Trike rear tires?

[Rams]

Bought my Valkyrie Trike earlier this summer and have ridden the heck out of it.   I've still got good tread on those back tires but, to be honest, I'm not sure I'll ever wear them out due to the difference in weight they were designed to carry versus the weight they carry on the trike.

The reason I'm looking at replacing them is age.   They are getting old.

So with that, I'm looking for a wet weather rain tire to put on the rear.   It's a known fact that fat tires more easily hydroplane on wet surfaces and with these fat girls and way less weight than they were designed to carry, I'm thinking a good rain tire might be a better choice.

Any comments/suggestions are welcomed.  Don't really care if they throw up a rooster tail or not.  

Rams

[Tazman11]

I have a 1999 Valkyrie Motor Trike. Love the Valk’s. I bought mine this summer with 10,000 miles and original 22 year old tires. Plenty of tread life but died from old age. I replaced them with BF Goodrich TA Radials. It is what is came with from Motor Trike. I had these on one of my vehicles before and really liked them.

I don’t do rain unless I’m caught out in it so wet highways was not a concern. I can tell you for certain, the ride and traction are unbelievable with new soft tires. I replaced the front with a Metzer 088 and feel it was a good choice (replaced the original Avon.)

Enjoy the Valk.

[Tazman11]

You might ask at Trike Talk. Lots of opinions and experience there. Just don’t ask about oil.

https://www.triketalk.com/forum/forum.php

[Jess from VA]

Some guys are running these darkside, but they seem like they might be good all weather/season tires for a trike too.  https://www.michelinman.com/auto/tires/michelin-cross-climate-plus

Hard to beat Michelins

[Rams]

Some guys are running these darkside, but they seem like they might be good all weather/season tires for a trike too.  https://www.michelinman.com/auto/tires/michelin-cross-climate-plus

Hard to beat Michelins

That is some interesting and unique tread.  Not sure about how well they'll do in wet surfaces but, I'll look into them.

Rams

[matt]

The Michelin xclimate 2 tire is an awesome tire. Its quiet, handle dry,  rain and snow. I know I don't have a trike but I believe it will be my next darkside on my valk

Matt

[Willow]

...   It's a known fact that fat tires more easily hydroplane on wet surfaces and with these fat girls and way less weight than they were designed to carry, I'm thinking a good rain tire might be a better choice.
...

I'm not certain about that known fact.  I don't ride a tricycle but on my bike my experience is the not-designed-for-motorcycle tire performs better on wet roads than does the more rounded made-for-motorcycle tire.

[Warlock]

...   It's a known fact that fat tires more easily hydroplane on wet surfaces and with these fat girls and way less weight than they were designed to carry, I'm thinking a good rain tire might be a better choice.
...

I'm not certain about that known fact.  I don't ride a tricycle but on my bike my experience is the not-designed-for-motorcycle tire performs better on wet roads than does the more rounded made-for-motorcycle tire.

On trikes wide tires looks good, but are not so great on wet roads. I'm running a 215/65/15 on back of my trike and next tires will be a 205/70/15. I had the 235 size on mine that they installed from Motortrike. Real bad about hydroplane. I never had issues either with the car tire on back of my 2 wheel Valkyries. Plan on the Yokohama tire next time I  install new tires.
David

[John Schmidt]

The rear on my trike has Kuhmo model Solus KH16, 215/55r16. I can't find a mfg. date on them at the moment, will have to take a closer look in the daylight. As for rain, the last day I was on the road after Inzane I was in and out of rain all day for 450 miles leaving out of central Illinois, headed for the Green Bay area. Performance was good, couldn't complain about traction in curves, stopping, etc. There's nothing exotic about the tread pattern, soon as I find out the age I'll know how to proceed before next summer. The conversion was done in 2011 and my bet is those are the original tires. The PO didn't ride much...or maintain either for that matter. Was a real piece of work!

[Rams]

...   It's a known fact that fat tires more easily hydroplane on wet surfaces and with these fat girls and way less weight than they were designed to carry, I'm thinking a good rain tire might be a better choice.
...

I'm not certain about that known fact.  I don't ride a tricycle but on my bike my experience is the not-designed-for-motorcycle tire performs better on wet roads than does the more rounded made-for-motorcycle tire.

Willow, you may be correct on the tire you're running versus the original motorcycle tire it came with but, on wet surfaces a wider tire is more prone to hydroplaning and will much faster.   It's true on cages with wide tires and even on my dually Ram pickup versus a single rear wheel 3500 pickup and motorcycles.   More surface area to "plane" over a wet surface.    Weight plays a major role in that effect also.   

Rams

[3W-lonerider]

whatever tire you choose to go with, my recommendation is stay away from high mileage tires. the higher mileage the tire is rated for the harder the compound, those tires are going to be the absolute worse on wet roads. i always got on tirerack and done research on best wet weather tires. those are going to be a softer compound and better as far as traction. also i would go down to a 205 width. all trike companies have went with 205's because of the hydroplaning issue. iv'e also went to my local tire dealer that i absolutly trust with their recommendations and gotten tires that i never gave a thought to and they worked great.  as far as tire pressure. i played with all pressure settings from 18 to 28. what worked best for me was 22 to 24#

[Rams]

whatever tire you choose to go with, my recommendation is stay away from high mileage tires. the higher mileage the tire is rated for the harder the compound, those tires are going to be the absolute worse on wet roads. i always got on tirerack and done research on best wet weather tires. those are going to be a softer compound and better as far as traction. also i would go down to a 205 width. all trike companies have went with 205's because of the hydroplaning issue.

This is precisely what I plan to do.   I'm not concerned and not looking for a high mileage tire.   Just my opinion but, any tire ratings for a cage will most likely last double the mileage on a trike.   I'm looking for wet weather/rain tires.  Not too concerned about getting wider tires either.   Although height is something I will consider carefully.   The tires currently on the trike just barely clear the fender wells and IMHO, that's too big.   When it rains, I slow down.   That trip across parts of KS, all of Missouri and part of KY (all in a constant rain) convinced me I don't need to be in a hurry when it's raining. 

Rams

[old2soon]

     Most if not All tires made these days have traction and wear data on the side wall. I'll have to go out and look at the model of the wally wurld I have on Phatt Ghurl. I KNOW it has an asymetric pattern tread and wet or dry and hard launches it HOOKS UP! And while you probably won't fly one wheel or the other when I do Lean it IS predictable all the way through the curve(s). As an after thought maybe convert to two M/C tires on the rear?  RIDE SAFE.

[LadyDraco]

Bought my Valkyrie Trike earlier this summer and have ridden the heck out of it.   I've still got good tread on those back tires but, to be honest, I'm not sure I'll ever wear them out due to the difference in weight they were designed to carry versus the weight they carry on the trike.

The reason I'm looking at replacing them is age.   They are getting old.

So with that, I'm looking for a wet weather rain tire to put on the rear.   It's a known fact that fat tires more easily hydroplane on wet surfaces and with these fat girls and way less weight than they were designed to carry, I'm thinking a good rain tire might be a better choice.

Any comments/suggestions are welcomed.  Don't really care if they throw up a rooster tail or not.  

Rams

What size  rims ?
 

I have been using Goodyear triple  tread for 12+  years and  have  loved them.
It was like  they were made  for a  trike.

They were great in wet and snow .What ever I tossed  at them. Dirt, gravel,grass .
Sadly they stopped  making my size.. So that's forcing me  to start looking at other tires  now..

I like a 195,over the 205.. Didn't  think I would ,  but in 12 yrs, I liked how  nice  they fit in the wheel wells. If  I'm really loading my bike  up, Yeah I still use it like a  workhorse.


But anyhow here  are  a few  that caught my eye.

 



I have  been looking at  a few .. But if  you have  15" rims,  you have a  much better  selection.
I prefer radical treads, and radials . 






This  one  really looks  interesting .

[Rams]

Bought my Valkyrie Trike earlier this summer and have ridden the heck out of it.   I've still got good tread on those back tires but, to be honest, I'm not sure I'll ever wear them out due to the difference in weight they were designed to carry versus the weight they carry on the trike.

The reason I'm looking at replacing them is age.   They are getting old.

So with that, I'm looking for a wet weather rain tire to put on the rear.   It's a known fact that fat tires more easily hydroplane on wet surfaces and with these fat girls and way less weight than they were designed to carry, I'm thinking a good rain tire might be a better choice.

Any comments/suggestions are welcomed.  Don't really care if they throw up a rooster tail or not.  

Rams

What size  rims ?
 

I have been using Goodyear triple  tread for 12+  years and  have  loved them.
It was like  they were made  for a  trike.

They were great in wet and snow .What ever I tossed  at them. Dirt, gravel,grass .
Sadly they stopped  making my size.. So that's forcing me  to start looking at other tires  now..

I like a 195,over the 205.. Didn't  think I would ,  but in 12 yrs, I liked how  nice  they fit in the wheel wells. If  I'm really loading my bike  up, Yeah I still use it like a  workhorse.


But anyhow here  are  a few  that caught my eye.

 



I have  been looking at  a few .. But if  you have  15" rims,  you have a  much better  selection.
I prefer radical treads, and radials . 






This  one  really looks  interesting .

Thanks for the response, I like the last two you mentioned as far as tread pattern goes.   My current tire may in fact be the original tires put on by Motor Trike.   I am looking to replace them soon.   My money tree is still not producing but, hoping it's a fall producer. 

The tires on my Fatter Lady are 235X60-15.   That's too wide in my opinion on wet roads.   Will go with a narrow and most likely taller tire (hopefully, a rain tire) next.   Again, thanks for the response.

Rams

[3W-lonerider]

if i were you i would really think about using a taller tire. when you install the rake kit. if you go with a taller tire and the rear is sitting higher than the front your going to diminish the effectiveness of that rake kit.  you want that trike sitting level. not look like a 70's muscle car with air shocks.

[Rams]

if i were you i would really think about using a taller tire. when you install the rake kit. if you go with a taller tire and the rear is sitting higher than the front your going to diminish the effectiveness of that rake kit.  you want that trike sitting level. not look like a 70's muscle car with air shocks.

Yeah, thought about that also.   Getting the rake kit put on next week hopefully.   We'll see how she sits once that's done.  It'll be a couple of paydays before those tires get ordered/bought so.............

Rams 

[Jersey mike]

Those Goodyear triple treads were great on my Camry.

I have to ask does speed rating come into play with the trikes?

[LadyDraco]

Also I  have  14" rims  so the height  is  never  an issue,
It always  took  a  70...


JM, I  never  truly worried about the  speed rating for the rear..
I  have  had  GY up to 128 and   they felt good..

After  all we  all know , trikes  don't  go over 55 mph 

[3W-lonerider]

Those Goodyear triple treads were great on my Camry.

I have to ask does speed rating come into play with the trikes?

never gave that any thought. but i always got tires that had at least a 130 mph rating. but only carring half the air pressure and only having half the weight on them i'm not sure it makes a difference.

[..]

After  all we  all know , trikes  don't  go over 55 mph 

 

[Jess from VA]

This will probably disperse rainfall.      Snow too.