Power Kite Forum

buggy tires

cheezycheese - 1-10-2009 at 09:50 AM

while looking at PTW's thread on homebrew buggys i noticed the thread pattern on a lot of those tires and they look like
japanese scooter tires or even small atv tires. i understand that bigfoot rubber is quite expensive or even hard to obtain at times... does anybody know if these types of tires would be an option....?

cheezycheese - 1-10-2009 at 09:52 AM

certainly would like a pair of nice rims though... already the customizing bug has bitten 'Pimp my ride'

indigo_wolf - 1-10-2009 at 10:20 AM

Are you asking if there are custom rims that will accept Bigfoot tires?

Peter Lynn 3 spoke aluminum and stainless rims are available that will accept Bigfoots.

There is also a domestic 6 spoke rim that will accept Bigfoots. They will also sell you the rims with standard size tires/tubes in smooth, ribbed or knobby tread patterns. With standard size tires the pricing isn't all that abusive. Probably a bit more of a pinch with Bigfoots.

Google "custom kite buggy rims"

ATB,
Sam

action jackson - 1-10-2009 at 10:44 AM

I would be careful what i put on a PL folder!...................aj

BeamerBob - 1-10-2009 at 10:51 AM

I saw a mod for those wheels that had a steel ring between the rim halves to keep it from bending over at the end of the spokes. Sand Yeti I think is the one that did it.

cheezycheese - 1-10-2009 at 11:54 AM

i was really just asking about the rubber. not so much for me per se', but just curious. i know my folder cannot accomodate bigfoot tires but there are def some cool rims available for the stock size tire.

WELDNGOD - 1-10-2009 at 01:04 PM

http://www.awindofchange.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&am...

alum_wheel-250[1].jpg - 12kB

heliboy50 - 1-10-2009 at 01:13 PM

nanco (or nankang N800's) - les schwab $32/ea.. I put mine on golf cart wheels (Screwyfits suggestion) which makes them really wide. You will need 4 on 4 hubs to do this (can't remember the place to get these off the top, but Weldngod knows- they run about $30/ea. as well.) N800's can be put on narrow wheels as well but you gotta' watch the tire pressure or the side wall flex will let them rub on the forks. On narrow wheels they come out at like 9.5" wide and on GC wheels they are like 10 1/4" wide.

awindofchange - 1-10-2009 at 01:20 PM

Thanks for posting the picture and link up Weldngod. We do have these custom aluminum wheels in stock. They come complete with bearings and spacer installed. The bearing is for a 20mm axle but we have machined spacer kits that will allow you to bolt them onto any 12mm or 15mm axle - front or rear.

This should allow you to mount these wheels to practically any buggy on the market. :)

They look awesome.

Bucky - 5-10-2009 at 08:10 PM

As far tire options go, Bigfoots (Nanco) are certainly a good way to go. However, if you cannot find them, here's another option...

Places such as Les Schwab Tires, sells ATV tires that go on 8" rims. The problem is, most of those tires far too rigid and heavy, (designed for supporting 1000 lb. ATV's, not 50 lb. kite buggies.) and have too much tread.

Fortunately, most of those places also offer "Bead to bead tire shaving" where they remove most of the rubber from the tire, making them light, treadless, and just thick enough to still be functional. Usually it's about $10 to $15 per tire.


If you're starting from scratch, it's cheaper just to get Nanco Bigfoots. But if you already have an old set of ATV tires, it's a cheap way to get useable "buggy" tires.

heliboy50 - 5-10-2009 at 10:03 PM

I got the nanco's at les schwab, but they may not all carry them. My wheel/hub assembly is a bit heavy, but the foot print with 7+" wide wheels is huge. So far so good- but I am still way novice at this. Some tire places (including schwab) can't mount tires on bolt through wheels or may be unwilling to put 8" wide tires on a 4" wide rim. Motorcycle or ATV shops might do the job. Ordering any tire online will screw ya' on shipping- local is better if at all possible.

cheezycheese - 6-10-2009 at 04:34 AM

this "les schwab" must be a west coast retailer. never heard of them out here on the east. although we used to have a guy out here in the '80s "earl scheib" would paint any car for $99... maybe they are related:dunno:

anybody remember "earl scheib"..?

Todd - 6-10-2009 at 04:55 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by awindofchange
They look awesome.


Yes they do!




I got to try these out this past weekend and for the most part the duro tires worked well in the sand. I had to inflate the front a little more and will probably replace that one with a larger tire due to the light steering.

cheezycheese - 6-10-2009 at 05:02 AM

what do those rims go for $.... they sure look sweet. i was checking them out this weekend

WELDNGOD - 6-10-2009 at 05:14 AM

95 bucks apiece or 3 for 245$

WELDNGOD - 6-10-2009 at 05:17 AM

then get some bigfoots for 115$ ea. and you got damn near 600bucks in rims/tires on a motorless vehicle.

Todd - 6-10-2009 at 05:38 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by cheezycheese
what do those rims go for $.... they sure look sweet. i was checking them out this weekend



You should have taken it for a spin! Quite a few took it out that weekend... I have video of Dean sliding it around as well as WeldNGod.

cheezycheese - 6-10-2009 at 05:44 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Todd
Quote:
Originally posted by cheezycheese
what do those rims go for $.... they sure look sweet. i was checking them out this weekend



You should have taken it for a spin! Quite a few took it out that weekend... I have video of Dean sliding it around as well as WeldNGod.


taken it out for a spin... dude after my O.B.E. the only thing goin for a spin was me. i'm still hurtin... :tumble:

tdmc96 - 30-10-2009 at 04:16 PM

I just got 2 of my 3 new Beach Racer tires in for the Apexx and decided to do the lettering in orange (just to be different.):thumbup:
I think they turned out quite well and can't wait to put them on once the front end arrives.(and the rain stops)
One of the pics shows the comparison between the regular tires off of my PL and the beach racers.




Cheers!
Ken (K3)

rocfighter - 30-10-2009 at 05:35 PM

tdmc96, those tires look sweet. What size are they? And how much off set is there on the rims?
Dave.

Todd - 30-10-2009 at 06:56 PM

WoW! Very nice.

tdmc96 - 30-10-2009 at 08:06 PM

I am not too sure what the size and offset is Dave, as I have the tires at work.
I will find out on monday unless Rip knows the size.

I took this pic of one of our guys (Eddie) at NABX2009 and it really shows how massive these things are.
Another of our guys (Grant) has these on the rear of his PL bigfoot and he has about 4 pounds of pressure in them which give a really smooth ride considering our field is somewhat bumpy.

popeyethewelder - 31-10-2009 at 12:14 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by WELDNGOD
http://www.awindofchange.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&am...



Those are the 8" X 4" rims.....there are some 8" X 8" rims like those hitting the market very soon

ripsessionkites - 31-10-2009 at 05:33 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by tdmc96
I just got 2 of my 3 new Beach Racer tires in for the Apexx and decided to do the lettering in orange (just to be different.):thumbup:
I think they turned out quite well and can't wait to put them on once the front end arrives.(and the rain stops)
One of the pics shows the comparison between the regular tires off of my PL and the beach racers.




Cheers!
Ken (K3)


nice AS RIMS ... you have too much time on your hands to start up painting as a hobby :spin:

no clue what they are. I like the AS Rims, so you can flip the rims around if need be. the BeachR worked great on soft sand at SOBB and had less drift than a std bf light tire.

popeyethewelder - 10-11-2009 at 12:37 PM

Many of the European racers tried the beach racers and didn't like them and stayed with eurotrax tyres which are a good 2"bigger in diameter....having said that I still kept my Beach racers, they just look the mutz nutz as far as I am concerned, and just brilliant on soft sand

jellis - 11-11-2009 at 10:24 AM

Eurotrax bigfoot high speed tires work great in the soft, hard and wet surfaces. Balance is not a problem. Now with the 8" rims coming on the market at reasonable price, this setup is do-able. KBSS.

100_0216.JPG - 87kB

ripsessionkites - 11-11-2009 at 10:53 AM

jellis on depower - PRICELESS! ;)

jellis - 11-11-2009 at 01:24 PM

Hey thats the Libre Pantera 9 and I had a blast. Buggier bought it right out of my hands. Back to the Spirits (my kite of choice).:embarrased: