Power Kite Forum

Interest in custom wheels?

rtz - 6-6-2019 at 11:30 PM

Yes; there are some aluminum options. For some money.

And the ever elusive and mythical Cadkat and PL asymmetric wheels. Two wheels I have yet to personally own.

Then we have our ever favorite; the STARCO 2.5" wide PL wheel:




I've owned a few and currently in need of 3 more for a set of barrow tires that are new to me that I have not run before. But I am reluctant to drop another ~$75 on the 3 wheels plus shipping.

Looking into and about to make the phone call on some new wheel options. If the price is right. Only if. They will likely and probably want us to buy 10, or 20, or 50 wheels if they are willing.

The question is; what size(s)? Trying to gauge interest here. Would any of you be willing to purchase any more wheels at cost?

The key to this wheel is taking our 6204 bearing and giving us the 20mm ID. Doesn't HAVE to be that bearing; but I figure we all already have stocks of that size and our rigs are setup for the 20mm bolts in the back at least.

8" diameter for the known tire selection or venture into the world of go kart tires(5" wheels?) and 6" or 10" tire selections?

What about widths? I've never personally seen barrow tires mounted up on wider tires. Wonder what they look like stretched out? Same for MIDI's on wider wheels?

Granted the 4, 6, 8 inch wide options have been offered with the aluminum offerings. Could potentially go with the odd sizes in widths to change things up a bit.


Let me know what sizes you'd be interested in and how many you'd be up for if this goes through. I'm looking at $10 each and no more then $20 each tops.

jeepersjoey - 15-6-2020 at 08:58 AM

I have ten of these plastic rims because I buy buggies and replace the rims with something more solid.

On my last trip to the desert, I had two of these with 6-ply as spares. Both went "boom" when laying out on the playa and the tire was no longer seated.

In the past I had a plastic rim explode into pieces when I was driving across Utah (in the car, silly. The plastic rim and tires were RIGHT behind my head and I thought for SURE Yeesus was coming for me!). I will say that that rim was severely weathered and alright compromised.

As a result, I do not trust them to be reliable.

iPaul

Juan - 16-6-2020 at 01:00 AM

Exploding plastic rims in the car?:o

rtz - 16-6-2020 at 03:36 AM

It wasn't until I held a metal wheel in my hands I could see the merits in the plastic wheels. Potential lower cost, weight; and most of all, durability near salt water(beach riding).


I don't have any experience with running metal wheels on the beach and regards to how well they hold up over time.

With that said though; my low PSI Bigfoot lights have made some questionable lines on my plastic wheels. I'll make a post later today about my metal and plastic wheels.

The lines on my plastic wheels:











Valid Point

jeepersjoey - 16-6-2020 at 12:03 PM

I can see the merits of the plastic on ocean shores. Absolutely, now that you point it out.

I did fail to mention that I did not run the plastic rims with a tube. Therefore, all of the pressure was exerted on the plastic. Those little rims clearly state that you cannot put much pressure into them.

Paul

rtz - 17-6-2020 at 01:09 AM

Picked up some of those 7" wide metal wheels.

The stock PL 2.5" wide wheels with bearings and spacer tube weigh in at 2 lbs on a bathroom scale.

The steel wheels with bearings and spacer weigh in at 6lbs each. 8lbs total on the scale with both wheels on it so the math does add up.

Same tubeless Nanco 21x12x8 tire mounted on each wheel. 12 lbs total on plastic. 16 lbs on metal.

Interesting result. Gained 1 inch tire width going from a 2.5" wide wheel to a 7" wide wheel. Looks much wider though.

Images of the wheels and tires:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/d1crwpvSsS9Fi45a6

jantie - 17-6-2020 at 05:29 AM

howmany atmosphere do you put in there because i never seen a tire blow out on the beach in the 16 buggy years.
even in the sun @ +30C

rtz - 17-6-2020 at 10:15 AM

The sidewall suggests 10 psi to seat the bead and the load rating is at 5 psi. I run them at 5 or less.