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Taller tires

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(@ivo-karkaliev)
Posts: 6
Active Member
Topic starter
 

Hi All, I’m looking for a better ground clearance on my rig for the occasional off road drive when camping. Currently I run 120r15 tires, but there’s a plenty of space to put bigger. The question is, if I put 135r15 tires on all three wheels, do I have to change anything else. Will the geometry of the bike will be compromised? Also is it possible to raise the body of the sidecar by putting a rubber blocks between the frame and the tub.

 

thank you 

 
Posted : December 27, 2022 5:46 am
Thane Lewis
(@thane-lewis)
Posts: 365
Moderator
 

Someone else will be asking the same question so I will beat them to the punch:  what bike?  What car?  What or should will be in the car?

Illegitemi non carborundum est!

 
Posted : December 27, 2022 6:22 am
(@ivo-karkaliev)
Posts: 6
Active Member
Topic starter
 

Hi Thane, I’m sorry I missed that part. It’s a 98 Moto Guzzi California with EZS sidecar. My dog( 70# German Shepherd) is the sidecar passenger 

 
Posted : December 27, 2022 6:37 am
(@aceinsav)
Posts: 780
Moderator
 

hi Ivo

nice looking set up

putting bigger tires on should not change any of the dynamics of your settings, you can certainly lift the tub higher on the frame

 
Posted : December 27, 2022 6:51 am
(@ivo-karkaliev)
Posts: 6
Active Member
Topic starter
 

Thank you for the info. I’m happy that I can build up my rig

 
Posted : December 27, 2022 8:00 am
(@don)
Posts: 596
Honorable Member
 

Increasing the diameter of the tires will change your actual ground speed as compared to your speedometer reading.  Have you checked a tire chart to see how much clearance you might gain?  Your rig looks like it would be more suited to touring instead of off-roading.  Have you looked at available tire profiles (height sidewall as a % of tire width)?

 
Posted : December 27, 2022 11:03 am
(@ivo-karkaliev)
Posts: 6
Active Member
Topic starter
 

The current tires are smaller than the original, so my Speedo will be more accurate. If I put 145/15 I will gain an inch which will give me total of 7.5 inches on the bike. I don’t plan to be off-road rig. Just to be able to go over some obstacles if needed 

 
Posted : December 27, 2022 11:15 am
(@jaydmc)
Posts: 1789
Noble Member
 

You missed one big item. You are going from a 120 tire, 120 ending in a zero makes it a bike tire and want to go to a 135, 135 ending in a 5 makes it a car tire. 

15 inch motorcycle wheels are almost 1/3 of an inch larger in diameter than automotive wheels. This is covered in many other posts here as to the safety concerns.

Jay G
DMC sidecars

 
Posted : December 28, 2022 4:18 am
(@ivo-karkaliev)
Posts: 6
Active Member
Topic starter
 

Hi Jay, I’m sorry for the misinformation. My current tires are 125/15. Now I have to figure out if this wheel will accept a 145 tire

 
Posted : December 28, 2022 4:42 am
(@smitty901)
Posts: 743
Noble Member
 

Using this will allow you to compare tire measurements. It works with motorcycle sizes also.

 

 

https://tiresize.com/comparison/

 

 
Posted : December 29, 2022 2:53 am