knobbies to slicks

[digitalsdc]

OK, I'm definitely a noob by most definitions. Here is my question: what do I need to do to trade out the knobby 16" tires (7" rims) on my son's kart to slicks that he can ride on the street with?

My preference would be to find an affordable wheel/tire combination that I could readily swap with each season.

One consideration is that the gear ratio is pretty low (not sure exactly, but the clutch has already burned out once) so I'd like to decrease the tier diameter to maybe 14" or even less I suppose.

Oh, and one other consideration - any chance of getting this done before Christmas?

 

[digitalsdc]

Oh, I forgot to mention that the axle has a 5/8" bolt.

 

[mckutzy]

Let start from the top, what is the vehicle it is going on? Pics, of the whole vehicle ? What is the current gear ratio?
Is it a live axle or dead?
Seeing there is a 3 bolt flange already you might have to make an adapter to fit a 4-5 bolt rim, as they are a bit more common.

 

[digitalsdc]

Thanks for the quick response. I have attached some pictures here, but there are more in an earlier thread started by me (digitalsdc) over a year ago.

The gear ratio is 6:1 (60 front, 10 rear). The engine and clutch are functioning fine - we just want to put some street-worthy tires on it so we aren't always burning up these knobbies.

Live axle or dead? I have no idea (what that even means). Is there a quick way to determine that?

 

[digitalsdc]

OK, so if live axle means having a differential, then it's not a live axle. Both tires are locked into the same axle and do not turn independently of one another.

 

[mckutzy]

A live axle(in this case) is both wheels are are on one axle, with the drive sprocket. It usually uses a pillowblock or similar bearings.

A dead axle is typically a wheel that has its own hub bearings with the brake and drive sprocket on the wheel itself.

What is your tire diameter(I forgot to ask).

 

[digitalsdc]

The tire size is 16x8.00-7

 

[anderkart]

My preference would be to find an affordable wheel/tire combination that I could readily swap with each season.

We might be able to find some 3-bolt rims to fit your kart, but first you need to post some accurate measurements of your old rims bolt pattern, plus the center hole size of your old rims.

The pic I posted below shows how to measure the bolt pattern:
(you need to measure across & from the exact center to center points of those bolt holes)

Then, after we know what rims are available to fit your kart, we could start searching for (11" to 14" diameter) slicks that'd fit those rims

 

[digitalsdc]

Thank you so much! The "A" measurement (bolt-to-bolt) is 3 1/16" and the "B" measurement (center hole diameter) is 3 1/8". Does that sound right?

 

[anderkart]

Thank you so much! The "A" measurement (bolt-to-bolt) is 3 1/16" and the "B" measurement (center hole diameter) is 3 1/8". Does that sound right?

Your welcome, but something doesn't sound right there:
The "A" (bolt to bolt hole) measurement has to be quite a bit larger than the "B" (rims center hole) measurement...

Double check your measurements, (make sure your "A" measurement is taken between the exact mid-points of 2 mounting holes).

Also, post what brand/model you kart is. We might be able to find rims by google searching for your brand/model of kart.

 

[zbuck]

The bolt holes on three bolt rims are 120 degrees apart of which the holes will be of equal distance apart. A simple way to measure bolt pattern is, measure from the outside to outside of the holes that will give you the centerline measurement. On the new toy I am building, I have three bolt hubs with five bolt rims mounted to the hubs and they fit perfect.

 

[digitalsdc]

I thought the measurements seemed odd too so I double checked them before my first post. I guess that since the holes are fairly close to the outer rim and they're offset they can be pretty close to the same measurement.

Anyway, that's what they appear to be and I'm sorry but I don't know the maker of the kart and I'm not able to look now (at work). I'll check as soon as I can and post.

In general, where are some of the best sites to find a variety of wheels and tires?

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

The bolt holes on three bolt rims are 120 degrees apart of which the holes will be of equal distance apart. A simple way to measure bolt pattern is, measure from the outside to outside of the holes that will give you the centerline measurement. On the new toy I am building, I have three bolt hubs with five bolt rims mounted to the hubs and they fit perfect.

Inside to outside, or outside to inside would give you center to center. NOT outside to outside. If the spacing is the same, 3 bolt hubs will work with 5 bolt rims, lots of lawn tractors used this setup in the past.

 

[firemanjim]

http://m.ebay.com/itm/161168129145?nav=SEARCH&sbk=1
Something like these?

 

[zbuck]

http://m.ebay.com/itm/161168129145?nav=SEARCH&sbk=1
Something like these?

That combo is pretty sharp but I think the price is a little heavy.

 

[firemanjim]

Well, I figured new slicks that size is gonna run about $50 a piece. So 2 tires, 2SHINY wheels for $140 aint that bad. They are pretty big slicks.....

 

[zbuck]

Well, I figured new slicks that size is gonna run about $50 a piece. So 2 tires, 2SHINY wheels for $140 aint that bad. They are pretty big slicks.....

After doing some checking, I agree. Tires anywhere from 60 to 75$'s each list price depending on the compound, and the rims around 45$'s. I do not think I would run them on a fun kart, racing kart yes if you got enough azz (engine wise) to pull them.

 

[anderkart]

Thank you so much! The "A" measurement (bolt-to-bolt) is 3 1/16"

3-1/16" is around 78mm...

I found some 7" diameter rims with a 78mm/3-bolt pattern at this link: http://www.pocketbikeparts.com/Rim_s/21.htm But unfortunately there's a very limited selection of tires made for 7" diameter rims and I couldn't find any slicks that'd fit.

PS:
That same link also has some 6" diameter rims with an 80mm / 3-bolt pattern. If those rims fit your kart, you could buy 11" tall slicks to fit them from most any racekart shop,
like this online store: http://www.out2win.com/catalog/tire.html

 

[anderkart]

http://m.ebay.com/itm/161168129145?nav=SEARCH&sbk=1
Something like these?

The 3-bolt rims in your link don't give any info about what size bolt circle they are, but I'd bet they're too small to fit the OP's kart.

3-bolt Racekart rims like those typically only come in three different bolt patterns: (American/Metric and CRG-front) and those sizes are all smaller than 3-1/16".

You'll find more info about racekart bolt circle sizes here at this link: http://www.cometkartsales.com/store/wheels/wheels.htm

 

[porsche930dude]

go to 6" for sure. but i think youre better off with a better tire than racing slicks. they dont last long either. you just need a more square profile tire. Turf savers last forever