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
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!
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
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
Thank you for the info. I’m happy that I can build up my rig
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)?
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
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
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
Using this will allow you to compare tire measurements. It works with motorcycle sizes also.
https://tiresize.com/comparison/
