27" touring tire options
 

I'm about to put new tires on my '89/'90 (has mix of components from both years) Schwinn Voyageur, I would prefer the best tires for distance touring.

Unfortunately 27" x 1 1/2" tires seem to be a thing of the past, 27" x 1 1/4 are the widest 27" tires advertised.

The tops choices in 27" x 1 1/4 seems to be (in no particular order)...

27" Schwalbe Marathon HS420.

27" Continental Tour Ride.

27" Continental Gatorkins.

The frame on this bike does a lot to soak up road vibrations but I'd still prefer the widest tires possibe. The Marathons are 32mm wide while the Gatorkins are 28mm wide. No info on the Tour Rides.

All input valued.

Thanks,
Mike

No clue on suitability for touring, but I have Kenda K161s on my 80s sport bikes and they come in at 1 3/8". I think Michelin makes a Worldtour or something or other that runs in the same size.

You've got options:

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/search/27in-road-tires

I'm running Panasonic Panaracer Pasela's with Tourguard (kevlar), very nice tires! Tim

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Um.... that was about the first place I looked.

I guess the problem might be because hardly anyone tours on these things anymore.

Basically I'm looking for high flat resistance AND the widest tire possible.

I found a reference to 27" x 1 1/4 Gatorskins being 28mm wide.

OTOH the Marathons are apparently 32mm wide but I have come across reference to them being a bear to get on and off of the rim.

Dunno about the Conti tours, sounds like it oughtta be a wider tire.

I was just hoping someone who had used any of these might chime in.


Thanks,

Mike

Thanks Tim, are they really just 1" wide? I'm really hoping for some degree of cushioning here.

Mike

Thanks,

I'll look.

I guess if it ain't expensive its suspect. As in, I dont mind paying for the best flat protection, especially on the scale of expense we are talking here. The Michelins are relatively inexpensive, hence suspect. I dunno if that has a basis in reality.

How is the flat protection on those Kendas?

Thanks,

Mike

My Pasalas measure out at 29.75, on my Voyageur with stock rims. I road Gatorskins for awhile, good tire, fairly fast on that bike, but not as plush as the Pasalas. I ride the Vittoria Zaffiro on my commuter, it's a nice rolling, very inexpensive tire. No damage/flats to any of these tires, but that's smooth road riding.

Frankly, if I was really worried about flat protection I'd use some Mr. Tuffy's liners with my favorite tires. But these tires have gotten so well designed, I don't think that extra protection is necessary anymore. I also think 28-30mm is plenty, if you really need bigger I think you should be riding a 26" rim.

Thanks for the reply.

I'm really looking for a tire that I can spend all day on the bike over rough asphalt and such, even given that the steel frame/forks on that Passage are pretty soft.

The other consideration is all the times I have to ride off of the pavement alongside the highway when wide vehicles were passing and such. That and the fact that wider tires are less likely to fall into crevices in the asphalt (speaking from experience here, I went down hard on this bike due to that, pretty much the reason why I started commuting on a mountain bike instead)

Thanks,

Mike

I use a Specialized Armadillo 27x1 1/4 on my rear wheel.

I've had so few flats on my front tire, that I just have a cheap Kenda on the front.

Just measured my Pasela's 32 mm wide and 30 mm tall / height past rim. I'm running them on two sets of rims, Weinmann Rm19 and old Araya (both 27 x 1 1/4) Tim

What about a 700c wheelset? Better tire choices plus room for wider tires, just need about 5mm more reach for your brakes.

Thank you folks.

Since I was placing an order with REI anyway I went with the Pasolos based on input here (thank you for measuring them )and reviews.

But of general interest, check out the Club Roost Cross Terra....

http://www.treefortbikes.com/product...-Terra-27.html

Nearest thing to balloon knobbies for a 27 incher around. Got good reviews too.

Cheap enough I might try a pair for grins in a couple of months.

Mike

Thought about that, but the bike was a gift plus by now its sort of a cool period piece.

The 36 spoke front and a 40 spoke rear wheels ain't bad either. In truth I haven't tried the new touring bikes but as it sits that Voyageur is just a joy to ride.

Mike

Marathons are fine , belt and braces, buy 3 bring an extra. , just in Case.

Going from the rims you have to 700s would be a downgrade, just my opinion. A well made set of 27" are a joy ride.

Only parts I really plan to change is to put in an adjustable neck and a flat or moustache bar for the option of a more upright riding position. The way it is right now mostly I find myself looking down the lane ahead, I'd like to be better able to take in the scenery.

Mike

Kenda makes 27 x 1 3/8 tires if you wanted something a tad wider but I can't vouch for them in that size but other similar kenda tires I've used have held up fine for a few years of all-season commuting/utility duty.

I have the Schwalbe Marathons (27 x 1 1/4). I too had read that they were very difficult to mount.

Turns out they were a snap to mount on my Sun CR-18 rims, easier than most tires!

The Marathons are bigger tires than the cheap-o Kenda 27 x 1 1/4 tires I used to use, for what that's worth. Quite durable. And as long as decent tires are available for 27" wheels, there's no reason I need to switch to 700C.

Beautifull day, figured on taking a 20 mile detour back home but.... AAAK! Ain't got 200 miles on the new Tourguard Paselas and already I have a torn sidewall on the back one :cry:

This combined with the recent double puncture I got through the kevlar tire and through the kevlar tire liner on the new tires (Serfa Drifters) on my 26" commuter bike has convinced me that however it may be anywhere else out there, the West Side of this city is hard on tires.

*SIGH*

Fer me, I'm learning puncture resistance tops all else, and good to work through all this before I try going on a tour. This learning curve ain't coming exactly cheap tire-wise, but I suppose since I ain't got any other costly vices it'll all even out.

Anyways, I have a set of 27x11/4" Continental Gator Hardshells inbound even as I speak. Browsing around, this tire was the only one in 27" I could find that advertised bead-to-bead flat protection. The specs say its an honest 32mm wide too.

Supposed to ride a tad rough compared to say, the thin-walled Paselas, but if they don't flat out too often I'll be happy. I also bought a couple of tire strips and thorn-resistant tubes.

Until all that gets here I'll put the front Pasela (still pristine) on the back and use a cheapo Walmart special I got on front. Like other riders here I hardly ever get flats up front.

I'll let folks here know how it all turns out.

Mike

NO WAY, a Pasela Tourguard with a blown side wall, unimaginable. I'm being facetious here but you would have thought by now they would have reinforced those.

Anyone tried the Bell? Could see myself ending up on one since they are at walmart, pep boys, amazon.

I just mounted one on the front rim. As best I can put it, thin sidewalls ain't gonna be a problem here :lol:

In fact it appears to be a sort of uniform thickness, tread and sidewalls both.

Very dark rubber, hard to read the sidewalls, but mine are marked "Bell Freestyle" to be inflated to 70-90lbs. Just a tad narrower inflated than the Pasolas so I'm gonna guess about 30mm wide. The website alleges they have a Kevlar belt in there somewhere....

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Bell-Sport...roduct+Reviews

About $12 out the door. Watch, after all the coin I've spent on premium tires lately these things will turn out to be ideal :lol:

Mike

Well the thin tread will wear thru on the rear, bring a 3rd tire for longer trips..

At this point, I'd be happy to find a tire that lasts long enough around here to wear out.

Anyhoo... ten breathless my-gosh-I'm-late miles into work this am, front tire didn't fall off or anything... ...and no tears yet on the sidewalls of that other Pasela. Its all good.

Mike