Tricycle Fetish Blog

Extruded or rope rubber tricycle replacement tires some in long rope form, but can be cut and glued into a circle and then installed on a rim. This is a simple solution to the problem of being unable to find the correct size tricycle tire.

Tricyclefetish.com offers three sizes of rope rubber. These three sizes will fit a multitude of different tricycle wheels/rims, as well as pedal cars and other ride-ons. The largest size measures roughly 1.5 inches wide; this 1.5″ replacement tire has a classic tread design and is pictured above. We also offer 3/4″ rope tire and a 1/2″ rope tire, both which can be either glued or wire tied onto the appropriate size rim.

Here are some basic instructions on mounting extruded rubber tires as replacement tires on your tricycle.

1. Determine the diameter and type of tire that you need. You can do this by measuring the rim. The dimensions of the replacement rubber is listed on the pages linked to above, and is sold by the inch.

2. Determine the length of rubber that you need. You can use a string stretched around the circumference of the rim and a ruler to measure the length of tire that you need. Better to measure too long than too short, you can always cut the rubber down to fit, but you can’t make it longer. Also you may wish to do a test gluing to make sure that you can get the glue to set properly.

3. Cut rubber to length about 1/4 inch shorter than the actual circumference. This will assure a tight snug fit on the rim once installed and prevent slipping. We recommend using a nice sharp pvc pipe cutter for the job, one with curved arms to hold the tire in place. Make sure to cut perpendicular to the tire. If you don’t have a cutter, you can get one on Amazon brand new for around ten bucks. You’ll probably want to make a test cut to make sure you have got the hang of cutting through the rubber in a straight line. Slanted cuts will make it so that you cannot glue the two ends together flush.

4. Use super glue or another glue capable of gluing rubber (you want quick curing, not something like rubber cement) to glue the two ends together so that the rubber forms a circle.

5. Once glue is set, warm up the tire in boiling water for several minutes and then stretch to fit on rim.

We’ve just receive a shipment of NOS replacement tricycle wheelsets (wheels with tires) and semi-pneumatic tricycle tires in sizes ranging from 7 inches to 16 inches.  They are unused an in brand new condition.  The rims and spokes are silver and the tires are unbranded.

Limited quantities are in stock, get them while they are available.  These tricycle tires and wheels make great replacements for vintage tricycles with rotted tires or damaged wheels.  They allow that old family tricycle to be used by another generation of little trikesters.