Converting a rear wheel to accept a car tyre.....

[BOBAD]

Does anyone have any experience of converting the rear wheel of a BMW R1200GS (model year: 2011) to accept a car tyre on a solo motorcycle ?

I have heard the extreme opinions - 'don't do it, it's too dangerous' of people who have never tried it to 'no problem at all' from an American rider who travelled only on freeways and had covered over 50,000 miles without any problems on a K100 fitted with a car tyre.

Most of my riding is on motorways - very few twisties and no off-road riding at all.

My natural inclination would be to avoid doing this but I can't help feeling that I might just be missing a trick and achieving 50k miles out of a back tyre seems very attractive after recently forking out almost £200 for a new Metzeler recently and which will be toast in a few months time.

Would you even consider it ?

 

[Littledumptruck]

It would fail the mot. The test is quite specific and states motorcycles must have motorcycle tyres.

 

[RadioFlyer]

Search for sidecar conversions for your bike.

Sent from my SM-T813 using Tapatalk

 

[Greg Masters]

I wouldn't do it.

But if you do, be aware that most car tyres are designed for 'J' type wheel flanges.

 

[Smiffypr]

The American example, what type of tyre was it? A radial car tyre will be dangerous, a cross-ply or bias belted tyre might be rideable.
I once had an outfit which I fitted a car rear wheel and tyre to, and on one occasion I needed to take the sidecar off, and I tried the bike, it was dangerous, at very small angle of lean, the rear washed out, radial car tyres are not designed to lean over more than a small amount. And, it would be illegal anyway.

 

[Steptoe]

Is it April 1st already.

 

[er-minio]

I know someone who did it on a Goldwing (if I recall correctly) but with the specific intent of studding the tyre to travel on snow/ice for a complex trip.

I wouldn’t consider it even in extreme cases to be honest. I’d use a car instead (that is mostly what I do on all the straight roads around where I live )

Let me see if I can find more info on that Honda…

 

[siddo]

Fort9 did a video of this on YT

 

[Blue]

Tales From the Dark Side: Putting Car Tires on Motorcycles | Rider Magazine

From the Dark World of Nonconformity They Emerged...On Car Tires. Have you ever found yourself unwittingly in the middle of a heated religious or

ridermagazine.com

 

[Davey B]

Would you even consider it ?

No. It's madness...IMHO. If saving £150 every now and then is a big deal....just get a smaller, lighter, lower powered bike that takes smaller, cheaper tyres and that last longer.

 

[stratblue]

If you want to save a bit of cash I found a good source of tyres for my old ZX12r from a Chinese site. The grip wasn't quite as good as the Avons and Dunlops I used to use, especially when leaned over or 'giving it the full beans' but because each tyre was home made by an authentic craftsman I certainly good a nice warm 'eco' vibe from using them. The only down side was that I had to spread the swing arm a bit to get the bugger in. I sold the Z a few years back but If you're interested I could probably dig out the guy's number. HTH.

 

[botus]

there's already a thread going on this - with a video explaining the benefits (oddly - it doesn't focus on the misery of ruining the handling, or of early death)

Well thats different

Interesting choice of rear wheel and tyre ;) https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-details/202309021483125?sort=relevance&advertising-location=at_bikes&include-delivery-option=on&make=BMW&model=R1200GS&page=3&postcode=PO22%209ER&year-from=2010&year-to=2012&fromsra

www.ukgser.com

 

[OnHellas]

Have a look at LBS Sidecars in the USA. They used to do a conversion for car tyre fitment on the rear wheel. They used a proper car rim from memory so the tyre would fit properly.

I’m not sure if they still do it, I didn’t look through the website.

 

[stonehenge]

You should be able to source a hard wearing rear tyre, even if you need to squeeze on a 160 width road tyre. Metz Marathons?

 

[Bem]

I use cycle tyres in multiplex - seven on the 4j rim, or 9 on the 5j (as per RT). My speeds are so slow anyway I never lean over.
This spreads the load and reduces the impact of a puncture on any one part and lasts about 25k. Ride comfort is not too bad but I wouldn't try it off road, nor in Mexico.

 

[stonehenge]

I use cycle tyres in multiplex - seven on the 4j rim, or 9 on the 5j (as per RT). My speeds are so slow anyway I never lean over.
This spreads the load and reduces the impact of a puncture on any one part and lasts about 25k. Ride comfort is not too bad but I wouldn't try it off road, nor in Mexico.

I am not sure what you mean? Can you expand plz.

 

[Barnoe]

Most of my riding is on motorways - very few twisties and no off-road riding at all.

Riding a motorcycle on the motorways is boring, noisy and cold.
If I was only riding motorways I would sell my bike.

I used to ride/drive to Aberdeen every week a 6 hour journey.
The car was pleasant, warm and comfy, when i did it on the bike i was miserable and had to take a couple of breaks.

At the time i was sharing a car with the wife, so when she had it, I had to go on the bike and i wasn't happy about it.... and i love bikes!

Its not a car tyre you need, its a car.

 

[fizzer]

its been done many times on 2.3cc triumph rocket 3 .

 

[botus]

this forum shouldn't support posts about making bikes dangerous and illegal

 

[OnHellas]

this forum shouldn't support posts about making bikes dangerous and illegal

It isn’t. Forum users are posting about it.