My 27 T roadster weighs about 1900 pounds. The front tires that were on it when I bought it are 5.10 x 16" which appear to be motorcycle tires. They are on old Ford wire wheels. They are old and worn and I want to replace them. Car tires that are about the same size are twice as much as motorcycle tires. Is there any advantage to the more expensive car tires, or should I get new motorcycle tires? Thanks
Get car tires. They have a squared-off profile, which puts more rubber on the pavement for steering and braking, and they're designed for lateral (sideways) loads. Motorcycles lean into turns, so their tires have a half-circle profile (or V-shaped on modern sportbikes) and don't need to withstand lateral loading. 5.00x16 Firestones are traditional and would look right.
Scooter tires work but are not optimal. I would run 'em if they were all I could afford. I cannot imagine that you can buy them for less than car tires, I just put the radial equivalent of a 5.00x16 on the back of my hawg and it cost me @ 180. I don't pay retail. The most common size for a 16" Motorcycle tire is a 5.00, in the '80s Avon and Firestone ( and I think Dunlop) marketed a 5.10x16 they were a low profile tire made to run on the rear of a 500-700 pound motor cycle. Volkswagon size tires can be had for about 80-100 dollars a copy. They work well on a rod.
Guys like to run motor cycle tires with white walls because they have white on both sides of the tire for the cool look. If yours are not like that and don't care about that then I would run car tires. They started putting motor cycle tires on drag cars long ago for size and weight. If it's gonna be a driven all the time the car tires will hold the weight better. Some also just like the roundness of a motorcycle tire and that they are also cheaper.
There are actually a pair of 5.00x16 Continentals on the back of my A sedan now, they are rollers and I won't be running them. they are not as rounded off as most more modern tires, they are supposed to look like old goodyears. Way back when you could get good years and Stones that were very flat almost like a car tire. You are correct with your history by the way they used to run scooter tires on drag cars. The Ol' Man adapted Harley wheels ( sans brakes) to the altered. They were light and worked well. They did get run on the street but we are talking late '50s and early '60s and there was not a lot of difference in the tires for a Harley and car tires. it is funny how times have changed, now the tires even come marked front and rear for a bike.
One more thing to consider: On my h-d with 16" wheels/tires I get about 15 - 17K miles out of a front tire and about 11 - 12K on a rear. I don't know if or how that translates to a car tire but I would think that in the long run car tires would be less expensive due to more frequent replacement costs down the road.
The motorcycle tires look cool but due to the design they tend to wear quicker. A tire designed for a VW would probably be a good replacement. HRP
You are correct on tire wear. I am running a Dunlop Elite on the rear and it is considered to be a high mileage tire it will probably go 10-15K. They used to actually build a long mile bike tire but not any more. The new compounds allow to go hell bent for election in about any weather but they are soft.
VW wheels are 15". Not sure about the newer models. I found some pretty cool tires for lowered fronts (but again 15s) that were made for Smart Cars.
My original suggestion didn't take wheel diameter into account. So I sent everyone off in the wrong direction. If bias plies are what are needed a farm supply store is a good avenue for inexpensive 16" tires. lots of farmers still use them believe it or not. I paid 100 apiece (to my door) for the 7.50x16 mud and snows for my old willys. Street tires were less expensive and could be had in narrower. "Well there is no farm store or coop near me," try google that was how I found mine.
The other thing to think about is the Rim Profile for Motorcycle tires and Car tires is DIFFERENT! This is by D.O.T. standards that rim manufacturer's have to adhere to, I used to manufacture motorcycle wheels, so this I know. Car tires on bike rims and vice versa are Not a safe idea. Now it is also possible that those skinny 16" rims are motorcycle to begin with!
I have 6.00x16 in front and 7.50x16 on the rear on my 27 Roadster on 32 Rails. They are Firestones and are mounted on 34 Ford Wires.
Listen to Don here. I have been playing with both for a very long time. They are different at least since the inception of D.O.T. I got some model A wheels in the garage that are probably pretty close to being motor cycle rims but we have some a long way since then. You may note that in my original quote "were all that I could afford" is the pivotal point in the sentence. A lot of the decisions in my life when it comes to my cars or bikes had to do with economics. My bikes and or hot rods have always been my primary source of transportation. Most hot rodders are not me and they have other forms of transportation. On a hot rod that is not your primary transportation economics should not be the deciding factor when it comes to safely operating the vehicle. It can wait a bit for the proper equipment and not alter your life one iota.
i have been running front dual witewalls mc tires on my rdst pu, a light car, since 2001, no problems
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