Numbers on the side of a bicycle tyre?

700x38c is the French designation, the c mean modern clincher. The ISO/ETRTO standard number would be 40-622c. Then there is the less accurate INCH designation 28 × 1⅝ × 1½.

Why does one have a width 38 and the other 40? Well the actual spec for width

is ""nominal" width, which is the width of the tire on the rim (I know, stupid).

So the French measure is a narrower rim, so the profile of the tire is different.

Here is a good link to explain those three sets of numbers.

In case you bought the bike for $12, you mainly will not recognize paying $20-30 or more for a tire at a bike keep. I'm guessing you will have a mountain bike, and which you can get a low priced substitute in practically any department retailer that incorporates bicycles - Wally World, X-Mart, goal, Dick's carrying goods, and so on. Also Toys-R-Us. Take the front wheel to one of those locations and spot if certainly one of their tires fit; if it does, you'll be able to get out of your jam for lower than $10 apiece. On the off-danger that you've another, bizarre dimension, your picks are both take it to the bike retailer or shop up your pennies for yet another bike.

Bicycle tire size is expressed as the wheel diameter by the tires widest width. Therefore 700x38c means that the tire is 700" in diameter and 38c" wide. This is the sizing of the tyre, different tyres have different sizes like 26x2.0 means that the tire is 26" in diameter and 2.0" wide.....

Why didn't you post them ? The ISO number would be 38 - 622. The 622 is the bead seat diameter for a 700c wheel and the 38 is the tire width in mm.

Everything (and I do mean EVERYTHING) is explained on this link...

http://sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html

That should keep you busy for a while. :)

probably the mold No/factory No so problems can be traced