ALLOWABLE TIRE SIZES

[Ronald Cubel]

TIRES

In the early years (1957-1961)the tires for karts came from Quarter miget Racing. These tires had a big square lip on one side and were used to create the handling on a RIDGID frame Kart. Alot of the early karts used a weight forward / ridgid design like race cars did.
(Simplex, Moss, PuttNik, Exterminator, Evans, Blackhawk, ect, ect) These tires came in sizes 3.50X(4,5,6) 4.10X(4,5,6) The exception to this was Carlile they did not have the lip just square edges. Recaps had about any edge you wanted. Very tall tires 11 and 12 inch were used because alot of the engine could not use small clutch gears so they had to clear big rear sprockets. Recaps could offer about any compound you wanted but most stayed with hard (Bicycling).



Buy 1961 the FLEX frame karts started to take over the market (GoKart, Bug, Dart, Fox, ect, ect) This chassi design required LESS tire width to handle. (Let someone else talk about Frame designs in detail) and no longer required the big lip on one side. This is when the nero tires stated to come into there own. Bacic tire sizes at that time would be 410/350X 4 (nero,wide)340/300X5 (nero, wide) 410/350X5 (nero,regular,wide) These tires used a hard compound and have square edges on both sides. A WIDE TIRE WAS NOT REQUIRED TO MAKE THE KARTS HANDLE MOST WERE FASTER ON REGULAR WIDTH TIRES.


Tires stayed the same until the mid to late sixties when the 11 inch tires came out 11X350.5 11X450.5 11X600.5 This would be the super slicks and later the Blue Streaks. These tire were used on the late rear engine karts like the new breed, chapperal, sprint but they really helped the early sidewinders like the stinger ect ect. these tire were hard but had a different sidewall design (still stiff)

After this starting in about 76 they went to a 10.5 tire then an 10 inch tire changing the sidewall design as they went and the compound got softer and softer.

I am sure there are exceptions to what I have said this is just a general look at the history.

Even if your compound is hard, if the sidewall design is wrong for the vintage of the kart you can run into real problems in handling.

Sorry about the spelling but I cann't find spell check and in a hurry.

Ron Cubel

[Jim Waltz]

Ron, good stuff from you as always. Stay dry in the desert! Jim

[John Swartout]

There is an article on slicks in the June, 1960 Karting World magazine, and a KW test on most of the slicks that were available at that time in the December,1960 Karting World mag.


John

[Tom Davis]

Ron....I readed it twist and ther ain't a dang thin rong witten it??

At least we didn't have to press 1.
TD

[Jim Waltz]

John,

Do you have copies of these articles?

[John Swartout]

Yes Jim,

If you send me a PM with your regular postal address, I will send them to you.


John

[ted johnson]

Tom, be nice! Them Nero slicks is what they used to use on the Roman chariots! They raced in the Coliseum while Rome burned! I think I was there along with Duffy and Faye... TJ

[Jim Waltz]

You guys is funny......................

[Rob Voska]

Just to be 100% clear. Vintage Speed tires are NOT legal at REAR events.

[Jim Waltz]

As the old saying goes: "Every clarification breeds new questions."

What tires specifically are you referring to?

Is "Vintage Speed" a brand name?

If you could clarify, so as to be 100% clear........

(Of course, this is why I have asked for someone to write this up somewhere - so it could be clear to a newcomer like myself. Seems like there are more questions than answers in this area.)