WD Motorcycle forum

Author

Comment

Jul 12, 2011 - 4:54PM

Tyres

After much deliberation i've decided to go for the Ensign Universal 'Road', rather than the trails tyre. This is a really good match for the original WD stamped Dunlop Universal I took off the bike. It has a nice 'block' tread, but the centre row of blocks are partially joined - which I guess must improve road performance.

I've gone for a 350 x 19 front and rear - for a slightly chunkier feel

One thing i'm not sure about are the required offsets - does anyone have a note of these? Im fairly certain that when the wheels were on the bike the front wheel didnt look like it was sat centrally.

email (option): adh325@hotmail.com

Ian Wright

Jul 12, 2011 - 8:07PM

Re: Tyres

Hi Andy, both front and rear rims should be WM3s. Offset for the front measured from a straight edge placed across the bearing housing on the brake drum side to the edge of the rim is 7/16"...I will have to check the dimension for the rear...will post again later if no one beats me to it..Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

henri

Jul 12, 2011 - 10:02PM

Re: Tyres

Andy, anyway to get photos of the threads, I bought the Coker Dunlop copies and thought they were satisfactory.

email (option): unpob@yahoo.com

Vincent

Jul 12, 2011 - 10:16PM

Re: Tyres

Not too long ago in Canada we could buy Firestones (All Non-Skid) tires with WD moulded in, that were ex-Canadian army Triumph TRW stock, I had a pair marked 1956 and 1957.
They were so hard as to be virtually unflexible for mounting. I tried once and gave up, sold them on e-bay for museum display use. Hopefully nobody tries to ride on them.
British Cycle Supply and Walridge motors in Canada sell Indian made modern copies that look period, but again very hard and likely dangerous to use on pavement. I think Walridge actually states they should not be used for road use...
I went with Avon Safety Mileage tires, as they were made in England and of modern compounds.
Vince

email (option): vinver@ns.sympatico.ca

Andy

Jul 12, 2011 - 10:40PM

Re: Tyres

see image below - this is a standard image so the proportions of the actual 350x19 tyre will look slightly different.

Below is a poor image of the original 325 Dunlop universal with WD stamp.

email (option): Adh325@hotmail.com

Andy

Jul 13, 2011 - 8:53PM

Re: Tyres

Tyres arrived today, thought I'd do a comparison. It's not a bad likeness, the new tyre will obviously bulk out a bit once on the rim - but the pattern is pretty much the same.