Advice on tires

[Margaret]

Hi,

I am new here-  We are planning a family trip on the GAP and C&O Trails this summer for about a week.  One of my daughters and I have  road  ( touring ) bikes and for these bike trails they recommend a hybrid ( though they say if you have a road bike you just might want to get knobbier tires)  I can't afford to get a new bike for one of my daughters and I so I want to get some tires that will work well.  My current tires are 27 x1 1/4.  Any suggestions of what kinds might be best?

Thanks,  Margaret

[Pat Lamb]

I rode a bit of the C&O a few years back in the summer when thundershowers popped up every 2-3 days.  I was on 700cx32 tires, and remember thinking I'd put some 35s or even 37s on if I went back for extra width surfing through the mud puddles.  32 is approximately the same width as the 27x1-1/4" you're riding.

To be honest, your question is tightly constrained.  The 27" wheel size was obsolete decades ago, replaced by the 700C wheels (which aren't compatible).  There aren't a lot of choices for tire replacements.  I'm going to suggest three alternatives:
1. If your bike has plenty of room around the tire, think about going up a size to 1-3/8", for example, https://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/kenda-k40-street-27-inch-road-tire
2. If you're comfortable with occasionally slippery conditions, I really like the Panaracer Paselas:
https://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/panaracer-pasela-road-tire-27-inch
3. If you think more lugs will help, try https://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/continental-tour-ride-27-inch
Note that I've had problems getting Continental tires on and off wheels to fix flats.  If you go that route, practice unmounting and remounting the tires before you leave.

You might want to push the date for your tour as late in the summer (toward the August/September dry times) as possible.

[adventurepdx]

Pat's got some good info there. Alas, the 27 inch tire/wheel is a "dead" size, and you're pretty locked into a max width of about 32 to 35 mm. It may be possible to switch the wheels to 700C for more tire options, depending on the bike (if the bike has cantilever brakes, not easy or cheap.) But then you're investing quite a bit of money for a marginal tire width gain. Some folks will go further, and convert to 650B which means wider tires. But the tires tend to skew more expensive, and the wheels aren't necessarily cheap, either.) I'd hold out on getting a different bike than go that route, though if you really like the bike, you might want to take the plunge.

But I wouldn't sweat it that much, just "run what ya brung", so to speak. I've ridden plenty of dirt paths on 35 mm wide tires and did fine. Wider is always better, true, but don't let it stop you!

[Margaret]

Thank you so much for your advice.  I read the tires again and they are 32 -630 .  I do have an old bike (Bought it when I was 13 ) but I love it- It has a Brooks hard leather saddle that I absolutely love and a Runnels frame and my dh just refurbished it for me- I am so comfortable on it as I have ridden it many, many miles and on my trans-continental trip- so  I am going to take both of your suggestions to the local bike shop so at least I sound like I have a clue about tires.  Thank you!

Margaret

[adventurepdx]

Thank you so much for your advice.  I read the tires again and they are 32 -630 .  I do have an old bike (Bought it when I was 13 ) but I love it- It has a Brooks hard leather saddle that I absolutely love and a Runnels frame and my dh just refurbished it for me- I am so comfortable on it as I have ridden it many, many miles and on my trans-continental trip- so  I am going to take both of your suggestions to the local bike shop so at least I sound like I have a clue about tires.  Thank you!

Cool! Do you have a photo of this bike?

[walks.in2.trees]

I've got 40c on mine, does fine for all but loose sand... Note that the larger widths may not be compatible with your frame as mentioned in another recent post about switching to wider tires

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[paddleboy17]

The GAP is crushed limestone.  I am sure that whatever tires you have now are fine as long as they are in good shape.

The C&O is a different matter as it was the tow path for mules pulling canal boats, once upon a time.  So it will be a nightmare if it rains, and fun if it does not.  The C&O will benefit from wider, knobbier tire.