Wheel/tire options

[Kainedogg]

Hey guys,

my kart is a tad bit too low for the grass bashing I want to submit it too. What are my options for raising it up an inch or so? I am very new to the kart life but like what I have seen so far.

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

Bigger wheels will raise your kart. They will also affect your final drive ratio, so you may also need a slightly larger rear sprocket.

 

[anderkart]

Are your rims 5" or 6" diameter?

 

[ultralight01]

If you want to save the wheels for street/asphalt racing an get some yard wheels for grass, which I suggest, then all you need to do is find out what size your shaft is on all four tires (normally 1/2"-5/8ths"). Then go to gopowersports.com and buy a set of wheel assemblies.

Keep in mind the back wheels are probably live axle, so that's a different rim type.

That's what I would do. Changing the tires can be difficult.

 

[Kainedogg]

I will measure the rim today. Hey 01, what makes changing the tires difficult?

 

[KartFab]

Completely unrelated to your post, but wow that exhaust is massive. You are losing out on exhaust velocity big time with such a large diameter exhaust. Are you also using a 4 to 1 collector tube at the end backwards?

You would get a lot more torque with an appropriate sized exhaust, and better scavenging as well.

 

[Poboy kartman]

Completely unrelated to your post, but wow that exhaust is massive. You are losing out on exhaust velocity big time with such a large diameter exhaust. Are you also using a 4 to 1 collector tube at the end backwards?

You would get a lot more torque with an appropriate sized exhaust, and better scavenging as well.

I could be wrong, but I have a feeling the actual working header is hidden under that mess.

 

[Kainedogg]

Completely unrelated to your post, but wow that exhaust is massive. You are losing out on exhaust velocity big time with such a large diameter exhaust. Are you also using a 4 to 1 collector tube at the end backwards?

You would get a lot more torque with an appropriate sized exhaust, and better scavenging as well.

I could be wrong, but I have a feeling the actual working header is hidden under that mess.

It is ugly and loud...and hot! I plan to buy a stock one off Ebay this evening, I promise you that.

 

[ultralight01]

I will measure the rim today. Hey 01, what makes changing the tires difficult?

Depends. Sometimes they're glued on, also, this rubber is really hard to bend off the rims. Hey, sometimes it's easy, though.

Last time I took two tires off rims, (one with tube, one without) it took three crowbars, 1 hour, and a busted lip.

 

[Poboy kartman]

Depends. Sometimes they're glued on, also, this rubber is really hard to bend off the rims. Hey, sometimes it's easy, though.

Last time I took two tires off rims, (one with tube, one without) it took three crowbars, 1 hour, and a busted lip.

Well....if you'd been nicer while I was trying to help....you could have avoided the busted lip....

 

[Kainedogg]

The rims are 5" 3 lugs in the rear. Circumference of the rear shaft if 5" and the diameter is 1.5" does this help any with my tire options?

What is a decent exhaust and clutch for yard running for extended periods through grass?

I rode around for a few minutes before the chain popped off and boy was that clutch housing hot.

 

[ultralight01]

Well....if you'd been nicer while I was trying to help....you could have avoided the busted lip....

 

[anderkart]

After we settle on a tire diameter, we can discus re-gearing your kart...

How many teeth does your clutch and axle sprocket have now?

The rims are 5" 3 lugs in the rear.

Unfortunately, I don't know of any taller tires made to fit 5" diameter rims, but you could instal 13" or 15"-tall turf tires if you buy some 6"-wide X 6" diameter rims.


You'd probably find both of these turf tire sizes in stock at your local wallmart, or here's a couple links to them at amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Lawn-Garden-Tractor-Tubeless-Replacement/dp/B0000AX5KA
http://www.amazon.com/15-6-00-4-Ply-Super-Turf/dp/B00BWWSWYG

I could help you find the correct 6" diameter rims, but first you'd need to accurately measure what bolt pattern you need using the info below:

 

[Kainedogg]

Useful info Ander, clearly you've been doing this for a while. I will post the numbers for the teeth this evening as well as the bolt pattern.
I was hoping to stay away from turf tires since that would be really hard on the grass and prevent the drifting I want to employ in the vet races.

 

[anderkart]

You could check out the Hoosier tire website, i think they have some taller gokart slicks for 6" diameter rims... I've seen some on eBay too.

 

[anderkart]

Amazon has some 13's too http://www.amazon.com/Carlisle-Smoo...qid=1462979106&sr=8-1&keywords=go+kart+slicks

 

[Kainedogg]

Amazon has some 13's too http://www.amazon.com/Carlisle-Smoo...qid=1462979106&sr=8-1&keywords=go+kart+slicks

Those are perfect Ander. I guess I just need to measure the bolt pattern like you asked me to yesterday.

I hope the rims themselves aren't too expensive, since I have to buy at least 12 units eventually.

 

[Kainedogg]

Ander the sprocket is a 70 tooth split sprocket and the lug pattern seems to be roughly 2" apart. Hope that helps

 

[number9]

I did this same thing with my race kart to raise it up a little. I went with:

Front
6x5 wheels
13x5-6 Kenda Super Turf tires

Rear
6x6.5 wheels
13x6.50-6 Carlisle Turf Master tires

Pics can be seen in my American Express #2 thread

...

 

[Kainedogg]

Thanks 9. I appreciate it.