Newbie wheel and tyre advice please

tim walton · Joined: 12 Nov 2012 Posts: 5

Hi all, please be gentle as I am new here!

I've purchased a 200cc kart off ebay for the sole purpose of letting the kids play in the garden. The kart has come with slicks, and I would like to change the tyres for something a little more suitable for grass. "Easy" I thought as I began scouring ebay for something suitable.

After much searching though, it appears I may have a kart with some non-standard wheels and tyres, and I'm looking for a bit of advice please.

Let me tell you what I think I've got...

Rear wheels: the hole is 60mm and the studs are approx 70mm apart.
Rear tyres: have written on them 11x7.10-5
Front tyres: have written on them 4.50/10-5

I can't find any tyres of a similar size (unless I want to buy 500 sets from China!). So I looked at buying new wheels with tyres. But the standard sized wheels seem to have a 50mm hole with studs 60mm apart, so they won't fit. I've emailed many ebay sellers asking them "what size are the wheels you are selling?" and they typically reply "standard size" - which doesn't help me out at all.

In conclusion. I have a kart that I want to run on grass and I'm happy to buy new tyres, or new wheels and tyres, but I don't know what to buy that will fit! I would be very grateful for any clues that could be sent my way Smile

Thank you

Tim

tim walton · Joined: 12 Nov 2012 Posts: 5

(in case it's relevant, I'm in the UK)

Russell Stevens · Joined: 15 Oct 2012 Posts: 100

You may want to ask over at http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/
They are into retrofitting x with y to get z and would know all the best places to get yard kart stuff. This is more of a racing kart kart site.

That being said -
1) It sounds like a street kart, make sure you have enough clearence for the lawn you will be running this on.
2) If you do put taller tires on it you will want gear the kart down (larger rear sprocket / smaller front sprocket) otherwise it will go too fast and bog when taking off. You will allso stress the clutch if you are geared too high.
3) Depending on the rear rim width I found 5" tires that would work in the grass. Do a google search for 5 inch turf tire. Look at the lawn mower tires. If the mower tires are too narrow for your rear rims, you should double check the manufaturer of the kart and see about putting another set of front rims out back.
4) Depending on how thick the rubber is on the tires it has, you could always get a tire groover and cut a simple block tread into them.
5) Are you sure that the bolt spread is 70mm not 58mm (Euro standard size) http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=11509 is the correct way to measure a 3 bolt hub for bolt spacing.
6) What kart do you have. It might be a race kart, or a chinese knockoff. If you post some pictures we migth suggest you sell it for what it is and get a proper yard kart. A race kart on the grass will be a rough ride, might be frustrating enough to make the kids put it aside and not want to play with the kart... and after all of your hard work.
7) Make sure they wear helmets, jackets, long pants, and proper shoes. Safety first... They will fall out of it, and get bumps.
Good hunting
Rusty

tim walton · Joined: 12 Nov 2012 Posts: 5

if this link works, this is the exact kart I bought
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Petrol-Go-Kart-/170916281473?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&nma=true&si=2hEYStgrUM7CTe%2FaY%2BiVuGawsss%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

tim walton · Joined: 12 Nov 2012 Posts: 5

Some more useful info about the kart including photos of wheels/tyres

The rear hub http://grab.by/hvZa
The rear wheel http://grab.by/hvZe
The front wheel http://grab.by/hvZg

With the rear wheel, if I measure a straight line between 2 studs it is 80mm. The large hole in the wheel measures 70mm.

The front wheel appears to be on a 16mm shaft.

The wheels appear to be plastic and in 2 pieces bolted together.

Clark Gaynor · Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 6:33 am Post subject:

Tim, it appears to be a VERY old racing kart--- I suspect! The tires on it are standard racing kart sizes, so you might want to try "rain" tires on it. They are groved slicks, so to speak.
I'm sure if you can find a kart shop in your area, they will be able to see what you have and help you out.
Have fun and good luck,
Clark Sr.

tim walton · Joined: 12 Nov 2012 Posts: 5

Hi Clark, you say that the tyre sizes are standard, but if I search ebay for 11x7.10-5 I get virtually nothing. Are they known by a more common marking that I should search for?

Many thanks

Tim

Clark Gaynor · Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 7:38 am Post subject:

Tim, don't spend too much time on ebay. Search for racing kart shops in your area, or kart racing tracks. When you find one, they WILL have those sizes--- I promise!!! Smile

We run them here in the US ALL the time. I have a trailer full of the things right now. ANY racing kart shop WILL have them!!! In fact they may have some used rain tires (tyres in your neck of the woods) laying around that they may sell very cheaply.
Trust me, those are standard racing kart tire sizes WORLD WIDE!
Find that kart shop, they will appreciate your business. And they will likely have anything else you might need for your new project.
Have fun,
Clark Sr.

Clark Gaynor · Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 7:40 am Post subject:

One other thing, you might search ebay for "MG, Vega, Bridgestone, Dunlop" racing kart tires. Try that.

Clark Gaynor · Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 7:55 am Post subject:

http://www.karting.co.uk/

Here's a place to start. I have no idea where any of these shops are, but at least it's a start. I googled "UK gokart shops", and this one was one of the first listed. There seems to be a good bit of info on the site.
Have fun,
Clark Sr.
PS: I know we have some UK racers here on ekarting. I hope one of them reads your post, and gives you better info then me.