MixxMeATape

I have a Ross Road bike. I think its close to 30 years old.
Its tire and wheel says 26 1 3/8
I had no idea what size tire to put on it, so I brought it to the lbs and the guy tried every 26 inch tire they had, nothing would go on. He asked me if this was a Schwinn, but it's not.
I don't know what to do!? The tires I have on it are old and cracked so I want to replace them!
Is there an up to date equivalent that anyone knows? Or where the heck to even buy a tire that size?
Thank you!!

rhenning

The European number is 37-590 and you can buy them at most outlets. Examples would include Ace Hardware, K Mart, Wal Mart and so on. None of the Mt. Bike style tires will fit as those are 559 diameter tires not will Schwinn 26 x 1 3/8 which are 597 diameter. Those European numbers will be on the tire in the same place the 26 x number is. Remember you need 590 tires which is the actual rim size. Roger

operator

Find a better LBS.

A tire marked 26 x 1 3/8 will fit on your wheel. They aren't common on modern bikes, but any decent commuter LBS shop should still carry them. They are readily available through most catalogs.

The "modern" equivalent would be something with 26 x someNUmber, where someNumber is a decimal e.g 26x1.5 or 26x1.9 etc... These tires will NOT fit. That the shop even attempted shows that they don't know anything about mechanics.

old_alfie

Your bike shop is staffed by *****s (pretenders). I find it incredulous that anybody in the bicycle industry today hasn't read Sheldon Brown; he made that 26-inch fractional vs decimal issue very clear in more than one web page.
alf

MixxMeATape

Yea! and the thing is, I was pretty sure about that from what I'd read. So I went in specifically telling them they were 1 3/8 thinking, oh these guys are pro's, they will know what to do. I'm done with them
The same people also told me, road bikes don't get converted into single speeds, it's usually mountain bikes. What!?
Ohio sucks.

Retro Grouch 

Not necessarily, operator. All 26 x 1 3/8 aren't created equal. There's at least 3 different ones and they aren't interchangable. I, for one, shudder every time that I see a bike with tires marked 26 1 3/8.

SweetLou

Which LBS? Go over to Rocky River to Century Cycles, they have them.

Bill Kapaun

Look at the tire sidewall. Somewhere on it you should see 590X37? or 597X 37?
(the 37 might be a slightly different value?)
Many of the xmart type stores carry the 590MM version.
The 597 is harder to find, but available.

https://sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html

DasProfezzional

I think 590's the one you're looking for. I had a customer come in the other day looking for 26x1 3/8tires for an old Sears bike, and the BSD was 590, as I recall.

MixxMeATape

Performance bike in Rocky River.
I usually do go to Century They are nice guys. They have such a small choice from tires though so I went to performance.

Thanks guys for all your input

bobn

Go to a bike shop you trust. If they don't have them, they can be ordered.
Kenda makes a 26x1-3/8 (590). I just bought 2 for my Raleigh. I believe the model is k40 road tire. There's plenty of them out there. Check the web and E bay.
I paid under $10 ea.

Joshua A.C. New

Ugh. I had to rassle one of these onto my mom's 60s Raleigh a couple of months ago. The guy at the LBS warned me that they're awful. I intended to replace both tires as part of a tune-up. In stead, I left one off as a give-up.

sonatageek

Try a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol as a lubricant on the rim for that last part of the second tire bead. Works like a charm.

FLYcrash

Panaracer makes some nice ISO 590/650A/E.A.3./26x1 3/8 tires. I put their Tufflex tires of that size on my girlfriend's commuter, and they work very well. The fit was excruciatingly tight, however, on the Sun CR-18 rims I used for that wheelset...I had to order a Kool Stop bead jack just for that. I'm starting to realize that Sun isn't always so great at specing the diameter just right...

MixxMeATape

Yea, I got some black wall kendas for 11 bucks each. Good news