wondering if I could put a car tire on the front of my Ultraclassic/frankenstein trike.
wondering if I could put a car tire on the front of my Ultraclassic/frankenstein trike.
I don't think a car tire is recommended, harleyman. However many of our riders of touring trikes have very successfully used what are normally rear motorcycle tires on their front wheel. There are a number of very informative threads discussing this.... do a search for "front tire" and you'll have more to read than you ever thought!
BTW... some recommend mounting that new tire in reverse rotation, some recommend against that. Honestly, the reports after well over 20,000 miles of great riding on that tire are equally good. I don't think you will go wrong with either option.
And a big TrikeTalk welcome to you!
Here is a question to answer your question....
W H Y
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Why 3 wheels?
because 2 isn't enough and 4 is too many
We are really Steve & Vesta Brown
Her: 2014 Tri-Glide Me: 2015 Freewheeler
Vietnam Vet 1967-68 U.S. Air Force
I know there is a lot of controversy about car tires on the rear of two wheelers but has anyone looked into putting a ct on the front of the trike. I've read about using rear tires mounted backwards with good results. Wouldn't the forces on the trike front tire be about the same as those on a car front tire?
I spent a good deal of time working with my local auto tire dealer to come up with a feasible car tire to try on the front of my TG. Couldnt find one that would work.
So...I put on a rear motorcycle tire and reversed it. Just got back from a 2400 mile trip and it worked great. Grabs on the turns and feels solid going down the road and in the curves. I am still interested in the car tire theory though.
The big issue would be finding a car tire to fit the motorcycle rim, fender, and forks, I think.
You are correct Nana...That is what the problem was..gotta have that rounded sidewall to clear everything,,We sure gave it a good try for a coupla hours though.
I've search around quite a bit also and everything is too wide.
Many years ago, I mounted two VW Beatle tires for a guys motorcycle. You could always lace you up a 15 inch spoke wheel and give it a try. I think they were 165-15's.
I have brand new old VW tire that size in my garage and it will not fit . have looked into this for somtime now. wish it could happen soon!
165 15's and I want to use the rim that comes with my Venture !
I do own 2 old beetles 66/67 show cars with the same size tires on them so no loss there :-)
maybe you could lace me up a rim
Unless you plan to convert your bike/trike to a Center-Hub steered (zero-camber) assembly,,, don't even think about it.
Stick with the rear compound motorcycle tire.
I understand that one of the MC tire dealers are working on a better compound for the trikes front now.
Avon has been rumored to be doing that. I don't know what their hold up is as they have been making a flat profile tire for sidecars for years. So does Metzler.
Happy TRAils/NSD
Paul
yeah that's the company Avon.. yep.
I just put a Metzler on the front of my VTX1800, have about 1K miles on it so far so good.
I have a gl 1800 with a hannigan kit. Right now I have a bridgestone barracks bt45r mounted in reverse. I only have approximately 5000 miles on. And it sounds like I have a big 4x4 truck tire on! And at 30 MPH or less the handlebars vibrate. Before I triked my wing I went darkside and loved it it ran so quiet and got great mileage. Sooo anyone using a car tire on the front and if so which one size etc.and do you like it.
Thanks to all, Steve
2007 orange goldwing w/ 2010 hannigan trike kit:wave4:
TOI wisconsin
Sorry it's a battlax. Damn spell corrector lol
2007 orange goldwing w/ 2010 hannigan trike kit:wave4:
TOI wisconsin
Steve, it sounds like you have other then tire brand/type problems. Many of us are running the Battleaxx (forward and reverse) with nothing but praises. I'd be looking at steering head or wheel bearings. Maybe even the forks. Yes, I'm grasping at straws.
Unless you got hold of a bad tire I really don't think the rubber is the issue.
OH, to answer you original question. Unless you are willing to drop something like $4000 for the Euro front end which will accept a car tire the MPA and BT45 are your best bets.
Jerry "Gold Rush" (aka: "SPOOK") San Angelo, TX
2015 GL1800/Roadsmith HTS1800
TOI - IBA #23804 (SS1K & BB1.5K)
I'm like an old race horse..... I can still run the race -- Just ache more at the finish line and need more rest between outings.
2007 orange goldwing w/ 2010 hannigan trike kit:wave4:
TOI wisconsin
Jerry "Gold Rush" (aka: "SPOOK") San Angelo, TX
2015 GL1800/Roadsmith HTS1800
TOI - IBA #23804 (SS1K & BB1.5K)
I'm like an old race horse..... I can still run the race -- Just ache more at the finish line and need more rest between outings.
I switched from the Michelin Pilot Activ the BT-45 and it's much quieter than the MPA which always had a whine and vibration from tread pattern. I am also run Centramatics on the front, a Traxxion fork brace, and have had the Traxxion AK20 cartridges and springs installed.
As others say, I think you've got maybe fork problems, bad tire, etc. You didn't say how many miles are on the trike so it may be time to have the front end completely gone through. Also, I believe the consensus is that 41 psi is required in the front tire to perform correctly.
2007 orange goldwing w/ 2010 hannigan trike kit:wave4:
TOI wisconsin
Ahhhh I wonder it this was caused by a bad fork seal I had I didn't notice it right away so it was probably bad for a few thousand miles. Thank goodness it was covered under warranty! Maybe I will try another battlax and to be safe maybe from a different supply.
Anyone have any thoughts on this please chime in. Is this a great site or what!
Thanks to all for the info ,Steve
2007 orange goldwing w/ 2010 hannigan trike kit:wave4:
TOI wisconsin
For my RSV with a Voyager Kit on it, I used a Avon Venom rear (reversed) on the front. 17,000 miles on it & I'm happy with it. Lowered the pressure to flatten it a bit.
Only problem is the sidewall cracking...
JohnB
If you ride a trike without using the sidewall of the tires in back, why not use a car tire up front? The only thing I can think of is inability to find the correct size...
wiredgeorge Mico, TX.
You hit the nail on the head. Dunno about a Wing, but I tried to find a tire that would fit my TG thru several different tire dealers. Just wanted to give it a try. Not a single thing available that would work. All too wide. Just my experience though.
I looked a bit an there are car tires in 18" BUT the aspect ratio was 40 or 45 which would make them way too wide. I found one car tire in the correct size (I think). It is for antique cars and I am not sure if it would work well at modern speeds/roads:
Excelsior All Black - 450-18
You can also find this tire in a 475/500 width (18"):
Excelsior Tires - Buy Antique and Vintage Tires Online from Performance Plus Wheel and Tire
wiredgeorge Mico, TX.
I do not understand the sizing. 450 is the tire width in inches (1/2" ) don't sound right. If metric it is too wide. My rear are 225 and they are huge. If the 450 is wall height that can't be either. HELP,!!
I just looked back at the 1st link and looks like 450 is really 4.5 " (4 1/2")
Figuring out max clearance is the trick..
Both motorcycle tires and car tires were measured in inches prior to the current metric system. 450 tires are 4.5 inches wide, fit on 3" rims that are 18" tall. I am guessing this is the approximate size needed for a GL1500. In the early 70s, ALL motorcycle tires were listed in inches.... a standard front tire for a Z1 was 325-19. They obviously had more narrow rims than a GL1500.
wiredgeorge Mico, TX.
Avon is suppose to be looking into a car tire for the front of trikes. Has anyone heard anything on that ???
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Ron & Nancy Pierce
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www.miap.us
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www.azpgr.org
Jim Murphy
EX-Lehman & Champion Dealer Owner Operator
Iron Butt Rider 2001
WHEN HELP IS OFFERED, A SIMPLE "THANK YOU" IS APPRECIATED.
I know this is an old thread and I would like to see if anything has changed. I have a Gold Wing 1500 trike and just wore out the front tire, a Michelin Pilot. The center 3 inches of the tire has all the wear, but the rest of the tire looks like new. Even the casting nubs are still very prominent. I know this subject has been hashed before, but why should I pay a huge price for a tire that I can only use one third of the rubber? If I can find a car tire that has more of a flat tread so I can use more rubber without wasting it I believe it would work better. Any ideas? Thanx, Bud.
car tires have been used on the front of motorcycle/sidecar rigs in Europe for years. Here is a company in England that will make you a whole new front end ready for a car tire and the hub to mount it on. I am saving my money. I actually found out about them here from a post by a member from England
Wasp info@waspmotorcycles.com
Happy TRAils/NSD
Paul
Thanks Paul, just sent them email for more info.
Did you ever find out the cost ?
Jeff