MC Rear Tire & Sidecar Tire?

[Old Hippie]

I'm told it is best that I Change out the rear tire on my 1981 Goldwing 1100 from a motocycle type tire to a tire used when a sidecar is attached.

My local Honda dealer does not carry these type of tires and I don't have a shop that specializes with sidecars. What type of tire do I need and can I match it with my CJ sidecar for BMW Ural. I'm not sure if the two wheels would take the same size tire yet, both units are tied up in being shipped to my local.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Old Hippie

[rockjok]

I've run Dunlop Elite II's on my XS11 tug for years now. My old hack was a velorex that I upgraded to a gold wing axle and front rim on (I hate spoked wheels). Like my XS it has a 16" rim and I used the Dauntless twin-tire on it successfully.

My current sidecar is an oddball CJ that has a motorcycle type swing arm and a 19" spoked rim. I'm in the process of replacing this wheel with an XS11 front wheel by replacing the wheel bearings and making some new inner and outer spacers. I'll be trying Dunlop Elite 3's initially.

It's my impression that some rim sizes can accommodate car tires and some cannot. It seems that my rig has handled a bit better once the rounded profile has worn down a bit (flatter). Perhaps someday I'll try a car tire.

I've seen a lot of car tire threads at the sidecar.com forums and at yahoo groups SCT forum (Check the files and knowledge base section here also).

Luck,\


Rob

[Old Hippie]

I've been doing some reading in my clyner manual and it says how to use a Harley wheel on my goldwing and then use a Harley tire, just make sure of the fit, of course they were talking about spoked tires and after looking at the pictures of my goldwing, it appears to have the comstar wheel, so I am pretty much stuck with what I can find that works.

I understand their is a tire available through Dauntless motors, but he says what stock he has is it, they do not make the tire anymore, a bit pricey but wear and tracking i'm told are very good.

Alloy wheels are what I will probably go for, when I can afford it, so I can use a Harley tire on the rear. It would be a 16 in. easier to get and better sutted to sidecar use. but at about $350 and up, something to consider long and hard on.


Old Hippie

[fredintoon]

car tires on hacks

Two troubles with car tires on bikes:-
First is generic; finding a car tire narrow enough to fit on the bike wheel and inside the confines of the frame.
Second is specific; 15" car rims & tires are deliberately made 1/8" smaller in diameter than 15" bike rims & tires.
Some have managed to ease a 15" car tire onto a 15" bike rim but it entirely ain't safe, with the tire bead stretched that way it's liable to blow on you.
Rim sizes other than 15" are identical or at least close enough that car tires will fit if you can find ones narrow enough.
The TwinTire that Dauntless has the entire world supply of is only available in 125/90-16 & 125/85-16. US$95 for a tire that wears like iron is fair enough. Avon still makes 3.25-19" fronts with a flat tread for sidecar rigs.
Fred Hill, S'toon.

[xs650mike]

Hey Dragonrider!

Remember Viper's turbocharged street dragster?

Goodyear T/A truck tire IIRC, dunno what wheel he's running, anyway too wide to run on stock anything...but...

Isn't Dragonrider running a car tire on his Valk? Hey Daniel, where are you?

[Old Hippie]

Fred: I looked up the Avon tire and it looks like the tire to have for your front end and sidecar for a match, but why would they make a front tire for sidecar application and not a rear tire too?
Seems like defeating the purpose of having only half a choice when other models usually show a front and rear choice.

It's frustrating as, well you know. I wan't to do some serious touring this year and I would rather like to prchase tires on the road as I needed them, than have to carry the extra weight on the back of my sidecar or if I choose to pull a trailer, I may have to put a tire rack on it.

I know, I'm crying to the chior.

Old Hippie

[xs650mike]

Dragon's Wing

Found Dragon's post about the car tire, it was a Wing not a Valk:

The thread is here: http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...&threadid=9126

[fredintoon]

Dragonrider's other post

Hi Mike,
he done it on his Valkyrie too, see:-
http://lifeisaroad.com/stories/2004/...eDarkSide.html
Valks & 'Wings must run the same size tires I guess.
Fred Hill, S'toon.

[fredintoon]

Carrying new rubber

Hi Old Hippy,
how far you planning to go on the tour?
Unless your alignment is totally out of whack the cheapest rear tire you can find will last at least 5,000 miles while the front & sidecar tires should go three times that far.
My main concern a long way from home would be getting a flat.
Unless one is riding a vintage Panther rig or a modern Russian one all 3 wheels are different sizes so one needs to carry 3 spares (or 4, need one for the trailer that's carrying all those spares, eh?) I rely instead on positive thinking, 3 tubeless tires and my can of fix-a-flat to get the rig to where it can be fixed.
If you are going to (say) Alaska & back pre-arrange that a new tire will be waiting for fitment when you get there. If your tire is an oddball get one shipped to the guys who will be changing it.
Fred Hill, S'toon.