Bicycle Tire and Rim Question?

Question

I have a Schwinn Mid-Town bicycle that I bought from Costco and I am wondering if I can put a new pair of rims on it? The bottom line is the tires are 26*1.95 and I would like to get down to 26*1.25 or less. Is there any possible way to do this? Even if I have to chage the rim that is ok? Thank you for your time!!!!!

Answer 1

it's time to go bvack to the drawing board, and start over. before you bought that one-size-fits-all bike, with a one-style-fits-all marketing plan, you should have visited your LBS. they would have talked to you about the different styles of bikes, and helped you decide which is best suited for your riding style. for the cost of upgrading your big-box POS, you could have got the right bike the first time round, complete with a manufacturers warranty (void on big-box bikes), a service plan including at least one free tune-up (all bikes need some tweeking after the first 300 miles or so), and a relationship with folks who know other riders in the area, for you to network with, etc.

Answer 2

It's perfectly fine to swap rims, look for one with the same amount of spoke holes as your current one and then get a professional to build the wheel. It's very hard to do for the inexperienced.

Answer 3

I agree you are always best off buying a bike at a local bike store.  But most of the previous respondents have missed the point of the question.  You don't need narrower rims to mount narrower tires on your bike.  

Just buy a set of 26X1.25 tires and go.  In addition, you'll almost certainly need narrower tubes.  Your old tubes are going to be too fat.

Remember, with less rubber between your rims and the road you'll need to run higher tire pressure.  Otherwise, you'll be subject to pinch flats when you hit an obstacle and the tube is pinched between the obstacle and the rim of the wheel.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

          

        ^     totally agree with you on that s***w walmart bikes go to

        |     your LBS

        |

Answer 5

Wow.

Yes, it's possible but you will likely spend more money on building that wheel than you did on that bike.

My shop charges $45 in labor to build a wheel, then you have to consider the cost of parts which, as you get into the higher performance rims can get pretty expensive relative to the bike value.

Ultimately, you can't turn a sows ear into a silk purse. Replace the bike before you drop more money into it.