I have a passenger car tire on my Calf. sidecar and like all sidecar tires it's worn on one side a lot more than the other, is it a good idea to just turn it around and put the good side to the worn side, not being a driven tire I wouldn't think it would make that big of a difference,,,but I don't know and that's why I'm asking.
If it's worn a lot more on one side than the other it's time to re-align your rig. Good alignment equals even tire tread wear.
Outside wear could be:
1- Excessive toe-in is causing tire scrubbing.
2- The tire isn't perpendicular to the road surface, sidecar frame not level, is higher on the left side.
Possible remedies:
1- Try less toe-in and adjust lean-out for neutral steering and even tire tread wear.
2- Adjust sidecar frame mounts to vertically align wheel.
Inside wear could be:
1- Inadequate toe-in, tire dragging to the right.
2- The tire isn't perpendicular to the road surface, sidecar frame higher on the right side.
3- Worn swing-arm or wheel bearings.
Possible remedies:
1- Try more toe-in and adjust lean-out for neutral steering and even tire tread wear.
2- Adjust sidecar frame mounts to vertically align wheel.
3- Re adjust or replace loose or worn swing-arm or wheel bearings.
You may better off in the long run working with a new tire to better track the tire wear pattern after any adjustments are made.
It only takes a few miles for tread edge scuffing to appear if the alignment is awry. Minor tweaking can be made at that time, before heavy wear patterns occur.
The old skin can be saved and used as a spare if it has a lot of tread life left.
Lonnie
Thanks for the reply Lonnie, I appreciate it,
The tire has a even slope with the wear on the inside with 24,000+mi on it and 3/32 IS and 5/32/1/8th on the OS, bearings are good, nothing is loose, it has the Elc. lean and with no passenger and the Elc. lean adjusted all the way down it tracks true at just about any speed as long as the road is reasonably flat. I haven't checked the sidecar wheel level yet, I have the wheels off for polishing, with that many miles on the tire is that unusual wear?, it's a Calf. Sidecar if that makes any difference.
Thanks again for any info and knowledge you can share.
Ted
Originally written by Shadow1100T on 12/23/2007 2:42 AM
Thanks for the reply Lonnie, I appreciate it,
The tire has a even slope with the wear on the inside with 24,000+mi on it and 3/32 IS and 5/32/1/8th on the OS, bearings are good, nothing is loose, it has the Elc. lean and with no passenger and the Elc. lean adjusted all the way down it tracks true at just about any speed as long as the road is reasonably flat. I haven't checked the sidecar wheel level yet, I have the wheels off for polishing, with that many miles on the tire is that unusual wear?, it's a Calf. Sidecar if that makes any difference.
Thanks again for any info and knowledge you can share.Ted
Ted,
IF..IF you are happy with how the rig handles and IF the 24,000 miles is okay with you I would just get another tire or turn it around and run the thing. No sense in re-adjusting everthing if you are okay with the present handling and tire wear.
SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
Before getting involved in a resetup, if you opt to go that route, be aware that all sidecars do not have the sidecar wheel exactlly perpendicuclar to the sidecar chassis. In other words some, due to how they were built, cannot be adjusted to have the sidecar frame level (side to side) and the sidecart wheel straight up and down.
I have actually played around with leaning the sidecar wheel in at the top on my own rigs to try and take advantage of any gyroscopic advatages that may or may not come from it and allow us to run even less toe in. i think this has merit to it as far as saving the rear tire on the bike but not sure. (VERNON ARE YOU READING THIS?)
Also, very few rigs will actually benefot from having any more rubber than necesary on the ground as far as sidecar tires go. They are there to hold up the sidecar and go for the ride. Less rolling resistance can be a good thing.
Also #2...with a rig that has a tilt control on it you are jacking up the sidecar and letting it down when you use the device. This leans the sidecar wheel in and out anyhow.
Think it out and be sure to let us all know what you decide to do.
