Tires for 1961 R50/S w/ sidecar?

[clay]

I have a 1961 R50/S with Sidecar.
Realizing that this question is a lot like asking, "What's the best motor oil", I've split my question into two parts. I take my bikes to shows and I ride them. There are undoubtedly one or two tire choices to make it historically correct for a model with a sidecar to show well. But I'm also interested in knowing what experienced riders are using on the highway.

What's the right tire, or best replacement for showing this bike?
What's the best tire for riding (specifically, lower speed day trips)?

[schrader7032]

Welcome, Clay! What are the tire sizes needed? Tire brands that come to my mind are Continental (might have been the type of tire used in the 1960s), Heidenau, and Metzeler Block C. I think Metzeler makes some kind of squarer tread block for the sidecar.

[clay]

Metzeler 3.50 x 18
I actually have the original set that the bike had when first sold.

[bpw]

I ran a Metzler K-block on a non-bmw sidecar rig. Worked well and lasted for ages, may even be period correct.

I run trials pattern knobbies on my r60/2 sidecar rig but judging by the picture your rig doesn't get the kind of use that makes knobbies a good idea.

[Beemer100]

Hi Clay,

I wouldn't bother too much to find historically correct tires. The pic shows a 1961 /2 Beemer with a LS200 Steib sidecar I guess. Steib closed its factory I think in 1957, so even assuming that there were some sidecars in stock which had to be sold after, I would be surprised if in 1961 they still offered a Beemer with an original Steib sidecar. Probably an interesting topic to find out.
I ride my R69S with Hollandia using Heidenau tires, they make them even reinforced ... never had problems with it.

Klaus

[topel523]

The rear tire would be a Metzeler Block K, 4.00 x 18 which I use on the rear of my own sidecar rig. A BMW sidecar would use a BMW 18 inch wheel and would use the aforementioned tire. However, from your picture, your sidecar is using something different, maybe the same size, maybe not. The front tire remains a 3.50 x 18 with sidecar use. Also check Heidenau for front tire sizes.

[The Plunger]

Boy, I gotta ask. How in the world did a 50S get mated to a sidecar? Is the FD gearing correct?

[dosgatos]

I have two sidecar rigs: 1953 R25/3 with Steib LS200, and 1967 R60/2 with a sixties-vintage Bender LVA (copy of a Steib S350).

The R25/3 uses Metzeler C Block for all three wheels simply because I used the C Block when it was solo. I bought a new wheel when restoring the LS200 and it came with a new C Block. Works very nicely without noticeable wear this past year.

The R60/2 has an Avon Sidecar tire, because it was the only 19-inch sidecar tire I could find at the time. I think Metzeler now makes a 19-inch K block sidecar. The bike as an 18-inch Metzeler K block on the rear. I was going to use the same tire on the front, but was warned that there can be a clearance problem with the front fender, so I used a C block on the front.

[dosgatos]

I have two sidecar rigs: 1953 R25/3 with Steib LS200, and 1967 R60/2 with a sixties-vintage Bender LVA (copy of a Steib S350).

The R25/3 uses Metzeler C Block for all three wheels simply because I used the C Block when it was solo. I bought a new wheel when restoring the LS200 and it came with a new C Block. Works very nicely without noticeable wear this past year.

The R60/2 has an Avon Sidecar tire, because it was the only 19-inch sidecar tire I could find at the time. I think Metzeler now makes a 19-inch K block sidecar. The bike has an 18-inch Metzeler K block on the rear. I wanted to use the same tire on the front, but was warned that there can be a clearance problem with the front fender, so I used a C block on the front.

[808Airhead]

I agree with The Plunger,that is a odd match,R50S which is a high revver HP motor coupled to a sidecar. I feel the same about R69S with a sidecar,the bigger carb/higher rev motors don't have that low rpm torque that the smaller carb/cam motors have. Unleash the beast and ride that R50S solo the way it was meant to be! "S" is for sport after all. R60/2 is a good sidecar hauler. I have a R51/3 that was a sidecar bike,I could not imagine how slow it must have been.