Sarah,
I concur - tires are probably the most important part of a bike. When I got my 1954 Singer, it had nice-looking tires, but the ride was incredibly harsh. If I had not know that these bikes are supremely comfortable, I would have sold the thing after the first ride!
I swapped the tires for the Rivendell Rolly-Polys I usually use in 700C, and it rides like a dream.
I wonder how many of the classic Cinellis and other bikes, intended for quality sew-ups, would ride with cheap clinchers? They may be fine, but with the right tires, they are sublime...
Yet the tests in Bicycling magazine don't even mention which tires the bikes wear! -- Jan Heine, Seattle Editor/Publisher Vintage Bicycle Quarterly c/o Il Vecchio Bicycles 140 Lakeside Ave, Ste. C Seattle WA 98122 http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com