Unobtainable tyres wanted!

[Oceanrower]

Just finished recommissioning a bike that’s been hidden away for 10 years. Passed its MOT but an advisory on the tyres. I’d like to get replacements but they really do seem to be unobtainable in this country. Best I’ve managed to do is track two down in Sweden and he won’t export to the UK ‘cos Brexit…

What are the chances of someone on here knowing someone with two (or three) 280 40r20…

The current ones are Avon but not fussy!

Alternatively, anyone imported tyres from USA recently? How much of a pain was it?

[dibblecorse]

Call Bob or Charlie at FWR, if its a tyre available in the UK they will know.

https://www.fwr.co.uk/

[Mandat]

Is there an alternative size of tyre that is more easily available?

[Oceanrower]

Mandat said:

Is there an alternative size of tyre that is more easily available?

I have no idea. My knowledge of tyres is limited to what they print on the sides!

[Oceanrower]

dibblecorse said:

Call Bob or Charlie at FWR, if its a tyre available in the UK they will know.

https://www.fwr.co.uk/

Thanks but already tried them. I’m certain there’s no tyre dealer with them. I’m just hoping an enthusiast might have some hidden away somewhere that they no longer need.

[dibblecorse]

Oceanrower said:

dibblecorse said:

Call Bob or Charlie at FWR, if its a tyre available in the UK they will know.

https://www.fwr.co.uk/

Thanks but already tried them. I’m certain there’s no tyre dealer with them. I’m just hoping an enthusiast might have some hidden away somewhere that they no longer need.

Fair play and good luck with the search....

[Mandat]

Oceanrower said:

I have no idea. My knowledge of tyres is limited to what they print on the sides!

https://tiresize.com/calculator

Something like this might help with your search.

[CraigyMc]

https://www.mytyres.co.uk/product/R-300428

Surely cannot be that easy?

[stevemcs]

Have you tried the bike tyre store

https://www.worldofbiketyres.com/

[johnsmith222]

CraigyMc said:

https://www.mytyres.co.uk/product/R-300428

Surely cannot be that easy?

It was easy because the tyre is a completely different size for width, profile, and diameter.

It does seem like a possible USA job unfortunately. Hopefully you get something sorted out.

[2ndclasscitizen]

What is the bike? That might help

[gareth_r]

Oceanrower said:

...two (or three) 280/40R20…

Is it a trike?

[Oceanrower]

CraigyMc said:

https://www.mytyres.co.uk/product/R-300428

Surely cannot be that easy?

No. Not that easy. Wrong width, height and size. Got the radial bit right though…

[Oceanrower]

gareth_r said:

Is it a trike?

Technically it’s a bike and sidecar. But I’ll take putting the best one on the sidecar and the two new ones in the bike.

Edited by Oceanrower on Wednesday 7th May 01:07

[Oceanrower]

2ndclasscitizen said:

What is the bike? That might help

I’m not sure it will help, but here you go…

[rodericb]

Edit - question answered above.

For a sidecar can you go "dark side"? That is, use car tyres?

[Oceanrower]

Battistinis customs

[Oceanrower]

rodericb said:

Edit - question answered above.

For a sidecar can you go "dark side"? That is, use car tyres?

No. Two reasons. One, it’s bloody hard enough to steer with rounded tyres but, two, there is literally a millimetre or two clearance on the frame. A square tyre just would not fit.

[rodericb]

It looks like Big Dog motorcycles used 20's a few years ago. They sell what you want but they're in the USA. There's a UK Big Dog facebook group which might have come across this no-tyres situation. Avon seem to be the only company who ever made tyres in that size so you might have to approach them to do a run of them!

[Oceanrower]

Thanks. I’ve tried Avon in the UK but no help. I can only begin to imagine how expensive it will be to import a couple of tyres from the US!

I’ll look in to the Facebook group.