Ice Tires.. and a few more ???'s

[chris200x]

So I was wondering what size tires most of you guys plan on running for this winter. I see the cheng shins are available in 18x9.5x8, 20x11x9 or 22x8x10.

http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/tpl/ti...afCatId=&mmyId=

I have both 8 and 9 inch rims I can use,, and my bike is already geared for the 20" mudlights I'm running for the trails... but that odd 9.5" on the 18 inch tires has me a bit confused. I'm not sure if they'll fit on the rims I have available.

SO I guess my question is should I just go with the 20's?

Would running 18's make that much of a diffrence? would I have to go with a +2 over stock front sprocket to compensate?

Anyone know off hand how many studs each of those cheng shin knobbies take? (# of knobs per tire?)

I already have a front studded with regular sheet metal screws. It seemed to work pretty good last year up at raffa's ice fest.. Would I be able to restud them with cold cutters without running into any problems?


I'll have a few more questions but we'll start off with these couple first.

[88 Turbo Coupe]

Popular size is 18x9.5-8 chens 826. 8x8 wheels. 320 screws per tire. You might have a sealing problem. Use silcone under the head or go with a screw with a larger shank.

[eddie pettengil]

I would run the 18 inch tires and adjust the gearing with sprockets. 18 inch tires will get you lower to the ground than the 20 inch tire (lower is better). The cheng shins 18x9.5x8 will take 320 studs per tire. One stud per nobby. Get rid of the sheet metal screws and do it right. I would screw the new studs in different holes on the front (just in case). I think your 8 inch rim will work fine.

[chris200x]

thanks guys.. Eddie, I believe I used sheet metal screws what were pretty long (over an inch) on the front. so if I took them out I'd have to use the cold kutters in the same holes.

My next questions have to do with lowering the 350x. ChrisD touched on it last year up at raffa's but I probably had too many Blue Moon's in me to remember that coversation.

I've never been inside a set of forks before. What exactly needs to be done with the front. (I know about sliding the forks up in the triples) but I believe some of those guys took the caps off the forks and either removed the spacers or the springs. Can someone refresh my memory on what exactly needs to be done.

What about the rear shock? Is a lowering link needed or is one available? Or is there a diffrent (or cheaper way) to go about lowering down the rear end.

Thanks guys... I'm gettin pumped about getting out on the ice this year. Hopefully I got over my fears and wont be running for the shore when the ice pops this time around.

[brapp]

chris i just pulled the 3 inch spring off the front ther eisnt much airtime ont he lake and theb u can turn the preload down alot and take soem of the travek out of the rear shock.

[chris200x]

chris i just pulled the 3 inch spring off the front ther eisnt much airtime ont he lake and theb u can turn the preload down alot and take soem of the travek out of the rear shock.

Someone want to translate that into English for me?! Sorry bud.. I couldn't resist!

The preload? Is that the knob on the shock rezzy or the adjustment on top of the spring? what's that little black knob on the bottom of the shock for?

[eddie pettengil]

Chris, I did the same thing years ago. I used 1 inch screws in the front tires. Last year I took all the screws out and tried to stud them again and it leaked bad. I ended up buying a tube for the tire and used 1/2 inch studs. It worked great.

You are going to be really sorry if you get the good ice racing tires on the back and not do the front the right way. You will have so much grip on the rear and the front will just slide.

These other mods you want to do will be useless untill you get a good set of studded tires all the way around the trike.

[honda250sx]

18 chengs shins, 8x8 rim.
500 screws per tire.
Sheet metal screws ain't cutting the mustard.
Get some kold kutters.
I personally use shoegoe. Its a rubber cement product. Sold @ home depot.
15-20 psi in each rear. Don't want any side wall flex.

[honda250sx]

18's will allow you to slide in the corners. 20's provide too much traction.

[chris200x]

Hmm,, I thought I remember hearing that you could remove the rear shock linkage to lower the rear. can't remeber tho..

So would I also have to replace the chain going up to a bigger front sprocket? Looks as if I'll be spending a few hundred on these mods so I wanna make sure I get it right the first time.

I noticed last year I had a wobble running those wheel spacers. Where the heck do I get the right fine thread metric bolts to properly run the stock rims with the tapered lugnuts??? Someone posted a link a while back but I cannot find it.

Oh btw... one guys says 500 per tire another says 320?!?! 1000 screws wont be enough to properly stud 3 new tires?

[honda250sx]

To run a good pattern you will need 500 per tire. 320 not sure where that came from. Maybe he counted lugs? I run two per lug in some areas. But I run a certain pattern. I also do things to the lugs. And run the pattern a certain way to make sure the ice is clearing properly.

You need metric 10 x 1.25mm pitch bolts. Not sure how long. Not sure what spacers you are running. If there the plastic ones I'd junk them. They ain't worth a hoot.

Possibly get some 300ex style hubs I think it is. That should put you near the width you have with spacers. You probably have 3+5 offset wheels right?

[chris200x]

I was using these spacers. 2 3/4". With the offset on the OMF beadlocks I was a tad over 52" across the back. The stock rims I have take the tapered lugnut.

The only grade 8 bolts I can find locally were standard. Gotta be at least 4 1/4" or longer....

I'd just be using one stud per knob on those tires.. those screws are expensive.

[88 Turbo Coupe]

320 lugs on the chens, 1 screw per....

[fabiodriven]

I'm hearin alot of hate towards the plastic wheel spacers. Are they that bad? I've got a set and was planning on running 'em on the ice. Is that a bad idea?

[chris200x]

To run a good pattern you will need 500 per tire. 320 not sure where that came from. Maybe he counted lugs? I run two per lug in some areas. But I run a certain pattern. I also do things to the lugs. And run the pattern a certain way to make sure the ice is clearing properly.

You need metric 10 x 1.25mm pitch bolts. Not sure how long. Not sure what spacers you are running. If there the plastic ones I'd junk them. They ain't worth a hoot.

Possibly get some 300ex style hubs I think it is. That should put you near the width you have with spacers. You probably have 3+5 offset wheels right?

If you get a chance can you post a pic of the tire pattern you ran?

Fabio.. Those spacers should be just fine if your only ice racing..

My buddy that I ride with has a 300ex.. never crossed my mind about checking the hubs.