Finally Ordered Tires And Rims!!

[bongobobny]

Finally got around to it, just ordered a pair of Pirelli Cinturato 205 55 R17 on a pair of Verde Protocol 17" chrome rims which have a 40mm offset. Here's hoping they fit, the diameter of the tire is almost 2" bigger...

[Wizard765]

Good luck... Like you said I hope they fit and if they do sounds like they will look AWESOME!!

[bongobobny]

Well, the main reason for the switch is to reduce RPM's at highway speeds...

[Wizard765]

Bob: If you decrease the rpm on the hwy will it not also decrease the available torque? Looking forward to a report on this when you get her done..

[bongobobny]

Yes, it's going to be doggy off the line, but with the Hannigan the way it's geared my RPM's are waaay up from what it used to be. I can stay in 5th down to 45 MPH. My top end is just around 100...

[bongobobny]

Well now, here's a blindside!!! Tire Rack will not sell them to me because of company policy to not sell anything for motorcycle use!!!

 

Hmmm, boycott Tire Rack for sure!! Oh well, off to fleabay and my local BJ's...

[Flyinfool]

So pick a car and tell them that is what they are for....

 

Or at least find out what the rear end came out of to tell them that is the rear end they are going on.

 

While I do shop on Tire Rack often for price and ideas, I have never bought from them, they never had the best price.

[Neil86]

What rear end ratio does the trike have Bob?

[bongobobny]

Not sure Neil, I'm thinking around 3.7ish. I'm trying the easy way first by going with bigger tires. If I lose too much torque I will go up a little on the ratio. I'm going from a 24.5 diameter to a 25.9 in tire, a 195/60/15 to a 205/55/17 and that does not make the tire width that much bigger to worry about.

 

 

The rear end is a Ford 7.5 inch from a Thunderbird from the 80's and the IRS is from a Honda CRX late 80's...

 

PS bought rims from Amazon.com this afternoon and am now going with Michelin Pilot Sport PS2's from BJ's!

[steamer]

Bobby, just give Hannigan a call, they will tell you what gearing is in your trike. Also I believe it is stamped somewhere on the pumpkin. Probably 3.73 or 3.88

[ragtop69gs]

3:73 Ratio

 

Be sure to check the clearance to the lip on the inside of the wheel opening.

[bongobobny]

Thanks Jay, that is my biggest concern! I went with the thinnest 17" rim I could find for starters and chose a tire with a sectional measurement as close to original as possible, stock 7.9", now 8.7". If necessary I will grind and reglass to a outward flare instead of an inward flare. I am hoping Hannigan designed at least an inch safety margin for max travel downward but if I have to I will put some spacers on the shocks to limit the travel a little which will in turn stiffen up the rear suspension...

 

Yes Bob, if I have to I will bump up the ratio to the 3.88 for more torque. I don't need acceleration as much as I need lower RPM at highway speed. As is the Hannigan has ample off the line acceleration but it is not a wheel standing launch anyway so Hot Rodding is not an interest. I am building the 1st gen (Goldie) to be the Hot Rod trike...

[Cougar]

HMS rear diff ratio is 3.27

Edited May 14, 2014 by Cougar

[bongobobny]

Ok then if necessary I will bump up to low 3.4's...