I'm new to sidecars and I've got a question about a tire for the sidecar.
I've searched through the USCA forums and have found a lot of different viewpoints about tires and tire pressures.
I hope that I'm not re-opening a can of worms for the group by asking about tires.
My rig is a 1981 Yamaha SR250 Exciter m/c with a Spirit sidecar.
A friend mounted the sidecar to the bike for me earlier this summer.
The bike's tires are only a year or two old but the 3.00x16 Goodyear tire was on the sidecar when I bought it already very used 20-some years ago. It's time to change the sidecar tire.
So far, I've found several possible replacement tires; a 4-ply Shinko SR568 100/80-16 m/c rear tire, several 100/80-16 and 100/90-16 m/c front tires, and a 6-ply 3.00x16 6-ply Cheng Shin tire that Bushtec sells for their m/c trailers.
Any thoughts about using a front tire vs a rear tire on the sidecar, or about a 4-ply tire vs a 6-ply, or even 100/80-16 vs 100/90-16 vs 3.00x16 tire profiles.
I would appreciate your thoughts about which might be the better tire for the sidecar. I'm open to other tire suggestions too. This is a lightweight, 20 +/- HP rig that tops out near 55 mph on flat roads. The sidecar will be unoccupied and used to carry goods, and not people, most of the time. My initial thought is that any of the new tires that I've found would be better than the very old tire that is on the sidecar now.
Lindsey
Find a tire that fits your rim width and as close to the OS dim of the old tire as you can and go for it, any tire you get is going to be rated for far more speed and load than your going to be carrying.
I do can recommend the Tcheck Mitas tire (JAWA / Velorex) for good wall stiffness and long lasting riding. Y became awsome disapointed from any chineese tires (2000km on back vs. 12-15000 with Mitas)
And wall thickness is important!
Once upon the time I nearly flipped the tires off of the rim. With 2 passengers in a hard left under a bridge I became very nervous.
As more pliers as better.
Sven
