27″ Tire Guide

Rob — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 03:44:53 +0000

If you’ve purchased a new bike in the past 20 years, chances are you have 700c wheel on a road bike, or 26″ wheels on a mountain bike or cruiser. For a period in the late 70s and into the early 80s, 27″ was a popular wheel size on road bikes in the US and British market. If you have a 10 or 12 speed bike from this era, chances are you have this size wheel. (information via Harris Cyclery)

With 27″ being phased out so long ago, your tire selection is very thin compared to 700c. One option is to upgrade to a new set of wheels. I have a Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 and this is very popular on this model. You have to be careful here as certain bikes will not make this easy as the frame and/or brakes will not accommodate a different wheel size. Even if you have the option to upgrade, it may make more sense to keep your current set of wheels. For touring and recreation there is nothing wrong with this wheel size.

The shortage of 27″ tires seems to be the main reason people upgrade. I was able to find a tire I liked in this size (the Panaracer Pasela TG) and have been happy with that. So happy in fact I abandoned my original plan to upgrade wheels. I decided to compile a list of 27″ tires currently available in hopes that it may help other classic bike owners.

I only listed “premium” tires. If you don’t have special needs, or ride very little, your local bike shop, Wal-Mart, and Target usually have less expensive tires which may suit your needs. Amazon has a rather large selection as well.

This post will be updated on a regular basis, please let me know if I’ve missed a tire or dealer you think should be listed.

Brand	Model	Sizes (27x)	Description	Buy At
Panaracer	Pasela	1, 1-1/8, 1-1/4	An excellent multi-use tire. The Pasela makes any road or hybrid bike more versatile. Its center ridge rolls over broken pavement and works on dirt roads as well. A multitude of sizes and configurations make finding the proper size a breeze. An excellent value for commuting or touring cycling.	Nashbar – $19.99 Harris Cyclery – $19.95 Jenson – $16.65 Amazon – $18.68
Panaracer	Pasela TG	1, 1-1/8, 1-1/4	Same as the normal Paselas but featuring “TourGuard” but with a kevlar belt for increased puncture resistance.	Nashbar – $29.99 Harris Cyclery – $19.95 Jenson – $19.97 Amazon – $18.68
Nashbar	Prima 2 Plus	1-1/4	The Nashbar Prima 2 Plus Road Bike Tire is a Non folding Kevlar belt version of the Prima 2. Black sidewalls instead of tan.	Nashbar $14.99
Continental	Ultra Gatorskin	1-1/4	A durable carbon black mixture, a well regarded puncture protection system and DuraSkin-anti-cut fabric turn the Ultra GatorSkin into a real long distance runner. In varying widths from 23mm to 32mm it can be used on the way to work as well for training for road races or for sportifs and audax. A durable, tougt tyre at a really nice price. A modern tread design that collects less debris and the expansion of the product line to the new dimension 28-559 for fast MTB street riding.	Nashbar $39.99 Amazon $38.21 Harris Cyclery – $39.95
Continental	Ultra Sport	1-1/8, 1-1/4	An attractive tread design and a choice of coloured treads can turn any race bike into a superb visual masterpiece. UltraSport tires make a stunning impact on every training ride and are ideal for newcomers to road biking. In addition to the UltraSport colour versions, the UltraSport SafetySystem tire incorporates a reinforced tread for extra protection against punctures.	Nashbar $18.40 Amazon – $21.21 Harris Cyclery – $19.95
Vittoria	Zaffiro	1-1/8, 1-1/4	Dot C.O.M. Vector Design tread for safe training. Tread is same as Zaffiro Pro (foldable), and the Aramid Endura 3D Compound. A stronger casing combined with bead wire made from 4 twisted steel wires (for better flexibility) make Zaffiro ideal for training.	Nashbar $14.99 Amazon $13.99 Jenson – $12.25
Michelin	World Tour	1-1/4	Featuring Protek technology in the rubber mix, and casing construction, the World Tour tire is an economical solution for all your trips in the city.	Jenson – $15.49 Harris Cyclery – $21.95 Amazon – $16.99
Club Roost	Cross Terra	1-3/8	Very Aggressive knobby tread, blackwall, 40-65 psi	Harris Cyclery – $24.95

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27″ Tire Guide