question about rim size

snydur · May 13, 2011

these rims

off this bike

my question is, i tried ti put normal black 26 inch tires (cheap bell smooths) and they wouldnt even come close to fitting. i tried some other white walls to. when i set the tires next to the old ones, the old ones looked bigger. so, what is going on here? is there a 26 inch for skinnies, and one for cruisers? is this just a weird size? i just need help. thanks :wink:

deorman · May 13, 2011

Decimal sized tires and fractional sized tires are completely different animals. Fractional tires almost never except any but 1, or at most 2 sizes. More than likely an EA3 rim, aka 650A, aka ISO 590, once quite common. There's also a slim chance that it's a 650B, ISO 584. Look for more numbers on the tire sidewall. If it says S-4 or F9 there or on the exposed side of the rim, it's a 650B, hardly worth the effort to find tires, other than for concours type restoration of a Schwinn, Raliegh (they usually have the more common EA3) or ancient Peugot.
http://www.isisconsulting.org/catalog/bike/p2010.htm
http://sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html

snydur · May 13, 2011

well aparnly these are 590 according to your links. thanks!

Wildcat · May 13, 2011

Yes, cruiser and those tires are different. That looks like an English bike, probably a Hercules from the 50's. Same wheel size as a Raleigh. 26 x 1 3/8 tires is the size, but the dept stores probably only have the cruiser and mtn bike 26 x 1.75 and 26 x 2.125. Yours will have to be 26 x 1 3/8. Most of the online bike discount stores have them. Here's a bunch of them:

http://www.niagaracycle.com/index.php?c ... 31_166_633

snydur · May 13, 2011

thanks! tommorow im making a run to the bike guy, and his specialty (i guess you couldsay) is old road bikes and old bmx. so ill see if he has any. if not. i like http://www.niagaracycle.com/product_inf ... ts_id=2417 alot. used to have a gum pair on a 1980's Gt i had. definately would go with the build. :mrgreen: