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

[Schwinny]

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.

Its not so confusing for those with a few of the bikes with these rims/tires.
Like they did with most things American in the 60's-70's, the Japanese, this time ARAYA, knocked off the Schwinn Special sizes also. I have seen ARAYA Schwinn sized rims before. I wouldn't be surprised to see an S5/S6 Schwinn sized rim (597).
A person could just measure the rim diameter.....

I would have already posted the Rim OD differences but I've put my 26" tire bikes away in prep for me going traveling in a couple weeks.

 

[coasterbrakejunkie1969]

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

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

My response was to this post. I was stating that my Araya knock offs are marked as such, so was pointing out they are most likely not S-6 knock offs seeing that they are not marked so.

 

[Relic Racing]

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.

I remember at least one was a 26-1 3/8”. I’ll look for anything else, tomorrow.

 

[Relic Racing]

Nothing besides psi/Taiwan/nylon, as far as tire markings go. I think it’s possible that the previous owner swapped out the wheels along with the bars/Hunt-Wilde grips. I probably overthought this. I ordered a set of 26-1 3/8 tires, as were on the bike. If they fit, great. If not, I’ll know what ISO number, it’s not. Should be here Friday. Fingers crossed.

 

[rickpaulos]

I recently acquired a similar Hercules. Only oem parts are the bb and headset. The wheels are 24 x 1 3/8 UKAI skinny aluminum rims. They look quite out of place on it so those were removed. Based on the head badge, it's mid 1950s to late 1950s. Smallish frame size, I'd say it was intended for tweens or ~5' adults. Found no catalogs for it. Experts say Hercules serial numbers are no help in dating.

 

[rickpaulos]

The bike predates the creation of ERTO and ISO so you probably wont find any ISO numbers on the tires.

You can measure the rims. The hub gets in the way so use a level . Take the tire & tube off. Stand the wheel upright on a smooth surface. Place a level on the top of the rim cross ways with the level making contact on both edges of the rim.. Try to get it level. Measure from the smooth surface to the bottom of the level. That should get you the outer diameter. Subtract about 5 or 6 mm (twice) to get to the BSD, bead seat diameter. That should get you close enough to see what the actual size is. On rims with a bead seat, you can measure down from the top of the rim to the bead seat and subtract that twice.

There are 2 sizes of 26 x 1 3/8.
26 x 1 3/8 (S-6) 597mm for Schwinn Lightweights
26t x 1 3/8 (EA3) 590mm for most English 3 speed bikes.

English bikes were sold with other wheel sizes. 24" is uncommon and 28" was used on the Tourist models for police and post men.

 

[Relic Racing]

Thanks guys. We’re rollin’!
26-1 3/8, 590 ISO tires fit the 26-1 3/8 marked Araya rims.
The Shcwalbe tires, I went with, are plenty of tire. As beefy as some 1.75’s I’ve seen.
The bike is surprisingly smooth & quiet riding.
Thanks again. -Thom & Jenny the moto pup.

 

[Schwinny]

And a pretty good tire too.

 

[rickpaulos]

A permanent black ink marker can take are of that modern tire lettering.