Cycling UK Forum

I have an 20 year-old Carlton tourer with 1 + an eighth width tyres. I've recently dusted it down, replaced a couple of minor components, but am told by my local bike shop that those tyres are no longer available. Can I use a different size & if so what is the nearest one, or would I need to replace the wheels, which probably wouldn't be justified given the age of the bike? Thanks for your help.

I presume you have some variation of a 27" tyre. The most common was 27 x 1 ¼ but there are others. If it's an old tyre, it probably has not got the ISO standard markings which are now standard. 27" tyres are still available - make sure, if necessary by asking back at your shop that that is what you have. (The tyre size is normally embossed on the sidewall.) Halfords usually stock something in a pretty basic version, better stuff is availbe such as Schwalbe Marathon and I think Continental do some. Although there is some latitude in the section of the tyre (how fat it is) the diameter is critical. 700C which looks the same will not do.

If there is an ISO marking, look at this http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=3802

I assume these are 27 x 1 1/8" tyres? They are still made, eg Panaracer pasela TG from Spa cycles http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b61s142p340 but you can fit 27 x 1 1/4" which are still widely available. Or "upgrade" to 700C which will probabaly requires an "upgrade" to the brakes eg Tektro 556

Just to make it absolutely clear, an upgrade to 700C would also involve new wheels, or at least new rims on the old ones.

Nina try the CTC or Chain reaction cycles on line shops . What size are you looking for

A selection here that should fit: http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/category-Tyr ... 29-203.htm

The modern sizing ISO number is 630, i.e. a rim bead diameter of 630mm, where as modern "700C" tyres are 622mm so will not fit. The smaller number in front on modern tyres gives the width of the tyre in millimetres which for a 1 1/8" tyre is normally 28mm, so your new tyre should be marked 28-630, or for a 27x 1 1/4" tyre it would be marked 32-630.

Explanation and information here if you can be bothered: http://sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html

Interesting that you date the Carlton as 20 years old where as I have an old touring bike that is about 25 years old, i.e. from the mid 1980s, and it has been 700C from the beginning, so I am wondering if your bike is in fact older than mine?

s I have an old touring bike that is about 25 years old, i.e. from the mid 1980s, and it has been 700C from the beginning, so I am wondering if your bike is in fact older than mine?

Raleigh (i.e Carlton) were quite late in changing to 700C. I have a set of 27" wheels from an 80's Raleigh.

I had a pair of 27x1&1/8, Michelin Altika's. Lovely looking tyre, puncture resistant and great for audax. Actually sold them through the ctc for sale section along with a lush pair of 27" mavics.
You can buy brand new 27x 1&1/8th Continentals from ebay for under £30 a pair delivered to your door!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Pair-Continental- ... 22fdae7058

You can buy brand new 27x 1&1/8th Continentals from ebay for under £30 a pair delivered to your door!

Yeah I looked at those. Pity they don't do them in the funky colours they in 700C. Just black

I bought some 27"x1.25" Schwalbe's last year for the Dawes Galaxy and they were ace.

Velorum wrote:I bought some 27"x1.25" Schwalbe's last year for the Dawes Galaxy and they were ace.

Although it does not affect 27" tyres, as a general rule it's a good prctice to avoid converting tyre sizes expressed as proper fractions to decimal equivalents. There are some cases where what seems arithmetically the same produces widely differing and incompatible tyres.

As a matter of fact I can stand metric figures - its just that I cant figure our how to type fractions on the laptop
27" x 11/4" doesnt look right to me............

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html

That from SB includes an explantion of what I was getting at. Dinky fractions are available to copy into your document (in Windows at least) using the character map. (Start menu -> All programs -> accessories -> system tools -> character map) although by the time you get there, you may have forgotten what you wanted, if you are like me It also gives the keyboard shortcuts, using ALT + numeric keypad.

If you just want a cheap set, Wilkinsons of all places stock 27 x 1 1/4" tyres.

On closer inspection both tyres are marked 27 x 1 1/8 and one also has 28-630 & my Carlton is nearer 25 years old when I thought about it - bought around 1983/4! It's great that there's such a wealth of knowledge out there! Thanks everyone for all your help & useful links to further info & suppliers.