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Rear Tyre Size

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2020 12:07 am
by EricStarmer
I'm ordering a modular rear wheel from Alan, as I'd like more traction back there (I currently have the rear wheel/tyre from the donor bike)
- those of you who have a "car-type" rear wheel/tyre, what size tyre do you recommend?

Re: Rear Tyre Size

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2020 9:26 am
by Richard and Pat
Good morning Eric,
My 15" rear wheel conversion on the T2 from Alan is: Toyo 310 155 R15 82S Tubeless. I changed this after 11,700 miles just before last years Rally but it had about another 500 to 1000 miles on it and it was about £70. I replaced with the same tyre make and size.

I got approximately 2.5k miles out of the £130 bike tyre from new.

On Wypee T3 under construction: Vredestein 155 SR 15 82S Tubeless

Re: Rear Tyre Size

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2020 3:18 pm
by steveO
I have Alans car rim on a Guzzi centre wheel on my series 1. Need to watch what size (width) will fit in the swing arm. I have a 135 Firestone. Had problems in Canada finding a tire to fit.
Neil in Eastern Canada has I think a 145.
Makes a lot of difference I always felt the rear bike wheel was flexing, but it was the cast wheel so doubt it actually was.
Steve

Re: Rear Tyre Size

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2020 8:37 pm
by frederick
not on the ground yet but here in the US for my T4 with the stock norge rim I found this made in Indonesia: 175/55 R17 Achilles (oddly inappropriate name) ATR-K Economist ... $57 plus ship
https://www.tires-easy.com/175-55-17/ac ... /MAN175517
achilles-atr-k-economist.jpg
achilles-atr-k-economist.jpg (23.82 KiB) Viewed 6904 times

Re: Rear Tyre Size

Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2020 1:21 am
by EricStarmer
Thank you everyone for your inputs . Richard - the Toyo tyres don't appear to be available over here. Frederick - 175's won't fit between my swing arms - 165's would have virtually no clearance either, so will probably get one of these https://www.cokertire.com/155r15-firest ... -tire.html

Re: Rear Tyre Size

Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2020 3:36 am
by frederick
There’s a nifty online calculator here: https://tiresize.com/calculator/ that may help you find other options based on your swing arm width.

Re: Rear Tyre Size

Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2020 5:49 am
by EricStarmer
Thanks , Frederick - that was a great help - led me to some other possible tyres. Has a bunch of other useful charts on that website also.

Re: Rear Tyre Size

Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2020 8:18 am
by Richard and Pat
Yes Eric, that tyre looks identical to mine.

Re: Rear Tyre Size

Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2020 6:17 pm
by EricStarmer
My house has a fairly steep driveway, and whenever I leave the house I have to slip the clutch fairly drastically in order to not stall the engine because of the high first gear in my 1998 MG. Because of this I'm thinking maybe I should get a 155/60/R15 tyre instead of a 155/80/R15 tyre to effectively lower the gear ratio a little. I realise this means I may have to come up with an extension for my current shocks, or maybe get some longer ones in order to maintain ground clearance.
Any reason I shouldn't get the lower profile tyres ?

Re: Rear Tyre Size

Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2020 9:42 pm
by Spaniard
Eric

I have Continental ContiProContact tires in a 155/60 R 15 that I bought at Discount Tire in Minnesota. They had to order it in and I got it in about a week. I think a 165 would fit but didn't think I needed it. I used the swingarm off a 2002 California that had a 140 tire in the rear.

So far I am pleased with it. Sidewall stiffness is a little soft but the Triking still drives nice. I had to make shock extensions to keep the car level. I did the math a while back and the extra cost of the 15 rear wheel kit would pay for itself pretty quickly. Moto tires are expensive and wear quickly.

Ivan