I found a website by Daniel Meyers regarding running a car tire on the rear wheel of his Valkryie. He's an excellent writer and rider, albeit a solo rider. Nonetheless, the issue of car tires keeps coming up so I thought I would pass this along FWIW.
He uses a 205/60/15 or thereabouts. That's fine on a Valkyie and perhaps on a Gold Wing due to the larger tires they can apparently use.
Unfortunately, on my 2004 HD Ultra, unless I make major swingarm changes, I'm limited to a 150mm tire.
The idea of a car tire on the rear of a rig is rather appealing, however, due to the generally lower cost and higher potential mileage.
Here's the link.
http://lifeisaroad.com/stories/2004/10/27/theDarkSide.html
When I get my new rig sorted out (Valkyrie/Spyder), I will be installing a new 205/60/15 R Goodyear Assurance car tire on the rear.
Many in the Valkyrie club are running car tires on the back of their Valks with no problems. Smokin' Joe of the VRCC runs Deals Gap regularly (he lives there), says it works great. These are all on two wheels.
Daniel Meyer put 10,000 miles on his Valk with a car tire going to Alaska from Texas and back in 10 days, again no problem.
No guarantees, no advice, no liability, LOL.
Wayne
Well, if I had a bike that would take one, I'd sure do it. Obviously, he has to give us a disclaimer in these litigious times. Nice idea though.
It's fun to hear the opposition that some folks give him about doing it too. It only goes to show just how terribly conservative motorcyclists are in general. They really are afraid to try anything new. So they go on buying bike tires with thin rubber that don't last all that long at inflated (pun intended) prices.
With regard to tires, there's no reason at all that a sidecar rig couldn't benefit from a car tire, assuming that you could get it to fit under the fender.
Originally written by gnm109 on 12/30/2006 10:19 AM
I found a website by Daniel Meyers regarding running a car tire on the rear wheel of his Valkryie. He's an excellent writer and rider, albeit a solo rider. Nonetheless, the issue of car tires keeps coming up so I thought I would pass this along FWIW.
He uses a 205/60/15 or thereabouts. That's fine on a Valkyie and perhaps on a Gold Wing due to the larger tires they can apparently use.
Unfortunately, on my 2004 HD Ultra, unless I make major swingarm changes, I'm limited to a 150mm tire.
The idea of a car tire on the rear of a rig is rather appealing, however, due to the generally lower cost and higher potential mileage.
Here's the link.
Dan uses a 205/60/16. 15 inch car and bike tires are different. You need to modify the rim to run a car tire on a 15 inch rim. 16's interchange nicely, though I use a 195 myself.
In looking at this thread again, something wasn't right. I said that I would be running a 205/60/15 car tire, Nope that isn't right. I'ts a 205/60/16. Got it mixed up with my Goodyears on my Honda CRV which are 15 inchers. GeeZ!
Wayne
Originally written by SidecarMike on 12/30/2006 5:45 PM
Originally written by gnm109 on 12/30/2006 10:19 AM
I found a website by Daniel Meyers regarding running a car tire on the rear wheel of his Valkryie. He's an excellent writer and rider, albeit a solo rider. Nonetheless, the issue of car tires keeps coming up so I thought I would pass this along FWIW.
He uses a 205/60/15 or thereabouts. That's fine on a Valkyie and perhaps on a Gold Wing due to the larger tires they can apparently use.
Unfortunately, on my 2004 HD Ultra, unless I make major swingarm changes, I'm limited to a 150mm tire.
The idea of a car tire on the rear of a rig is rather appealing, however, due to the generally lower cost and higher potential mileage.
Here's the link.
Dan uses a 205/60/16. 15 inch car and bike tires are different. You need to modify the rim to run a car tire on a 15 inch rim. 16's interchange nicely, though I use a 195 myself.
Yes, that's correct. He did say 205/60/16. Are you saying that the 16" car and bike are the same but the 15" are not. If that's true, I will remember that for later use.
I guess if someone made a 150/60/16 it would fit on the harley but with the smaller size there probably little advantage with less rubber. There are companies that make a 200 mm swing arm conversion for the Harley but I doubt I'll get one. That's a lot money and even more work.
Right now, the Dunlop Elite III (successor to Elite II, 491) is looking pretty good for a reasonable replacememt when my original HD tire goes VSU (valve stem up).
Check the archives. About a year ago there was a sometimes heated discussion about car tires. Rather than start it all over again, try the search button for message 17379
I did some checking for my V Strom. The only size for which I could a narrow enough tire to fit between the swingarm was in 15". Didn't seem to be near the availability in larger (taller) diameters.
Getting a wheel made is rather expensive, so I have tabled the idea for the Strom.
Hi, I too am fed up with the over priced tires, parts, etc. just because we are a minority group. I understand volume of sales makes a real difference in the pricing of a product, but tires are my irritant also.
I have a 05 Triumph Rocket III that eats up rear tires at the rate of 5-6K. The local European bike shop charges nearly $400 for a change. This is ridiculous! Please note the design of the rim on the rear is faulty in that there is no "indentation" in the middle of the rim to allow normal installation of the tire. For some unexplained reason, the rim is perfectly flat from one side to the other. The new tire has to be forced on and is a great problem to the extent no one can change it with home style tools.
I was wondering if you know of any one who has found a car tire to get, 1) great mileage, and 2) lower price that would work?
Thanks in advance for your comments,
darron
Originally written by darron on 3/8/2007 4:28 AM
Hi, I too am fed up with the over priced tires, parts, etc. just because we are a minority group. I understand volume of sales makes a real difference in the pricing of a product, but tires are my irritant also.
I have a 05 Triumph Rocket III that eats up rear tires at the rate of 5-6K. The local European bike shop charges nearly $400 for a change. This is ridiculous! Please note the design of the rim on the rear is faulty in that there is no "indentation" in the middle of the rim to allow normal installation of the tire. For some unexplained reason, the rim is perfectly flat from one side to the other. The new tire has to be forced on and is a great problem to the extent no one can change it with home style tools.
I was wondering if you know of any one who has found a car tire to get, 1) great mileage, and 2) lower price that would work?
Thanks in advance for your comments,
darron
I cam imagine that your Triumph would be a top-flight sidecar machine. I understand that it has a lot of torque.
As to 5-6K out of a tire. That's about all I would ever get on my former Evo-powered Harley sidecar rig. There is not enough tread on those Dunlop Harley tires so that sort of mileage is not uncommon on other brands. That, of course, is the issue regarding the wish to use car tires, especially where the bike will be dedicated only for siderar use.
I'm in the process of getting my 2004 TC Harley connected to my new Harley sidecar. One of the modifications I will be looking at will be a different rear wheel so that I can eventually run some sort of car tire.
I will leave the hack on this one and it would be a good way, hopefully, to get 10,000 miles or more out of a rear tire.
I've not noticed undue wear on either the front tire or the sidecar tire on previous hacks. It's mainly the rear that goes fast.
As to the fact that you must use a tire company to change tires, that's not uncommon either. I have a local company that removes, mounts, balances and installs a new valve stem for $20. They charge an additional $2.50 or so for a Haz fee and the most I've ever spent on any tire from them is $125 + installation or so for a Dunlop for a Gold Wing (Elite II).
Does your $400 bill include the company having to remove and replace the rear wheel? I always remove the wheel myself and take it to the shop.
Good luck!
Thank you gnm109 for your comments. Maybe this question of running car tires on 2 wheelers was put into the wrong thread. One man was running car tires on his 2 wheeler and had no side car. But to answer your question about what the $400 includes. Everything, including balancing.
I didn't allow the European dealer to do the job as we have a local shop that will order any part for any brand bike. I got the tire for $219 from this local shop vs. approximately $300 from 'the Dealer' and they installed the new tire for $40 vs. approximately $100. I had to take the wheel off and reinstall it after the new tire was mounted and balanced.
As to putting a side hack on it, I'm toying with that possibility, but not sure I'd like it.
darron
Well, if you were to take your bike to my local Harley dealer (if you had a Harley) it would probably cost you at least $400 to have the rear tire chaged if they did the labor on the bike. They get $90 an hour....(cough, cough).
It sounds like you have an issue with the price of the tire for your Triumph, which is probably a special one. It's just supply and demand that sets prices. I will add, however, that there are some outstanding deals to be had on tires on the internet and also in the ads in the back of the glossy bike magazines.
As to running a car tire on a solo bike....uh-uh. that's not something I would do. The fellow on the "Dark side" website seems to get by but I'd pass on that.
Regards. GNM
For tires on the internet try www.kgmotorcycletires.com prices is good free shiping on $100 order and when I oreder my tire last Wed. at 9:30 am I got it the next day ups.Don't know if thay are always that fast my first time with them.
Would like to know if anyone has experience using a car tire on the rear of one of the older 1200 GWs like 84 or 85 and, if so, what brand & size was used.
Thanks in advance, Bljacque
ok, just back from a week at Daytona. Tired, sore rear and a bald rear tire. I have been looking at switching to a car tire for my vtx 1800. I have the original size dunlop on it but off course I just stored the bike and forgot to jot down the tire size. I know what size car tires guys are running on the back of their vtx's but I don't know which car tire is the correct height so as not to throw the geometry off on the other two tires?? Any advice would be very welcome. I need to get a tire in the next day or so as I am supposed to take off on another ride Friday.
Thanks,
g.
