Wheel Found – Need Tire Suggestions

I found a brand new 60 spoke Harley 21″x2.15″ wheel on E-Bay brand new for $75… $95 shipped.

The description was as follows… Front Wheel, 60 Spoke, 21″ x 2.15″, steel hub, chrome steel rim, Single disc, assemblies come complete with bearings, seals. It is BRAND NEW, bought it about a year ago for a electric chopper project that never happened. I am just moving stuff out from under as cash is good, better than spare parts laying around. As to what it fits I am not a bike guy so I have no clue.”

Based on my conversations with my mentor Type 1 Bud, this should fit like a charm and I don’t really need a dual disc brake setup in the front. The lowest price I’ve found anything like this in the aftermarket arena has been $160.

Now I just need to find a great deal on a tire and mounting.

More Good Aluminum Cleaning Options

I called a marina the other day and they recommended Aluminex at about $11.25 and Zep for about $6.95.  These were prices from Island View Marine in Kankakee…  Cleans pontoons great, should work well on aluminum wheels…

Cragar SS and Used Tire # 2

Cragar SS and Used Tire # 2

Originally uploaded by Justin Kaiser – Creative Identity Group

My mentor Type 1 Bud had these nice fat meats… They are on Cragar SS rims and a good 30-40,000 miles left. Also got them for about 1/4 the price of new. There are a couple of very small rust spots, however, very clean and will clean up very nicely. So, I’m a lot further ahead than I had been by looking locally for new or on eBay or Craigslist with shipping.

The only downfall was the 2 1./2 hour drive, however, I had an opportunity to see Bud and take some pics for my VW Trike Build.

Buy Decent Quality Used Tires From Local Junkyards

I’m in the process of looking for a set of good used tires to fit my new rims…  The size I’m looking for are 295-50-15’s and so far Tire Rack has a decent price on new Kumho at $95/tire, Firestone Firehawks, BF Goodrich at $117/tire and GoodYear Eagles at $125/tire plus an aditional $50 in shipping from Delaware since they are not in stock at a regional warehouse.

So you need new tires but you are running a little low on cash. Lets take a look at your options.

1. Keep riding on your bare tires and hope to make it till your next paycheck.
2. Take the money you do have and ensure you stay off your tires by buying a bus pass and taking the buss where you need to go.
3. Look into buying used tires.

Used tires are a great option if you are on a tight budget and know how the system works. The best tip I can give you is to go to local junkyards for your tire needs.

Junkyards take off the nearly new tires from hundreds of vehicles before the smash them down. You will have your choice of great tires from prices of a couple of bucks up to twenty bucks.

To get started you will want to go and find auto wrecking places near you. Check the phone book and make a call to the yards in the bigger areas and make sure they save their tires.

Now you need to know your exact tire size and clear the morning to go hunting for your bargain tire. When you arrive tell the person in front what you want and they will direct you to the place in the yard where they store the tires. Often times they will send out an employee with you, which is okay, as long as you don’t buy the tire just because they suggest it.

Once you get to the tires please consider the follwoing things:

1. Tire Structurally Sound – Look for bulges, punctures or cuts.
2. Tire’s Wear and Tread – Look for the bands in the tire that show the wear. Obviously, the more tread the better.
3. Tire Construction – radial tires or conventional tires. Go for radial but only if you can get radial tires on all 4 wheels.

Big Bob VW Trike Donor American Racing Rims

These rims were given to me by Gary Kauffman from Patriot Products in Martinton, IL. Gary started making BioDiesel from Vegetable Oil that is given to him by local restaurants and he is also starting to make Tiki Torch fuel with Citronella and Bug Repellant as well from the same product.