I admit I was checking out some scooter tyres. They look the goods but possibly a bit heavy and hard. Definitely worth trying
The main ones we see are 10" 12" 13" 14" 15" 16", haven't seen any 12.5"

I love the look of the scooter wheels plus they weigh less then a lot of other wheel I have looked at. I found some real nice ones for $29.00 U.S. and that includes the aluminum rim, bearings, tube and tire. Desertyank I am on the Maine seacoast and I have been looking at the wheels on northern tools site as I buy equipment from them. Have you used wheels from them and if so which ones? I see a couple 8"x4" and they are priced right. Again thanks for the help

What about these ones you got desertyank?? I think they are about as good as you can get.


"This is a site for the wheels. I have no idea where You can get them in OZ, but I got them from a go-kart supplier here in CA.

http://www.azusaeng.com/wheels/whls8a.html#anchor8inch%20alum

cheers, john"

cisco said...

What about these ones you got desertyank?? I think they are about as good as you can get.

Good call... here'a a pic...



They're gonna cost more, but i don't know how much. I got mine a few years ago...

Nikrum said...

Hi,
Just finished reading your queries about Wheels. I like the looks of those Alloy Rims myself. Do you have a WEB Address? I am thinking of replacing my wheels with the stronger 16" scooter wheels.

Now for the cheap Chinese Barrow Wheels. I have bought 3 and found them not too bad but the tires are not the greatest. The main problem with these wheels is that the central hub bearing bearing receiver area is purely designed for the Cheap Barrow style bearings i.e. they have a recess to receive a flanged bearing . The remainder is virtually an unfinished through tube to the other side of the hub, this means, that you have to fit some kind of spacer tube to hold the higher quality bearings or machine the Bearing recess deeper. You have to knock out the original bearing to find out how it works. I have wheelbarrow which I swapped the wheel and Tyre from, it looked identical until I removed the bearings and this wheel was properly recessed to receive a good bearing. Upshot; Watch what you are buying very carefully
Ron

Fallshaw can supply plastic inserts which will replace the flanged 1 inch bearings
with 20mm high speed bearings You will need to make spacers though

Here is the site I found the scooter wheels on and they have a complete wheel set up rim, tube, tire and bearings for $29.00 U.S.www.electricscooterparts.com/wheels.html#pocketbikewheels I have also looked at go cart wheels and ATV wheel but they are pricey and this is my first build. My main thing is I am trying to build this land yacht from parts I get for free from Criags List or the dump, just to show people that stuff that they have no use for still has penty of uses for others. So here is a new question, Could I use small pedal bike tires as there are always some of those kids BMX bikes at the dump that have those 5 spoke glasse reinforced plastic rims?

suggest you use low magnesium mags and old hang glider spars (that what I used to cast the rudder boxes on my taipan-possible to harden to about T6 maybe more), cans are too pure but good to adjust heat of the melt. Might even be worth considering incorporating a boss to mount a push bike or pocket rocket disc-brake

nighttide said...

Here is the site I found the scooter wheels on and they have a complete wheel set up rim, tube, tire and bearings for $29.00 U.S.www.electricscooterparts.com/wheels.html#pocketbikewheels I have also looked at go cart wheels and ATV wheel but they are pricey and this is my first build. My main thing is I am trying to build this land yacht from parts I get for free from Criags List or the dump, just to show people that stuff that they have no use for still has penty of uses for others. So here is a new question, Could I use small pedal bike tires as there are always some of those kids BMX bikes at the dump that have those 5 spoke glasse reinforced plastic rims?

Those 5 spokes would be fine if you remove the centres and replace with a bigger shaft/ bearing system, except at the front hwre you can mount on a fork.
keep in mind with wheel sizes , most wheelbarrows/bikes the measurement is the rim size, often with motorized stuff the size is the overall tyre size. so you need to check on the overall wheelsize. If you lay your hands on 6"x6" gocart rims they will fit a 6" centred aircraft tyre which are often available free from aerodromes

Couple of things'
Check out the "new rule" for minis.
I am sure that you will find that the stiff wall of scooter tyres will hurt the performance. There is a difference between 2 and 4 ply tyres.
It's ONLY the cycle industry (ie pedal cycles) that use the overall diameter, nothing motorised except the markings on drag and speedway tyres. 15" rim for everything is 15" where the tyre seats. (as is 8", 10" etc)

Nighttide,
Well I guess you are starting to regret having asked about wheels.
Somewhere along the track Landyacht got involved, mentioning Aircraft tires and Go Kart Rims.
I did my research and finished up at my local Airfield after having inquired at the Launceston Airport yesterday (Goose).
I have 3 tires of which I will add pic's there also a couple of pic's of Chinese Barrow Wheel construction one of which could be possibly useful. The other------well it would take a bit of engineering but both tires will need a lot of safety testing to be sure. Dang! Landyacht! I hate it when you always seem to be right.
Please note that the Air Trac tyre has bee chalked to show important detail. The Air Trac is a softer 6 ply and after having looked et other brands I would suggest they would be too hard in the side wall and could just about run airless.








]
The Wheels are as pictured the one with the Fluted center is the best the other has less material in the hub and could workharden and crack up.
Ron

If you lay your hands on 6"x6" gocart rims they will fit a 6" centred aircraft tyre which are often available free from aerodromes To paraphrase Mr Landyacht about half a dozen back
If he doesn't know then I'm going to have a Hell-uv-a-Stuff-up on my hands.. and I doubt there will be any stuff ups.
Going on what has gone before I gather that a soft ride is needed, not having piloted one of these Beasts as yet so I can't be sure but I should imagine a chat with Swami Landyacht will make you "Full Bottle" Ok? That Air Trac Feels realy nice and should be the ticket as a soft sided 6 ply, is alls I'm saying.
Landyacht when I'm done with you you will have the whole planet following you about wanting to Kiss your Butt.

This is Earth to Swami Landyacht, landyacht "Come In"
Gees! I kill me [}:)]

oldMXer said...

in a thread maybe a year ago actual tire weight was discussed, heavier tires being slow to accelerate. i land yacht only on asphalt and can definitely feel a difference between a light 2 ply and heavier 4 ply. 2 ply feels responsive to the wind (squirty), where a heavier tire has a lag feeling to it and i don't feel the acceleration near as well. give me cheap 2 ply and 30-35 psi please.

Your right... lighter rims/ tyres will give better acceleration BUT slightly heavier wheels have a greater fly wheel effect which will be an advantage on a larger circuit with less tight turns, more constant and perhaps stronger winds.
This sort of fine tuning depends on local sailing conditions.

Hey! Now we have a Forum Discussion!!.
This recent set of posts hit on a few points with which I concur. Previously I mentioned Air Trac, pic's included. I have rough weighed the AirTrac against the full Wheel Barrow wheel and found it to be quite a bit lighter, however this needs to be done again as a wheel complete and I doubt there will be much difference except in price. Price = Free against $$20 or so + Free every time.
I would think that Pressed Steel or Alloy Go Cart Rims would be light weight against the Heavy Plastic ones. Any one got the Precise Gen??
I also mentioned that the Likes of Goodyear, Michelin etc are way heavy and could probably run airless on the side walls. Yep! They are HEAVY and STIFF and Unsuitable-----------Unless of course you are building a Super Heavy Weight 40footer
A lot depends on what you aim to do in Land Yachting Fun Machines on rough ground may well need a heavier Tyre, How ever competitive Racing and maneuvering disciplines would really need the Light Weight Large Dia' Wheels. The Lighter the entire LY altogether the better. Like you say OldMixer "Squirt y" But then again one needs experience to use these things to great effect. I ain't no Boffin in these things but Common Sense would say so. Truthfully speaking though none of it means a thing to me as I think the Sport is about having fun and enjoying what life we may have left.

The Gladiators Saying "Eat, Drink and be Merry, fore Tomorrow we may Die"

I also believe that driving on City Roads has become a "Gladiators Sport"

Finally.
This sort of Info needs puting in a permanent File or fixing so that it can be directly referred to easily for us Newby's etc. Is there a way we can do this??
Ron

Nikrum-

I think those airtrak tyres might be speed rated a bit low for what you need..

They are like what was used to use on class 5 "Faze5" style yachts... solid but RUST VERY BADLY, that's why the plastic "Fallshaws" are better.
Don't worry about the maximum speed rating to much, and if you can find 2 ply tyres all the better....