Peculiar wheel size 559x17??

[livpoksoc]

My Dad has kindly given me his old bike to allow me to put a child seat on the back (my spesh MTB doesn't have the required clearance above the wheel. I've been using it for the summer, but just went to get it out and the brakes are rubbing and moving - but it looks like the rear wheel is buckled. I'm fine with replacing the wheel and swapping the tyres/cassettes over but can't work out what the right wheel size is to go like for like.

It's a Trek 6500 MTB from c. 2005 with rim brakes (what I called 'V Brakes as a kid). The rim has a 559x17 marking on it, but I'm not sure what the right size is to go to a shop and get a new one?

 

[DCLane]

It's a standard 26" wheel for an MTB, although a little narrower than usual.

Your LBS should be able to source/have one. eBay has loads if you're stuck - put "559 17 rear wheel" into the search. You'll need a freewheel / cassette for it of course.

 

[livpoksoc]

It's a standard 26" wheel for an MTB, although a little narrower than usual.

Your LBS should be able to source/have one. eBay has loads if you're stuck - put "559 17 rear wheel" into the search. You'll need a freewheel / cassette for it of course.

Thanks - I assume if I just take the existing cassette off the old wheel, that'll be ok?

 

[DCBassman]

Should be fine if it's a cassette, trickier if a freewheel. How many gears?

 

[livpoksoc]

Should be fine if it's a cassette, trickier if a freewheel. How many gears?

It's a triple on the front, 8-9 on the back I think.

 

[livpoksoc]

It's a triple on the front, 8-9 on the back I think.

Confirming, triple with 9 speed rear cassette.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

A perfectly standard wheel size. Nothing peculiar about it at all!

 

[livpoksoc]

A perfectly standard wheel size. Nothing peculiar about it at all!

Then I am uneducated at best. To be honest, I didn't know road wheel sizing until the last 4 years, and I'd been on a road bike since 2011. Even worse with MTBs, but need to get my head around them soon as the weather looks warm enough to take my what has until now, been a very ornamental hardtail, out.

 

[andrew_s]

559 (mm) is the diameter. Whatever you get must be 559, or the brake blocks won't meet the rim.
17 is the width (internal, where the tyre fits in), and is suitable for tyres between about 1.125 and 2.0 inches wide.
That's fine for road use, but for tyres bigger than 2.0 for rougher off-road, you'd want a wider rim - maybe 21 or 23.

 

[livpoksoc]

559 (mm) is the diameter. Whatever you get must be 559, or the brake blocks won't meet the rim.
17 is the width (internal, where the tyre fits in), and is suitable for tyres between about 1.125 and 2.0 inches wide.
That's fine for road use, but for tyres bigger than 2.0 for rougher off-road, you'd want a wider rim - maybe 21 or 23.

So the bike is an MTB, and has the 17 width now. I assume if I go like for like, the existing tyres will be ok to swap over too? They're pretty deep knobbly MTB ones.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Not mentioned upthread but check that any new wheel you get has an8/9/10 freehub, not an 11sp one, and obviously QR axle (assumed) and 130mm (assumed) OLD.
Yes - the current tyres will go on any MTB (ie normal) 559 rim.
You haven't said why you can't just true out the buckle: likely a whole lot easier and the first IA for many (on here).

 

[livpoksoc]

Not mentioned upthread but check that any new wheel you get has an8/9/10 freehub, not an 11sp one, and obviously QR axle (assumed) and 130mm (assumed) OLD.
Yes - the current tyres will go on any MTB (ie normal) 559 rim.
You haven't said why you can't just true out the buckle: likely a whole lot easier and the first IA for many (on here).

Time, patience, ability, confidence, tools? Am open to trying, but does it not require a toolset to do?

 

[Ajax Bay]

All you need is a spoke key. I recommend a R&P Spokey - check spoke nipple flat/flat dimension to get right one, or get a 'multi-one'. Someone will offer a video showing how simple truing works.
Is easier than Sudoku, and quicker!
In this case you're allowed to turn the bike upside down

 

[livpoksoc]

All you need is a spoke key. I recommend a R&P Spokey - check spoke nipple flat/flat dimension to get right one, or get a 'multi-one'. Someone will offer a video showing how simple truing works.
Is easier than Sudoku, and quicker!
In this case you're allowed to turn the bike upside down
View attachment 623175

Ok thanks. Will give it a go.

 

[Ajax Bay]

A quick look for a useful video brought this one up:
View: https://youtu.be/oJqFr37tqsk

Take the tyre off before you do this (tyre gets in the way of seeing the buckle. Don't worry about circularity - it'll be good enough. Just side-to-side stuff to sort. Get your head round the simple physics of a spoke pulling the rim towards flange of the hub that that spoke's attached to, and vice versa less tension allows the rim to move away.