New Guy/First Post, with a Hercules Rim/Tire Size Question.

[Relic Racing]

Those rims aren't very rusty on the Hercules. They may be stamped what they are. Dunlop rims will have the size of 26x1-3/8" or 1-1/4" And then Either EA1 or EA3 . EA1 is 597 ISO and if the rims are original, may actually be the size considering it looks like a pre-war bike. EA3 is 590 ISO and the front tire looks like some 590's Ive had.

Interesting to note that there was an American Hercules Bike of this era made in Cleveland (considering the Miami)
This one looks to be English though.

Thank you. Lotta’ grime, but little rust on the rims. I’ll be looking for those marks, today.

 

[Relic Racing]

Thank you. Lotta’ grime, but little rust on the rims. I’ll be looking for those marks, today.

You were right. Going to bed, smarter than I woke. Thanks, again.

 

[Schwinny]

Actually not.....
Araya is a Japanese company so you can bet they are not original.
The question continues....

 

[ditchpig]

Good news actually, now you can feel free to get some standard dime store 26in. rims and enjoy 100s of tire choices.....tempered only by frame clearance.

 

[bloo]

I think these will be the expected 590mm as seen on English 3 speeds, despite the Japanese rims. Araya is high quality stuff, so no harm no foul there. I don't think you will have any trouble getting tires, but probably won't have a wide selection of widths.

 

[Relic Racing]

My head’s spinning. Thanks guys.

 

[Schwinny]

I think these will be the expected 590mm as seen on English 3 speeds, despite the Japanese rims. Araya is high quality stuff, so no harm no foul there. I don't think you will have any trouble getting tires, but probably won't have a wide selection of widths.

Ok, I'll take the other side and say these are Japanese S6 knockoffs and bet 597's

I say that because the 597 has been a strictly 1-3/8" tire for a long time (ISO 597/35-37). The 590 is typically found in 1-1/4" (ISO 590/28-32)
But that is today, these rims are from the 70's.
The drum rolls....

 

[coasterbrakejunkie1969]

I think these will be the expected 590mm as seen on English 3 speeds, despite the Japanese rims. Araya is high quality stuff, so no harm no foul there. I don't think you will have any trouble getting tires, but probably won't have a wide selection of widths.

My head’s spinning. Thanks guys.

Ok, I'll take the other side and say these are Japanese S6 knockoffs and bet 597's

The set of Araya S-7 rims are marked S-7 so maybe these are not S-6 rims. I have a set of S-2 style Araya rims marked just 26x2.125

 

[ditchpig]

Not trying to make your head spin any faster, but there should be more info embossed on the two tires. ?

 

[bloo]

The set of Araya S-7 rims are marked S-7 so maybe these are not S-6 rims. I have a set of S-2 style Araya rims marked just 26x2.125

Wait, what?! That is confusing. I dont think anything was stamped S7 here, or did I miss something?

Assuming this is something even semi-normal and located in the US...

A 26" (not 27) lightweight tire from the 70s, or the bike boom, or back a few years from that has to be one of the two right? 590 as seen on UK 3 speeds and US department store lightweights or 597 Schwinn?

This is why we should NEVER be using inch sizes anymore. It's a mess. It's not the inches vs Metric, it is all the contradictions and if-and-but-or's in the old system.

Hey @Relic Racing, If this bike has any tires on it, please post pics of the markings, or post the markings. If there are inch markings, post. If there are metric markings, post, if there is S-anything or E.A.-anything post that too. I swear we can make sense of this, and probably quickly.