This has likely been asked ample times, but I'll ask anyway.
Will be putting new back tire on bike when all work is finished, and side car ready to be attached.
My Q is not as much which brand, as it is compound.
I know a soft compound is better traction while a harder compound is better wear. As this is my first experience with a hack. Each has points and drawbacks. I would think a hard compound for wear since I obviously will not be "burying" the Beemer in curves But, the Army always told us if we were supposed to think, the Army would issue us a brain. Don't remember that happening, during the 22 years.
Sarge
What bike is this for? Some bikes you can run an automotive tire on the stock rear wheel, other bikes to run an automotive tire you need a different wheel. We make wheels and tires for many BMW bikes. If you are running a motorcycle type tire in general I like to run a hard tire as it lasts longer and as you are not as likley to fall over with a sidecar to tracsion is not as critical. And as rear tires tend to wear out faster hard rubber lasts longer. And as cheaper tires are usualy harder rubber I usualy go with the least expensive tire I can find that has a high enough load rateing.
If you can go to an Automotive tire they usualy have a ligher load capacity, more traction, last longer, have a softer ride and are less money.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793
Bike is '78 BMW R100RS. I'll do some digging on automotive/mc tire fits
Thanks,
Sarge
On your BMW you have limited options. I ran a 1978 R100/7 for several years and at the same time my wife ran an R100S both with sidecars. We ran a Metzler block K on the rear. It comes in one size only 4:00 18, on the front we ran an Avon sidecar triple duty, It also comes in one size only 3:50 19 both are flat tread sidecar specific tires, There are no automotive tires that will fit the narrow rims your bike has.
If it helps you get your sidecar on we do offer bike specific NOT universal mounts for your bike. The frame tubing on the BMW is very thin and as such frame clamps over time are known to cause frame failure. We have made 100's of these sub frame kits with hundreds of thousands of mile put on them.
If you are located anywhere near us we do have an R100RT in the shop right now that has our sub frames on it as we will be installing an M72D sidecar on it soon.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
2328 Roosevelt ave
Enumclaw WA
98022
866-638-1793
I would recommend 18 inch rims front ad back and using Metzler sidecar tires on both.
They are a hard rubber compound and will give more miles per tire. Since they have a flat tread profile instead of a rounded one, they have more square inches of footprint and so no traction is sacrificed.
If you have a 19 inch wheel up front, you can get an Avon sidecar tire to fit but still need the Metzler 18 inch at the rear
for best performance.
Metzeler Block-K Sidecar ... i run one ...works great ... jay knows his stuff
mp in az
and runnin the avon in the front cuts way down on the jiggles ..
Hi Jay, I have a harley sportster with a freedom cruiser hack and wondered if you could tell me if there is a car tire that would fit the 16 inch wheel?
There are none that I know of that are worth trying.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
866-638-1793
jay@dmcsidecars.com
A 5:00x16" radial might fit into the swingarm. They fit some of the bigger early Harleys.
Lonnie
Thanks Hack'n!
Thanks Jay!
