GOCART TYRES

Unlike vehicles tyres use on normal road to cater for different road conditions, gokart

has specific tyres for dry or wet track so that drivers can have maximum

performances and grips from the tyres. Slick and wet tyres are two main types tyres

used in karting.

A slick tyre does not have grooves on the tyre. Slick tyre as shown in Figure 1

in the following page is used when the track is dry.

Figure 1: Typical go-kart slick tyre (Sava, 2010)

On the other hand, wet tyres which are grooved are used in order to have more grips

when the track is slippery. Hence, for track conditions that are in wet conditions, wet

tyre as shown in Figure 2 will be employed.

Figure 2: Typical go-kart wet tyre (Sava, 2)

Everybody can use tires of their choice. The rims must be fitted with pneumatic tires

(with or without tubes). The number of wheels is set at four. Only the tires may come in contact

with the ground when the Driver is on board. By set of tires is meant 2 front tires and 2 rear

tires. The simultaneous use of tires of different makes or of “slick” and “wet weather” tires on

a kart can be used. The attachment of the wheels to the axles must incorporate a safety locking

system (such as split pins or self-locking nuts, circlips, etc.). The use of rims complying with

the technicai drawing is compulsery:

Figure 3 Rim Specification

1.Coupling diameter of the tire for 5-inch rims: 126.2mm with a +0/-1 mm tolerance for hump

rim diameters and for screw-type rim diameters.

2. Width of the tire housing: 10 mm minimum.

3. External diameter for 5 inch rims: 136.2 mm minimum.

4. Radius to facilitate the balance of the tire in its housing: 8 mm.

5. Maximum pressure for assembly: 4 Bar.

6. Tire burst resistance test with fluid at an 8 Bar Pressure.

This rim must be manufactured in accordance with the technical drawing

Tires should be 5” internal diameter. The maximum exterior diameter of the front wheel

is 280 mm and of rear wheel is 300 mm. The maximum width of rear wheel is 215mm and

maximum width of front wheel is 135mm

 IMPORTANT ASPETS WHILE CHOOSING A TYRE

1: Side Walls Probably One Of The Most Important Considerations

There are different style sidewalls, and this is probably the most important thing to you as a consumer,
you may want a stiff side wall, or you may want a soft sidewall, it depends on the application. If you are
dealing with an offroad application, you may want a softer tire so that the tire acts as a suspension unit
itself. It helps cushion the load when you are hitting heavy bumps and rough terrain.

But on a go kart that you are dealing with on a track, you want some stiff sidewall tires. The reason for
that is when you try to corner the tire itself will actually bole over or bend. It is not something that you
want to happen. You can change the geometry of you front wheels so that they are canted a little bit
that helps in cornering, in that the forces will tend to go more vectorly through the tire and cause it to
bend less.

If all that you have is a tire that is relatively low grade and you have a certain style rim, it wouldn’t hurt
to put your tires at an angle so that tires won’t bend. But the better of the options would be to get a
tire that doesn’t bend and has a very stiff side wall. You are going to pay more money for that.

The tires that I use are basically turf tires. They work relatively well, especially for the ones in the rear. I
would actually advise using a larger tire in the front because they are stiffer, they have a stiffer side
wall. The tires that I have on my go kart right now, has a smaller front tire. The reason for that is
because that is what I had. I got it off of a gokart and that is what it had.

2: Tire Size Up Front...

The smaller tire up front is typically what you find on older go karts. The reasoning for that is it is easier
to steer, there is less kick back in the stearing system, less rotational intertia in the tires, and it is more
manageable.

I personally don’t like the smaller tires because they bole over, or bend in turning. Larger tires are
usually put in the rear for traction in power and cornering.

If you look at a racing go kart that has a fifty-fifty weight distribution, typically the rear tires are larger,
they are designed for traction during acceleration and for cornering, because you have a little bit more
weight in the rear, and the front tires have less weight on them, that is why they are a little bit smaller.
The diameter are typically the same, but the widths are different.

3.Tire Plying...Whats That?

Tires come in plies. There are different types of plies. You can get steel plies, or nylon cord ply. If
you want more information on actual tires I would suggest that you visit the tire manufacturer sites.

You can also get tires that have no tubes in them. Some racers run tires without tubes, and the
reason for that is that it reduces the amount of rotation inertia.
But as far as, if you are making your own go cart, I would highly recommend that you put a tube in
the tire, because you are going to run into a lot of aggravation, especially if you are using an old rim
from an old lawnmower. You want to not have to worry about the tire going flat all the time, so I
would suggest that you invest in some tubes. Tubes keep the tires from going flat.

Also make sure that when the neck of the filler nipple comes out the rim that it is not being pinched.
You can aid in preventing tears by actually wrapping a little electrical tape around the nipple as it exits
the rim. Now another way that you can also take a file to the rim edge and file off the sharp corners
to prevent it from cutting into the tube. And another way, also as well is to take a piece of electrical
tape wrap in the hole to keep it from digging into the filler neck.

4.Tire Care...Tire Pressure Is Important For Wear Ect...

As far as tire care is concerned, make sure that you check your tires every time that you go
out. One way that I do that is that I just jump on the tires and make sure that they have the same
kind of pressure feel to them. You can use a tire gauge and make sure that you do not over pressure
it.

Typically a tire is rated at 10 psi to around 35 psi, it depends on how large and what style tire it
is. The higher the pressure, obviously, the harder the tire. If you want a hard tire for stiff sidewall
cornering, but one of the things that happens when you over inflate a tire, the center of the contact
tread tends to crown out, and you will wear the center of the tire more than it need to be. So typically
the way you inflate a tire is to make sure it is as it is designed, so it will not have a crown on it. It will
actually sit flat on the road.

If you under inflate your tires the center of the tire will not actually wear properly. The edges will. It
is important that you the tires to the rated pressure, to make sure they are contacting the road as the
design intended.

If you are driving off road it is not as critical. Like I said before, you can have your pressures a little
bit lower so that you are not killing your go kart frame.

It is an aid to have the pressures a little bit lower when you are driving out in softer conditions. One
of the things that you need to be aware of is that the softer the tire the more grab, and if you are
doing any stunts or side cornering it will actually grab more than you would expect and you may tend
to get into a rolling or flipping situation before you really realize it.

5.Tire Pressure Is Important For Stability

So understand that a softer tire has more grip and when you do a cornering operation, or actually try
to do a wipe out of some sort, you may actually grab tighter than you wanted to and put the go kart
into a roll.

If you are afraid that a go kart could get into a roll, then one of the things you need to do is to take a
look at the roll center of the go kart and actually calculate how much force is required to tip the go
kart over with a man in it.

You will want to lower the center of gravity of the go kart by getting it as close to the ground as
possible.
This is beyond tires at this point, but it is important to understand the roll characteristics of the go
kart.

For example if you have really sticky tires and you do not have the go kart really set up properly you
can actually roll it. The discussion of suspension systems and stability is discussed in other articles.
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF TYRES WITH SPECIFICATIONS

5" Ribbed Tires for Go Karts

11X400X5, 2Ply Tubeless Rib Tread Ttre

5" Rib Go Kart & Mini Bike Tires

There are 2 methods used to measure tires:

1: If a "x" separates the 1st 2 sets of numbers the 1st number is the overall diameter of the tire.
The 2nd number is the overall width. The last number represents the rim diameter.

2: Used for smaller and industrial tires. If a "/" separates the 1st 2 sets of numbers the 1st
number is the overall width of the tire. The 2nd number identifies the section height. This is the
measurement from the crown to the bead of the tire. The last number is the rim diameter. The
overall diameter of the tire is D + D + C. So for a 4.10/3.50-4 tire the overall diameter is 11" (3.5
+ 3.5 + 4).

5" Slicks for Go Karts & Mini Bikes

4.10 X 3.50 X 5 Slick Tire 4 Ply Tube Type

5" Studded or Knobby Tires for Go Karts &

Mini Bikes
410 X 350 X 5 Stud Tire 2 Ply Tubeless

5" Turf Saver Tires for Go Karts & Mini

Bikes
11 X 400 X 5 Tire Turf 2 Ply Tubeless

11X400X5, 2Ply Tubeless Turf Saver Tire

 TYRES SIZE AND HOW TO READ IT

Here are two examples of tire sizes, and how to read them:

• 22 X 11.00 – 8 this tire is 22″ in diameter, 11″ wide, and fits on an 8″ rim

• 145/70-6 this tire is 145 mm wide, 70% of its width is the distance between the rim
and the tread (aspect ratio) and it fits on 6″ rims. FYI: the diameter of this tire is 14″,
which can be calculated by multiplying 145mm by .7, multiplying that figure by two,
converting it to inches, then adding the rim diameter to that figure.
TYRES AND RIM AVAILABLE ONLINE WITH COST