them.
So it's the tires where my main complaint come in. It's got 26x2" tires which would be great for gravel, and the way the tires look I'm leery about riding it as is. So I figured it would be a simple matter to run to Walmart to get a couple of replacement 26x2 tires and some tubes to throw on, right? The bike came from Walmart so they should have equipment to fit it.
Well, sort of. The thing that irritated me last night was while they have 26" tires, on the box it says that it fits 26x1.75, 26x1.95, 26x2.00, 26x2.125. Huh? How can one tire fit so many different sizes? I know that's what it says on the inner tube box, which makes sense, but the tire? I pulled the tire out and found that it was actually a 26x1.75. Not quite as big as I wanted. They actually did have a Goodyear 26x2.125 tire. Only one. And of course nobody around to ask to see if they had any more in stock.
I guess they just market these tires to people who don't really care what size tire they need, as long as they get a 26" tire. That's the only reason I can see them marking the box that way. But it still doesn't make sense.
I did find a set of decent tires & tubes on Amazon, so they should be here next week. But I should have known not to rely on Walmart for anything bike related.
08-18-17, 03:15 PM
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The width of the rims will alter the width of the tires.
I have 25mm tires and they actually measure 27.5mm.
I would never assume that Walmart has any replacement parts for items they sold in the past.
I have 25mm tires and they actually measure 27.5mm.
I would never assume that Walmart has any replacement parts for items they sold in the past.
08-18-17, 03:25 PM
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But why wouldn't it say on the box "Contains one 26x1.75 tire?" The tire certainly has it marked on it, why not the box? And then underneath they could list all the different sizes according to different width rims.
08-18-17, 03:30 PM
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Fits, doesn't say the size, only that it's an acceptable replacement, and I fully understand Walmart labeling this way, since "will it fit?" is the No. 1 question they get, and they don't always have someone on the floor who can answer.
However, fits isn't the same as an actual size, any more than drinks made with juice are juice.
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08-18-17, 03:35 PM
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Simply a matter of marketing.
People who shop at wal-mart for bike parts don't know what size tire they need. So wal-mart markets to the lowest common denominator.
People who shop at wal-mart for bike parts don't know what size tire they need. So wal-mart markets to the lowest common denominator.
08-18-17, 04:20 PM
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People who care enough to want a specific size of tire will go buy a quality tire .... say, off Amazon .... and people who want a new tire for the bike they don't care about, want a tire which fits on the rim.
A guy with two DUIs can ride the sidewalk to the liquor store just as well on a 1.75 and a 1.95.
08-18-17, 06:06 PM
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08-18-17, 06:11 PM
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Sizes
After reading and checking, thank you WalMart, for the education. Perhaps you could just keep blowing them up bigger and bigger. I feel dumbed down🙄
Last edited by Cyclcist11023131; 08-18-17 at 10:15 PM.
08-18-17, 07:02 PM
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https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bell-Spor...-2-25/19801040
I think mtb_addict has probably nailed it.
08-18-17, 07:44 PM
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Of course the same rim can take a range of tire widths. As the box says, that same tire FITS (the rim) that previously had those various tires mounted on it.
Fits, doesn't say the size, only that it's an acceptable replacement, and I fully understand Walmart labeling this way, since "will it fit?" is the No. 1 question they get, and they don't always have someone on the floor who can answer.
However, fits isn't the same as an actual size, any more than drinks made with juice are juice.
Fits, doesn't say the size, only that it's an acceptable replacement, and I fully understand Walmart labeling this way, since "will it fit?" is the No. 1 question they get, and they don't always have someone on the floor who can answer.
However, fits isn't the same as an actual size, any more than drinks made with juice are juice.
08-18-17, 07:51 PM
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I thought maybe the same thing until I went to the website and looked:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bell-Spor...-2-25/19801040
I think mtb_addict has probably nailed it.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bell-Spor...-2-25/19801040
I think mtb_addict has probably nailed it.
One of the reviews:
This tire will mount on most common 26" bike rims (ISO diameter 559mm) but it's description is not accurate in regards to the sizes it can replace. It says it will fit bikes that use 1.75" - 2.125" size. When you open up the box you will find a 2.125 balloon tire. This will fit only modern bikes that have the clearance for a balloon tire. This is too fat to fit on bikes that take 1.75" size with fenders and it won't even fit on my hybrid bikes without fenders that take 1.95" tires. It should not be listed to fit anything else but 2.125" I wish they made this model in a 26 X 1.75" because they are the best built bike tires I have looked at. It would have an excellent rating but for the sizing.
08-18-17, 07:57 PM
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Blame Bell they are the ones who packaged the product. I'd bet a beer Walmart had nothing to do with what was on the box.
08-18-17, 08:11 PM
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If I'd designed the packaging, the labeling might have been 26 x1.90", also "will fit for all widths from 1.5"-2.25", or something similar, saying what it is, and what it will "fit".
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08-18-17, 09:06 PM
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Wal-Mart is not a bike shop, so why are you buying bike related items there, and why are you dropping money on a BSO?
08-18-17, 09:41 PM
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I'll bet nearly anything the tire and box are made by two completely different companies. One who makes and marks tires, and one who makes packaging to put said tire into to sell in big box stores, where people will get confused if they have a 1.95" tire and the box says 1.75" tire
08-19-17, 05:50 AM
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I guess the next time I'm in a Walmart, I need to walk thru the bike section and see how a bike tire can fit in a box. 
I guess the few times I've gotten (cheap) bike related items from WallyWorld, I've never paid attention to tires.
I guess the few times I've gotten (cheap) bike related items from WallyWorld, I've never paid attention to tires.
08-19-17, 06:29 AM
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Walmart is just the retailer while Bell actually markets the product in a way that is easy to understand for the novice/beginner or even casual rider.
Is that wrong, I don't think so and you can almost never find a qualified person working in a Walmart for help.
You can't fault the shopper, Bell or Walmart just because we have more experience and know better, but at some point in our past, we were all this naive. Fortunately, we survived and learned from that.
Is that wrong, I don't think so and you can almost never find a qualified person working in a Walmart for help.
You can't fault the shopper, Bell or Walmart just because we have more experience and know better, but at some point in our past, we were all this naive. Fortunately, we survived and learned from that.
08-19-17, 06:38 AM
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Folding bead. Common these days. Folding bead tires are much easier to store and put out for display. Bike shops will have racks of folded tires hanging on display.
08-19-17, 06:59 AM
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but you don't have to subject yourself to walmart tires, that seems like a recipe for disappointment.
LBS's are carrying fewer 26" tires, and some shops only carry really crummy ones. My LBS has some Kendas that are pretty nice. Not that much money either.
LBS's are carrying fewer 26" tires, and some shops only carry really crummy ones. My LBS has some Kendas that are pretty nice. Not that much money either.
08-19-17, 07:00 AM
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Given their success, Walmart is anything but "stupid." 
I'll agree with "annoying" in this case.
I'll agree with "annoying" in this case.
08-19-17, 08:08 AM
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Walmart is just the retailer while Bell actually markets the product in a way that is easy to understand for the novice/beginner or even casual rider.
Is that wrong, I don't think so and you can almost never find a qualified person working in a Walmart for help.
You can't fault the shopper, Bell or Walmart just because we have more experience and know better, but at some point in our past, we were all this naive. Fortunately, we survived and learned from that.
Is that wrong, I don't think so and you can almost never find a qualified person working in a Walmart for help.
You can't fault the shopper, Bell or Walmart just because we have more experience and know better, but at some point in our past, we were all this naive. Fortunately, we survived and learned from that.