Sidecar wheel tyre pressure?

[ianw]

Sidecar tyre pressure isn't critical unless you have too little in ( tyre digs in & spits the 2 of you out) or you have too much in & it deforms the tyre. Goes for classic or modern. The pressure has no effect round a left hander or in a straight line except for drag
You need the sidecar tyre to "slide" so that the traction is on the rear tyre & then thats were the passengers job comes in.
Wide tyres on the chair wheels are more of a hinderance, you dont want the full width on the track otherwise the 2 of you get spat out. This is why chassis makers have shied away from putting suspension on the sidecar wheel. Perfect that suspension & you can run a skinny tyre which means less drag in a straigfht line which equals more speed.
Long outfits( suspension working in an arc) should run anti roll bars which run from front to back.
Back to your original question Ian, always go for a high pressure, not running a classic I'm no good to you

[Triplebrew]

Thanks again for ( most of ) the helpful replies . Now have a starting point whcih is to run a higher pressure - gonna look at 26 - 27 and see where we go from there. Cheers

[Simon Smith]

Hi Ian,
We use 20psi (sugested by Damian) in our Yokohamas.
Other, more successful people than me, have said you should treat the chair wheel as a drag inducing nuisance and run it at a much higher pressure.
We haven't tested enough yet to see what suits us best.
Simon

[Triplebrew]

Based on what we have found this year Simon, and from what people have said here, higher is the way to go. When we go testing at Mallory early next year will set it at 26 and see how she handles.

[Vicky Cooke]

Yep get it higher Simon, need to get that chair sliding, you'll soon notice a difference going round right handers........

[Eddy Wright]

Thats right Simon all the chair wheel does is hold the sidecar up !

[Phil Luhr]

So my 52 psi is about right then
Captain Sparra

[NickR]

It is with the weight you have in the chair!

[DavidCurrell]

It is with the weight you have in the chair!

The passenger may be a tad overweight but i dont recall you passing us this year you black scourge.

[DavidCurrell]

It is with the weight you have in the chair!

The passenger may be a tad overweight but i dont recall you passing us this year you black scourge.

Probably not a good choice of words but am refering to the team colours.
The evil green empire rocks.

[RP]

Now then boys - I think this topic has been flogged to death now. I think the general concensus is that you need air in your sidecar wheel tyre

[DavidCurrell]

Now then boys - I think this topic has been flogged to death now. I think the general concensus is that you need air in your sidecar wheel tyre

Just a bit of freindly banter going on, need to do something during the long winter ahead.

[Triplebrew]

Just a bit of freindly banter going on, need to do something during the long winter ahead.

And there is a section just for it below.................called 'Drivel'

[steve-e]

I was quite enjoying it.. but then what do I know about the technical stuff

[Triplebrew]

I was quite enjoying it.. but then what do I know about the technical stuff

Being just a passenger eh Steve