understanding tire dimensions?

anonymous_joe said:

I need to buy a new tube.
The dimensions given on the rim(new rim bought and installed at LBS)
says 26x1.5/1.75 .
What does that mean?
I have been mountain biking for a few years now but not too seriously
and will admit I have no idea wtf that means? ha ha ha ha

Why are you laughing?

Are you seriously telling us you dont understand how cycle and car tyres are measured.
Are you sure that size is shown on the rim, I'd expect it to be on the sidewall of the tyre.
Would you pay me to come over from England to fit the new tube for you?

Joe '26' is the OD of your wheel 1.5 / 1.75 is the recomended tube size
in inches, if you cut your old tube into slices like little rings
you'll see that each ring will be 1- 1/2 to 1-3/4 inches in diameter.
so you can buy either a 1.5 or a 1.75 tube.
i never buy just one tube ..... well i never 'did' i used to buy
them 4 or 5 at a time. i kept a brand spanking new tube in my pack at
ALL times and the means to put air in it wether it's a pump or co2
cartrages and a fully stocked patch kit, vulcanizing AND glueless.
hope this helps

dirtdude said:

Joe '26' is the OD of your wheel 1.5 / 1.75 is the recomended tube size
in inches, if you cut your old tube into slices like little rings
you'll see that each ring will be 1- 1/2 to 1-3/4 inches in diameter.
so you can buy either a 1.5 or a 1.75 tube.
i never buy just one tube ..... well i never 'did' i used to buy
them 4 or 5 at a time. i kept a brand spanking new tube in my pack at
ALL times and the means to put air in it wether it's a pump or co2
cartrages and a fully stocked patch kit, vulcanizing AND glueless.
hope this helps

Yeah. I should have told him that.
Sorry Joe. You know lots about computers, thats almost as important as riding.

anonymous_joe said:

I need to buy a new tube.
The dimensions given on the rim(new rim bought and installed at LBS)
says 26x1.5/1.75 .

Quoted message said:

What does that mean?

It's a little convoluted. The 26" reference is actually the outside
diameter of the TIRE when mounted on the rim, though it's not really
26" unless you have a tire of a certain size. But you don't have to
worry about that - the bike shop will know what a "26 inch tire" is.

This is confusing because most tires are measured by size of the rim
(ala a "15 inch car tire"😉.

The 1.5/1.75 refers to the width of the tire in inches, when fully
inflated. Again, that assumes certain rim dimensions (a wider rim
will make the tire's width slightly wider).

Essentially, look for a tube that's marked the same way - 26" x the
actual width of the tire you have mounted. Tubes cover a range of
sizes - just make sure you buy one that has a range that includes the
tires you actually have mounted.

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $795 ti frame

"anonymous_joe" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I need to buy a new tube.
The dimensions given on the rim(new rim bought and installed at LBS)
says 26x1.5/1.75 .
What does that mean?
I have been mountain biking for a few years now but not too seriously and
will admit I have no idea wtf that means? ha ha ha ha

You just need to get close to the right size tube. I have not been able to
find any light 29 inch tubes for my Niner, so I have been using 26 inch
Maxis Fly Weights tubes without any problems.

Dean A. Stepper said:

"anonymous_joe" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I need to buy a new tube.
The dimensions given on the rim(new rim bought and installed at LBS)
says 26x1.5/1.75 .
What does that mean?
I have been mountain biking for a few years now but not too seriously and
will admit I have no idea wtf that means? ha ha ha ha

You just need to get close to the right size tube. I have not been able to
find any light 29 inch tubes for my Niner, so I have been using 26 inch
Maxis Fly Weights tubes without any problems.

??? I have no problem finding 29er tubes online. I've got a nice
collection of Salsa 29er tubes from Speedgoat.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

Thanks to all that responded! I picked up a 26x1.5/1.9 tube at REI last
night and it went on no problems. I actually discovered significant wear
on the sidewall which likely caused the flat to begin with so I'll try
and pick up a new tire this weekend and put that on as well. It was the
front tire and is, as far as I can remember, the original although the
rear tire has been replaced at least once before.

Dean A. Stepper said:

"anonymous_joe" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I need to buy a new tube.
The dimensions given on the rim(new rim bought and installed at LBS)
says 26x1.5/1.75 .
What does that mean?
I have been mountain biking for a few years now but not too seriously and
will admit I have no idea wtf that means? ha ha ha ha

You just need to get close to the right size tube. I have not been able to
find any light 29 inch tubes for my Niner, so I have been using 26 inch
Maxis Fly Weights tubes without any problems.

There should be something in the "roadie section" of the tube shelf
that would work fine (since, after all, 29" wheels are really roadie
700c wheels in disguise).

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $795 ti frame