I understand the risks in mounting a 15" car tire to a motorcycle rim. I also understand the risks are a little less if using a 125r15 or 135r15. The risks involve the pressure put against the steel cords in the sidewalls. What about this 500-15 http://tinyurl.com/hvlmc ? I believe this is a bias-ply tire. Would this tire lessen the risks even more. The picture shows a white sidewall but the description is for a black sidewall.
The configuration of the bead itself will be the same be it a radial or bias ply. It has a different diameter than a cycle rim and is designed to seat differently. The 15 is still a 15" automobile tire unless it is specifically designed for a motorcycle.
Lonnie
I would not mount ANY 15" car tires on 15" motorcycle rims!! Some have done so but that does not make it right.
C'mon Wayne, you know better. Just get that Virago rim turned down.
I do Kevin. I'm just trying to get through 2 other people's heads what needs to be done and is it really worth it. One of which is just down the road from you. I'm happy with the Metzeler 140/80 on the rear (7,000 miles and maybe another 5,000).
Ok, will the 15" rim, after machining, still be strong enough to with stand the pressures of the sidecar and the weight of a passenger? Also, I can't find a 15" auto tire with a OD of greater than 24" that will fit a 3" wide Virago rim. Std motorcycle OD is 25.1" and the lower profile motorcycle tire I'm using is 24.4" and gives me good power.
wAYNE WROTE:
Ok, will the 15" rim, after machining, still be strong enough to with stand the pressures of the sidecar and the weight of a passenger?
Response:
If it isn't strong enough you will find out.
Wayne wrote:
Also, I can't find a 15" auto tire with a OD of greater than 24" that will fit a 3" wide Virago rim. Std motorcycle OD is 25.1" and the lower profile motorcycle tire I'm using is 24.4" and gives me good power.
Response:
We do a fair amount of rear wheel conversions using the 165r15 tires and some with 135r15s. The 165 should be on a rim according to the book that is 4" wide. I have talked to all of the authoritive people I could find and all said that they woudl be okay on a 3 1/2" rim. I really think a 3" rim would be pushing it as far as the bead seating properly. The 165s are between 25 and 26" in diameter.
There is a 145 and a 155 tire too but I have no experience with them.
Here we go again...
Originally written by Bluecedar on 9/15/2006 11:22 PM
Here we go again...
For the sidecar world, this is equivilant to that damn "oil thread" that just won't die.
Pardon me for trying to learn anything. I wish I was as smart as some of you are or smart as some of you think you are. There's no need to post if the topic bothers you!!
Has anyone mounted a 135R15 or 125R15 to a machined motorcycle rim? You can contact me off list if you like. wjessen@mwt.net
I'm sorry you've taken offence. There have been several previous threads on this same topic though, on this site, in which all the reasons against, have been hashed out ad-nauseum.
The problem is, this topic is very much safety related. It has already been proven that it is a bad idea to mount a 15" series automotive tire on a 15" motorcycle rim. People do keep rehashing the topic up, and it does tend to cast some doubt on the validity of those in the know, who have said it's not a wise idea for various reasons.
Personal opinion? - I don't think it's a good idea, period. Nothing snobbish or elite about it. They just aren't intended to work together safely, IMHO. Safely is the key word in this argument.
Oh, another option, if you do find someone with the skill to get a wheel machined correctly for 15" automotive tires - for the Canadian market Smart cars, the front wheels use 145/65R15 Conti's. Might want to check into that tire size. The new gen 07's that the US will be seeing next year, are going to be bumped up to 175/55R15's.
Bill,
Which person(s) with 40 years experience is right? I just had a tire guy with 40 years tell ME, it can be done safety without machining. I've seen Hal's pictures. I don't what to be a test rat. Myself, I lean toward machining the rim. But I have questions about thinning the material. Someone out there must have some PERSONAL experiences with machining a 15" rim. I've found a 135R15 tire with the right OD. But rim width is 2.75" to 3.75" (3.5" STD) and my rim is stamped 3". There's a big saving going to a car tire but not if the rim get distorted.
My 2 cents worth: For all of the advice from those whom I doubt have first-hand experience, and for the cost and possible safety considerations of machining a rim, I decided "what the hey" why not just plan on buying an extra Dunlop Elite and mounting it every year. I have a good friend who kept his tire mounting machine after he sold the tire business after 35 years. It takes me maybe 1/2 hour to change rear on my RoyalStar Venture. Even though my free time is limited, the peace of mind is worth it..Fred F
What wear mileage should I be able to get off the 135R15?
"Has anyone mounted a 135R15 or 125R15 to a machined motorcycle rim?" my question post on 9/16. Since no one has contacted on or off list on this matter, I've drawn the conclusion that no one else has gone this route before. Also found that the safety bead or flat groove in rim the tire bead sets in...is wider on car tires by a bit over 1/8 inch. Verified with actual measurements, XV rim is .500" wide, auto is .650 wide.
