How to Convert a Bicycle Tire Size
Bicycle tires come in a bewildering number of sizes. When a bicycle tire becomes worn, as indicated by the tread on its outermost edge disappearing, or damaged by road debris, it's best for you to replace the tire with one of identical size. Some unusual situations, such as taking your American bicycle on a tour of continental Europe or other overseas destinations, may require you to convert a bicycle tire size.
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Instructions
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Read the markings stamped on the sidewall of your existing bicycle tire. Most road or hybrid bicycles will carry a tire designation of 700C, referring in millimeters to the outside dimension of the tire and in letters that signify the width.
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Convert a 700C tire to a 622 mm tire in countries following the European Tire and Rim Technical Organization specifications adopted by the International Standard Organization (ISO).
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Check if your existing tire reads 26 by 1.5 inches or 26 by 2.125 inches--typical for mountain bikes, which list the outer rim dimension in inches first followed by the tire's width. Convert this tire to a 559 mm ISO one.
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Check if your BMX, freestyle, recumbent or folding bike reads 20 by 1.5 inches or 20 by 2.125 inches. Convert this tire to a 406 mm ISO tire.
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Check your folding bike or front recumbent to see if the tire measures 16 by 1.75 inches or 16 by 2.215 inches. Convert this to a 305 mm tire.
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Check if your tire sidewall reveals an less common size, which could range anywhere from 12 to 28 inches in diameter and 1 to 2 ¼ inches in width, given the hundreds of bicycle tire sizes, especially on older models. Consult the "Less Common Sizes" section of Sheldon Brown's Tire Sizing web page (in the Resources section below) for a conversion size.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit bicycle wheel image by Wendi Evans from Fotolia.com
