Cycle front Tire

[TwinSpin]

I'm not having any success finding a front tire with a Z or ZR speed rating.

I need a front tire for a bike with a speed rating around 150 mph. I am looking for a 110/70/15 or a 120/70/15. All I can find is a scooter tire with a speed rating of 80mph. I tried Metzeler and Dunlop, no luck. I after an hour of searching, the wheels in my head are going round and round. If there isn't anything out there, I'll consider going to a 16 " front wheel.

Any ideas what company or where?

Bill

[Nortonist 592]

Bill,  I'm very open to correction on this but I don't think you will find any v rated (or better) 15" tires.  Dunlop does a GT501 110/90V-16.  But that is as small as I could find.  No you know why I have a funny front wheel on the sidecar.

[TwinSpin]

"Is that you Norton" . . .

. . . to quote Jackie Gleason. I'll concentrate my search on that Dunlop size.

My concern is the "90", height is my problem. I now have a 120/70/17 Z and I'm trying to go down in height or profile. I'll look see, thanks Bill.

OK, you did it again, trying again to make me go with a sidecar rather than my solo bike. I'll stay with 2 wheels for now and then go with a chair when I get old. 

Bill

[fredvance]

I just checked Motorcycle Superstore, several manufactors have 110/70/17 and 12/60/17.

[TwinSpin]

fredvance - - I like that 120/60/17, I'll see what I can find.

Nortonist - - I checked on that GT501 110/90V-16. 16 inch is what I want, but they added extra tread depth for rain and for cornering as per factory note. So, the extra rubber adds to the height and counteracts what I'm trying for, less height. My current 17 inch tire is 22 inches tall.
And yes, I know why you have that "funny" wheel on the front of the side car. Stop trying to make me switch over to a sidecar build so I can go as low as a 10 inch front  wheel. Aren't sidecars only for old men?? 

Yes, my bio says I'm 69, but during this build I feel 39. It's a salt thingie

Thanks guys for the heads up info.

Bill

[fredvance]

We are just youngsters, right Bill?

[Nortonist 592]

Most of me is still 18 but my knees keep all that youthful exuberance in check.

You can, of course, shave the tire and lose a bit of height.   One thing nice about sidecars is you don't have to hold them up while waiting to run.

[TwinSpin]

fredvance - -

I found that both Dunlop and Metzeler make that 120/60/17 tire. Prices are about the same around $125. I looked so hard through the Dunlop stats trying to find the tire diameter. No luck. I'll have to put in a call to one of them and hope I don't get a young lady on the line who doesn't know what diameter means.

Plus, yes we are just youngsters, especially you with those nice salt records. So far, the only record I have is in my mind when I was there last year spectating. I hope to teach these youngins that this old dog can learn new tricks and set records too. My bark still has bite.

Bill

[Old Scrambler]

Keeping a low profile at our age is not our style...............as for low profile on the bike........I run 21-inch rims to keep the tire profile as narrow as possible and reduce the contact patch on the salt.  Rake, fork length, and rear swing-arm design will put you in a low-slung craddle.  I am just approaching 90mph so no real concerns about V-ratings.

[TwinSpin]

Old Scrambler - -

Thanks for you info, but I'm designing a lay-down bike and I want to look over the top of the front tire. Plus, with the steering forks, they add a few more obstructions in my line of sight, that is why I'm looking for a low profile tire. SCTA allows a 15 or 16 inch rim, but no one makes a speed rated tire for those rims at 150 mph. None that I can find.

Since it is my first try at Bonneville, and first ever building a bike, all these plans of mine are regulated by what parts (tires) I can find. I do plan to run a small cc engine and then if things go good, go to bigger cc's to hit around 150mph. So, why not put the 150mph tire on now for the first small cc engine, that way the front end will be finished and then I just fool around with the rear engine and the stuff in the back.

Still, if anyone knows of a 150 mph tire in a 15 or 16 inch rim, I'll pay a good price for it.

BTW, I did spend a few years back in WI when I lived in DePere and went to college at Stout in the late 60's. I'm still a Packer Backer and I do have this funny yellow triangled hat with a bunch of holes. 


Bill

[sabat]

Bridgestone makes a very low profile 17" front race tire that popular with grudge racers. Much lower than a 120/60. It's used on 125cc GP bikes.

Google "Battlax 90/580R17"

[Dean Los Angeles]

I didn't see what class you are planning on running. The current class record determines the tire rating, not what you are planning on running.
"the extra rubber adds to the height ". Plan on using Nate Jones Tire in Long Beach to shave, true, and balance. Any tire you buy has excess rubber that you don't need.

[TwinSpin]

sabat - -

Very interesting. I looked at that 125 GP tyre and it may do just what I need. I'm still trying to look up the tire diameter in inches for that tire compared to the 22.5 inch tire I have now. Thanks for the heads up.

Dean Los Angeles - -

I'm designing a bike to run a small cc engine, probably 250 cc or 350 cc. The 350 class record is just under 150mph, so I figure by 2013 when I plan to be finished with my build, the record may be over 150 mph, therefore I'm looking for a tire for that speed range, I think that is an R rating. I never shaved a tire before, so that is all new to me. I'll try to find that "perfect" tire so I can use it during my mochup build. If I run and am a few mph short, I will shave the tire at Jones tire as per your suggestion, among any other small mph pickup tricks.

BTW Dean, didn't you have that lay down bike a few years back? I think you said you cut it up because the rules didn't fit or something just wasn't right. By any chance do you still have that unusual front steering system and is it for sale?

See you on the salt in 2012, see you on the course in 2013. 
Bill

[bak189]

REAL MEN...race sidecars.....   (with a passenger)....................

[fjlee]

I'm not having any success finding a front tire with a Z or ZR speed rating.

I need a front tire for a bike with a speed rating around 150 mph. I am looking for a 110/70/15 or a 120/70/15.Any ideas what company or where?

Bill

This certainly isn't an area of knowledge for me.....but a thought occured....Is there any chance that the airplane folks use a tire that would work for you?

FjLee      Denver CO