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International Karting Industry Buyer's Guide |
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| CONCESSION CORNER | |||||||||||||
| TIRE
WEAR - COSTLIEST EXPENSE FOR CONCESSION TRACKS
By Gerald Tolson, United Tire Company Tires are probably the most costly on-going maintenance expense involved in concession karting. The same things that affect wear on automobile tires affects wear on concession kart tires as well. A lot has to do with kart design and maintenance. Maladjustment of the camber, toe alignment, etc. of a kart can shorten tire life. Believe it or not, rotating tires on a kart can prolong their life, just like on an automobile. Loose hubs, tie rod ends, bad spindles or bearings and bent rims all affect tire life. Keeping karts in good condition greatly reduces tire wear. Speed also affects tire wear. The faster karts run, the quicker tires wear out. Speeds of 18-MPH to 20-MPH or less generally give good wear and give a good ride for guests. Air pressure is also important. Just as on an auto, too much or too little pressure can increase abrasion and wear. As a rule of thumb, 30-35 psi is best. This air pressure provides a good firm tire which will decrease rolling resistance and also offers some flex to help hold turns. However, you may have to experiment to find the ideal pressure for your track. For example, if the turns are tight and the karts run fairly fast, too much rollover may occur, causing tires to actually fold over the rims. This can severely damage tires, so air pressure may need to be increased. Also, never run tires flat. Not only does this potentially destroy tires, but also causes bent rims. Many karts are such that a single flat is nearly invisible to the casual observer, so it is wise to check tires frequently. It is important to remember that no single tire works best on every track. This is why people in the tire supply business all go crazy trying to keep such a wide variety of types and profiles of tires available. Capping or recapping tires is an economical way to prolong tire life. A cap can outlast an ordinary tire by 400% to 1000%. There are a couple of “super stock” tires available that far outwear any ordinary stock, and are comparable to several caps available. These tires provide an option to new tires with a cap because they are usually less expensive and generally make excellent recaps. They also have a wear indicator built into them, just as any cap should have. A tire casing can theoretically be capped indefinitely. In reality, expect a maximum of about 4 or 5 seasons from a set of tires, provided you take care of them. Watch the wear indicator. You don’t have to pull a tire at the first speck of white, but don’t wait until the white disappears, either. If a tire develops a hole through the carcass is the tread area, throw it away — it can’t be capped effectively. If a tire develops a hole in the sidewall, throw it away too! If a tire shows tread, it’s questionable whether that tire will be able to hold air pressure if it is capped. Often tires with this kind of wear will blow tubes. Also watch for tires that have threads separating on the inside or that have a bead broken, especially those with a wire unraveled. You will only have problems if you expect to get tires with these conditions capped. Any rubber compound material deteriorates after prolonged exposure to the elements. Keep an eye out for tires showing excessive “age” cracks on the sidewalls. You never know when these tires might fail, and you can be assured that a tire with “age” cracks has probably already given a great deal of service and should be retired. There are a wide variety
of concession kart tires available in a wide range of price and quality.
Try a variety to ascertain which tire works best for your track. And don’t
buy on price alone. A slightly more expensive tire may save you money in
the long run by giving two or three times more life.
END
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Kart Marketing Group, Inc. Post Office Box 101 Wheaton, IL 60189 USA Telephone: 630-653-7368 Fax: 630-653-2637 Email: karting@msn.com |
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| Neatconcept, Inc | |||||||||||||
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