tire questions

[thom]

Yesterday, at the local fleamarket I bought 2 Bell bike tires, for $3 each. They are 26 x 1 3/8, which I seem to use a lot of. The model # is 37-590.They model name is Steetster. After I got home I noticed that the tires have no wire in the bead. I have replaced several 26 and 27 inch tires over the past year with tires I bought from the local bike shop or hardware store. Some of the tires I have bought have been Bell brand tires, but all have had the wire in them.My question is ... What kind of rims do these tires fit? Did I throw away $6 ?

 

[Wildcat]

26 x 1 3/8 should fit all standard 26 x 1 3/8 rims, like you find on lightweight bikes ranging from dept store brands to Raleigh 3 speeds. That's all though, they won't go on 26 x 1.75 or other size. Schwinn wheels are different also.

 

[udallcustombikes]

I think the Bell tires are the ones currently being carried by Walmart. The wire bead has been replaced with a kevlar bead. This makes the tires more flexable, they can roll the tire up and put it in a box so it takes up less room on the shelf at the store. I have used kevlar beaded tired on many bikes at work and have only come across one that had a bead failure in almost 3 years. Although the tires we have are not Bell. I cannot speak to the quality of Bell tires either good or bad.

 

[deorman]

The 37-590 refers to international sizing standards, this might help clear things up.
http://www.isisconsulting.org/catalog/bike/p2010.htm
http://www.biketiresdirect.com/a117/tir ... rticle.htm

 

[diceman]

man , i thought they made folding tires so i wouldn,t have to ride around with my spare around my neck and over my shoulder .

who woulda thought they were just saving walmarts shelf space , geeze i learn something new every day .
probably the same reason they came out with the pontiac firefly , i think they were originally supposed to be sold at walmart , somewhere between the hardware and sporting goods isles .

 

[MERK]

Kevlar bead tires have been around for a long time now...and are generally superior to wire bead. They`re were designed to be lighter and more flexible..not to save Wally shelf space!