zong owners hens teeth found need input

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by Wild_Alaskan

are you sure? 90mm should be 3.54 inches

Yes, I'm sure. Standard rim measurements are taken inside the rim, at the base of the rim flanges. The outside width of a rim, across the flanges, is always wider than the the rim size.

The stock rear tire for the Zong is size 130/90-15. A size 90/90-15 tire is way to small, WA; the bead of this this Kenda Millville tire will not seat on the Zong's rear rim. Even if you could mount this tire, it would be dangerous to ride the Zong with it. I've been looking for a suitable, 15-inch, knobby tire for the Zong for almost two years; I haven't found one yet. :(

Thank you for trying to help, WA. I encourage everyone to keep looking. However, unless someone decides to import a suitable tire from China, I don't think we are going to find an acceptable, 15-inch, knobby tire for sale in the United States of America. :(

Spud

[phil]

would there be a acceptable 16" tire with a similar rolling diameter or maybe the same that one could get laced without changing the geometry or gearing

[alan566]

phil, i was just fixing to ask that? lol im around 5'6 and im not standing flat footed on the zong now, thats the only reason i want to stay away from the 18" tire. i have seen a few good 16" tires and a lot more choices in 17 " tires but i still want to stay with the 15" if possible. as many sierra's and x-ranger's that have been sold somebody has to have some tires for sale somewhere.

[Wild_Alaskan]

well there's some trackmasters and alot of others for the 16 size, but they are all 90mm narrow because they are designed for a 16/19 setup. on the smaller bikes,

http://www.americanmototire.com/cata...oducts_id=2636

i may have figured it out! if you can lace two of these rims to the zong hubs (are both rims 15?)

http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/produc...fCatId=&mmyId=

you could then run two of the tires i posted earlier.

so for $260 if the rims have the right number of holes you could have an acceptable offroad setup!

[alan566]

Originally Posted by SpudRider

You can always mount a Cheng Shin Marquis on the rear wheel, Alan.

http://chinariders.net/modules.php?n...ewtopic&t=7913

thanks Spud, but i just don't think that tire will do much good if i get off road, do you?
I mean if mine were worn out and i had to replace it i guess i would use it but my tire is like new, i just want something that would go through a mud hole if i wanted to, nothing real aggressive. i got stuck going through my ditch with the stock tire, it couldn't cut through the grass and just sat there.

[katoranger]

What size does the TW use? Could a tw rear rim be laced to a zong hub?

[Weldangrind]

The TW is large by huge. You'd need a TW swingarm for that, along with a TW countershaft.

[SpudRider]

WG is correct, Allen. The TW200 rear wheel is 180mm wide. 8O The Zong swingarm will not accomodate a wheel that wide.

Spud

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by phil

would there be a acceptable 16" tire with a similar rolling diameter or maybe the same that one could get laced without changing the geometry or gearing

Originally Posted by Wild_Alaskan

well there's some trackmasters and alot of others for the 16 size, but they are all 90mm narrow because they are designed for a 16/19 setup. on the smaller bikes,

http://www.americanmototire.com/cata...oducts_id=2636

i may have figured it out! if you can lace two of these rims to the zong hubs (are both rims 15?)

http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/produc...fCatId=&mmyId=

you could then run two of the tires i posted earlier.

so for $260 if the rims have the right number of holes you could have an acceptable offroad setup!

I have not had time to verify the narrow width of all the 16-inch rear tires, but I think Wild Alaskan is correct. The Zong uses a 2.15X18 rim on the front wheel, so wheel geometry would not be preserved by a pair of 15-inch wheels. :(

Spud

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by alan566

phil, i was just fixing to ask that? lol im around 5'6 and im not standing flat footed on the zong now, thats the only reason i want to stay away from the 18" tire. i have seen a few good 16" tires and a lot more choices in 17 " tires but i still want to stay with the 15" if possible. as many sierra's and x-ranger's that have been sold somebody has to have some tires for sale somewhere.

Alan, I have looked for almost two years, and I have been unable to find any 15-inch, knobby tires, other than the ones manufactured in China. :(

Originally Posted by alan566

thanks Spud, but i just don't think that tire will do much good if i get off road, do you?
I mean if mine were worn out and i had to replace it i guess i would use it but my tire is like new, i just want something that would go through a mud hole if i wanted to, nothing real aggressive. i got stuck going through my ditch with the stock tire, it couldn't cut through the grass and just sat there.

Obviously, the Cheng Shin Marquis is good for only light trail duty, on dry surfaces. If you want even a 50/50 dual sport tire, you are going to need either a 17-inch, or an 18-inch rear wheel. As the Wild Alaskan stated, I believe all the 16-inch tires are too narrow for your size 2.15X18, front rim.

I ran two, eighteen-inch wheels on my Zong for about 10,000 miles, and the bike handled very well. Also, I did not notice a large increase in seat height with the two, eighteen-inch wheels. I only needed to lengthen my kickstand after I went to a 21-inch front wheel, in combination with an eighteen-inch rear wheel.

When you increase the size of only one wheel, the seat height is increased about one-half what you would expect if you increased the size of both wheels. For example, if you increase both wheels 3 inches in diameter, you will raise seat height 1.5 inches. However, if you only increase one wheel 3 inches in diameter, you will raise seat height 0.75 inches. If you build a custom, 17-inch rear wheel, you will probably increase your seat height only 0.5 inches.

I think your least expensive option is to build either a 17-inch, or an 18-inch, custom rear wheel. Since I have several used, 18-inch rims I could sell you, I think the 18-inch wheel is your least expensive option. The 18-inch, rear wheel will only raise your seat height 0.25 inches higher than a 17-inch, rear wheel. You will also have a greater choice of tires with an 18-inch, rear wheel.

Spud

[alan566]

thanks again Spud. i like the look of the fatter rear tire so whats the fattest size 18" wheel and tire i could run with the stock swing arm? and what is a ball park figure for everything but the tire gonna run? pm me if you want to or advertise here...

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by alan566

thanks again Spud. i like the look of the fatter rear tire so whats the fattest size 18" wheel and tire i could run with the stock swing arm? and what is a ball park figure for everything but the tire gonna run? pm me if you want to or advertise here...

You're welcome, Alan. Because of the large tread, dual sport tires are wider than street tires for any given size. The stock rear tire from Zongshen is size 130/90-15; therefore, I think you could probably install a 120mm dual sport tire. However, I am pretty sure you would be quite happy with either a 110mm, or even a 100mm rear tire.

Your cost for a custom wheel can vary quite a bit, depending on the parts you supply, and the parts you decide to buy. For example, steel rims cost less than alloy rims, and used rims cost less than new rims. I will send you a personal message, and we can explore your options.

Spud

[alan566]

ok thanks again and again and again Spud! lol
i bought a Chinese bike not because they are cheap but because I'm Cheap!!! so you know i will probably go the cheapest way.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by alan566

ok thanks again and again and again Spud! lol
i bought a Chinese bike not because they are cheap but because I'm Cheap!!! so you know i will probably go the cheapest way.

You're welcome, Alan. I sent you a PM detailing some of your best options for building a custom rear wheel.

Spud