I have an Escort sidecar on the wing, and the tire that is on it appears to be cupping. Makes horrible noise at road speed. I know that trailer tires are designed to prevent this cupping. How would a trailer specific tire fare on a sidecar? 175/70-13 is what is on there now
Cupping is usually a sign that your alignment is off. We have ran trailer tires in the past with good results. You have the wrong size tire on your sidecar, not sure how a 175 was even able to fit. It calls for a 145 13
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793
I would have thought if alignment was an issue it would have feathering on the tire. the tread edges, both inside and out are sharp corners, just starting to cup as you look at it radially. I have no idea how many miles are on this tire, everything else the previous owner had told me about "replacement parts" has turned to be an out right lie for the most part.
Presuming the alignment is off, is there a simple way for me, working alone to check it?
Attached are alignment instructions. Toe we have found to work best at around 1 - 1 1/4 inch on these
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793
Is that 1.25 inches measured at the front of the wheel or some unspecified distance in a line parallel to the edge of the tire?
I looked at the tire again, it is a 165/70-13.
As in the drawing in the attachment. It is measured from just ahead of the front wheel and just behind the rear wheel.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793
I listed it wrong, it is a 165/70-13. Looks like a much larger tire would fit easily too. If I had a 14" wheel with 4 lug i'd try a few. That tire you said was standard appears to only be available in Europe, no one in my area has any sort of listing for a tire that small, could be why the 165/70-13 is on there.
When I had my Champion Escort and couldn't find the right size tire, I went to a wider tire, it rubbed on the inside of the tire, had to put a spacer behind the wheel to bring it out far enough to avoid rubbing. I might add that Champion was no help at all, in locating a tire or anything else, couldn't even tell my what year it was built in, when I gave them the serial number.
closest I could find without doin a mail-order that would take a week or better to receive was a 175/70-13. It is close in the front but plenty of clearance on side and rear
I went to a 155x13 and use a quarter inch spacer. I had to go to longer lug bolts to have enough thread for the wheelnuts. I had to 're-level the sidecar and the good part is I can find a new tire almost anywhere at a reasonable price.
I have an Champion Escort and find these tires fairly easy to find. My current tire is a Firestone 745 F-560, size 145R13, 24 PSI. A quick Google search found these distributors:
http://www.cokertire.com/firestone-f560.html
http://www.performanceplustire.com/antique-tires/firestone-vintage-tires/vintage-radial-f560-whitewall-tire
https://www.universaltire.com/radial-tires/blackwall-and-narrow-whitewall-radial-tires/145r13-firestone-f560-blackwall.html
