Wheel & Tire Help

[jim mccarty]

My trike is a 99 1500SE with a CSC trike kit. I'm considering going to bigger rear wheels & tires. Maybe 15 or 16 inch. Any special considerations I need to know? Maybe offset or ???????????
Thanks

[mhgoldwing]

I don't know what size you're running now but here's two things it will affect:

1. Gearing ratio -

2. Speedometer accuracy.


The original size tire diameter was chosen to closely match the original bike's final drive ratio. Try to maintain that diameter or very close and all should be fine.

[cavie]

delete.

[tfdeputydawg]

Make sure you check tire clearance before you spend the $$$$'s. There is not much room for bigger wheels/tires on most trike bodies!!!!!!

[Gorilla]

Another big consideration is getting the tire on and off. A bigger tire MIGHT not clear the fender.

[John Luciano]

Let's 1st ask why? Do you just want bigger showy rims? Do you want larger dia tires?
you can put 20" on it if you want to run 33 sidewalks (looks like rubber bands on rims and rides like a buckboard. )
what is on it now? 13"? I am confused!!!

[bongobobny]

OK the first thing you need is the specs on your rims so you know the initial offset. From there look up the specs on your existing tire. I use Tire Rack's website to get that info. Do NOT order the tires and rims from them as they will not sell them to motorcycle owners! Once you have the diameter and width then compare them to what you want to switch to. The larger the tire width, the more positive offset you want.

You need to look under the trike to see just how much room you have, and you also have to consider the shock travel. I wouldn't increase your diameter more than an inch unless you know the exact clearance of the shock travel at bottom vs the tire.

If your speedometer is driven off the rear differential then you will need to put a speedometer healer on to correct the error or use your GPS all the time as a speedometer...

[TwoBye]

My trike is a 99 1500SE with a CSC trike kit. I'm considering going to bigger rear wheels & tires. Maybe 15 or 16 inch. Any special considerations I need to know? Maybe offset or ???????????
Thanks

I, too, have a '99 1500SE with a 2001 CSC kit. I also went to larger rear tires and wheels. Jumped up to 15" wheels with the same offset as original (call CSC, they are very helpful) and 205/65r15 Uniroyal tires. I had to enlarge the opening for the wheel & tire so I could remove and install them without much trouble if ever need be on the road. No need to worry about the speedometer as it is driven from the front wheel.

Make sure your wheels can bolt on flat "BEFORE" you mount the tires so as not to get into a problem with the rear brake calipers.

Don't ask me how I know this, just trust me. Other than that. go for it.



You can see some of what I'm talking about from the pic.

[jim mccarty]

Guess I better rethink this. More trouble than it'd be worth. Thanks for the help guys.