26" tire mistake
#1
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Thread Starter
26" tire mistake
yes i know it has been covered here but i got burned for $100 on a couple of orders before the mistake was realized.
so that maybe someone else might get burned i am posting this friendly reminder.
back in the day when i walked into the payless Hardware Store around 1933, you could buy a 26 x 1 3/8" tire and it would fit a 26" rim.
not any more.
so be careful out there1
you need to realize that you want a number called 559, and not a number called 590.
one is for a 26" rim and the other i suppose is for a 650B rim.
i made the same mistake on a schwalbe marathon and a continental gatorskin
mistake number 2. this tire made it from London to the us in about 3 days with free shipping so i do not have the heart to return it. i will donate it to the local bike shop>
so that maybe someone else might get burned i am posting this friendly reminder.
back in the day when i walked into the payless Hardware Store around 1933, you could buy a 26 x 1 3/8" tire and it would fit a 26" rim.
not any more.
so be careful out there1
you need to realize that you want a number called 559, and not a number called 590.
one is for a 26" rim and the other i suppose is for a 650B rim.
i made the same mistake on a schwalbe marathon and a continental gatorskin
mistake number 2. this tire made it from London to the us in about 3 days with free shipping so i do not have the heart to return it. i will donate it to the local bike shop>
#3
Full Member
Thread Starter
this helps>
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html
and there is an online schwalbe catalog here>
https://www.schwalbetires.com/sites/...21_English.pdf
pic of what to watch for>
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html
and there is an online schwalbe catalog here>
https://www.schwalbetires.com/sites/...21_English.pdf
pic of what to watch for>
#5
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Probably bought a pair for a 2-wheeled bike and Ebay collects sales tax on this end even for items from overseas.
To the thread starter - read this https://www.sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html
If you had looked at the sidewall of the old tire you would have seen something like 26 X 1.375 embossed on the tire. Lots of us have made this mistake before we realized you can't translate decimal tire size to fractional inch and get the same tire. Found that out with my first recumbent when I tried to buy a rear tire at my local WalMart. It didn't fit even though it said 20" on the tire. Fortunately I was only out a couple of bucks.
You could always put it for sale on Craigslist or Facebook and give somebody a decent price for a brand new tire.
To the thread starter - read this https://www.sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html
If you had looked at the sidewall of the old tire you would have seen something like 26 X 1.375 embossed on the tire. Lots of us have made this mistake before we realized you can't translate decimal tire size to fractional inch and get the same tire. Found that out with my first recumbent when I tried to buy a rear tire at my local WalMart. It didn't fit even though it said 20" on the tire. Fortunately I was only out a couple of bucks.
You could always put it for sale on Craigslist or Facebook and give somebody a decent price for a brand new tire.
#6
Full Member
Thread Starter
here is another chart from performance (scroll down)>
https://www.performancebike.com/cont...rgqhe?v=326281
here is what the label will look like if you screw up like this poor slob>
https://www.performancebike.com/cont...rgqhe?v=326281
here is what the label will look like if you screw up like this poor slob>
Last edited by cjenrick; 12-25-21 at 03:09 PM.
#7
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The 559 is pretty common for MTBs, and most modern bikes.
The other sizes 26x1 3/8 is for some more vintage bikes, old Raleighs, etc. I really think an online vendor should have some really big TEXT to verify a buyer knows what they are buying when they get one of these.
Several sizes have similar issues. I use 20" (451) on one of my bikes, and know to specifically look for that size.
The other sizes 26x1 3/8 is for some more vintage bikes, old Raleighs, etc. I really think an online vendor should have some really big TEXT to verify a buyer knows what they are buying when they get one of these.
Several sizes have similar issues. I use 20" (451) on one of my bikes, and know to specifically look for that size.
#8
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yes i know it has been covered here but i got burned for $100 on a couple of orders before the mistake was realized.
so that maybe someone else might get burned i am posting this friendly reminder.
back in the day when i walked into the payless Hardware Store around 1933, you could buy a 26 x 1 3/8" tire and it would fit a 26" rim.
not any more.
so be careful out there1
you need to realize that you want a number called 559, and not a number called 590.
one is for a 26" rim and the other i suppose is for a 650B rim.
i made the same mistake on a schwalbe marathon and a continental gatorskin
mistake number 2. this tire made it from London to the us in about 3 days with free shipping so i do not have the heart to return it. i will donate it to the local bike shop>
so that maybe someone else might get burned i am posting this friendly reminder.
back in the day when i walked into the payless Hardware Store around 1933, you could buy a 26 x 1 3/8" tire and it would fit a 26" rim.
not any more.
so be careful out there1
you need to realize that you want a number called 559, and not a number called 590.
one is for a 26" rim and the other i suppose is for a 650B rim.
i made the same mistake on a schwalbe marathon and a continental gatorskin
mistake number 2. this tire made it from London to the us in about 3 days with free shipping so i do not have the heart to return it. i will donate it to the local bike shop>
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#9
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N.B. 559mm is the common bead seat diameter for "mountain bikes." 571mm is sometimes referred to as "650C" and may be found on road bikes for small riders. 584mm is "650B" or "27.5" and is becoming a popular choice for gravel bikes and people looking to run wider tires on road bikes. 590mm is "650A" or "26 x 1-3/8" and is commonly found on British and Japanese 3-speeds.
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Get a Raleigh 3sp and you have new tires.(Unless it is a Superbe with 28" wheels [whatever the hell 28" works out to])
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#12
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The wonders of inch sizes
28" tires are how Europe refers to 700c, even though 700c is smaller than 27" tires. Why are they named 28" when they're actually smaller than 27"? Well, because 27" was already taken! Again, almost all of the regulars here know this stuff; but the ISO or ETRTO sizing is the only way to know for sure what the rim size is.
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28" tires are how Europe refers to 700c, even though 700c is smaller than 27" tires. Why are they named 28" when they're actually smaller than 27"? Well, because 27" was already taken! Again, almost all of the regulars here know this stuff; but the ISO or ETRTO sizing is the only way to know for sure what the rim size is.
I have earned to always check ETRTO.
Thanks.
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#14
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#16
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The way Schwalbe uses inches to describe their tires is atrocious.
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#17
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Thread Starter
this stuff can be dangerous in the automotive industry.
isn't there a 16" rim and a16.5" rim such that mounting the 16.5" tire on the 16" rim and inflating can rip your head off and just leave the spinal column?
this darn tire, i coiled it into two loops to see if it would fit back in the bag it came in and it uncoiled and hit me in the nose. adding injury to insult, 44 dollars and a sore nose and i have only myself to blame.
isn't there a 16" rim and a16.5" rim such that mounting the 16.5" tire on the 16" rim and inflating can rip your head off and just leave the spinal column?
this darn tire, i coiled it into two loops to see if it would fit back in the bag it came in and it uncoiled and hit me in the nose. adding injury to insult, 44 dollars and a sore nose and i have only myself to blame.
Last edited by cjenrick; 12-25-21 at 09:51 PM.
#18
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I you are not sure what rim you have, you can measure the circumference of the bead seat with a tape measure. The 559 should measure about 1756mm (559 * Pi), the 590 is much bigger at 1853mm.
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28" tires are how Europe refers to 700c, even though 700c is smaller than 27" tires. Why are they named 28" when they're actually smaller than 27"? Well, because 27" was already taken! Again, almost all of the regulars here know this stuff; but the ISO or ETRTO sizing is the only way to know for sure what the rim size is.
#20
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Older light truck, skidsteer, farm implements ran 16.5". As far as light trucks it's pretty much a dead size. I have a pickup with 16.5 rims and your choice for tires is 1 or 2 highway tread or $$ off road tires. If and when I replace the tires I'll have to buy 16 or 17" rims. But yeah a 16.5 on a 16" rim is bad sauce.
#21
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In the bicycle world, the tire size in inches is the approximate outer diameter of the tire.
16", 20", 22", 24", 26", 27", 28", 29", etc.
It becomes problematic when there is a choice of widths offered for each tire size. So, to get around the issue, they created numerous rim sizes (and, of course, bicycles and bicycle standards from around the world).
Rim sizes became a little more important when starting to standardize things like "sewup" tires and clincher tires.
The tricky thing is if you choose to mix, say MOPED tires and BICYCLE tires. It can be done in certain situations. I've replaced Schwinn 16x3 bicycle tires with moped tires, and am happy with the result.
For those still riding bikes from the 1950's, it is nice to see that Schwalbe is continuing to support them.
If you really don't want the tires, sell them on Craigslist, E-Bay, or even the bicycle marketplace here.
16", 20", 22", 24", 26", 27", 28", 29", etc.
It becomes problematic when there is a choice of widths offered for each tire size. So, to get around the issue, they created numerous rim sizes (and, of course, bicycles and bicycle standards from around the world).
Rim sizes became a little more important when starting to standardize things like "sewup" tires and clincher tires.
The tricky thing is if you choose to mix, say MOPED tires and BICYCLE tires. It can be done in certain situations. I've replaced Schwinn 16x3 bicycle tires with moped tires, and am happy with the result.
For those still riding bikes from the 1950's, it is nice to see that Schwalbe is continuing to support them.
If you really don't want the tires, sell them on Craigslist, E-Bay, or even the bicycle marketplace here.
#23
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28" tires are how Europe refers to 700c, even though 700c is smaller than 27" tires. Why are they named 28" when they're actually smaller than 27"? Well, because 27" was already taken! Again, almost all of the regulars here know this stuff; but the ISO or ETRTO sizing is the only way to know for sure what the rim size is.
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650B is 584 ISO (usually marked 27.5").
Your tires won't fit.
650A is 590 ISO, but rarely used with that designation.
You could, of course, rebuild wheels with obsolete rim sizes.
But, if you want to used those tires, hunt for a vintage 3 speed, Raleigh, Robin Hood, etc. I think I also have a Gitane tandem with 26x1 3/8 wheels.
#25
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People like to ***** about the variety of "26-inch" wheel standards, but any number of things are the same way -- light bulb sockets, screw threads, USB cables, languages, you name it. The solution isn't to get angry, it's to take some time and educate yourself.