Bigger tires but same speed

Clewis5201 · 05-06-2018, 03:10 PM

Hey guys, I have a 2009 st sport 2 (st400) kawasaki engine. I had 20.5x8x10 tires and it would run 25-26 mph. I upgraded to a 23x10x14. I expected to see a couple mph more. But still exactly the same. 26mph. Now the cart doesn’t seem to be working as hard, but I don’t understand why. I’m going to guess I’m not pushing as many rpms as I was with the smaller tire. But the carb is adjusted to open all the way. And I didn’t touch the governor since I put the Big tires on. Any ideas? What’s everyone else’s top speed with a kawasaki engine and 23” tires ?

4mula1fan · 05-08-2018, 11:42 PM

I had mine running 29, but turned it back down to around 25 for stability. Keep RPMs under 4000 is what I've heard.

Gearhead1956 · 05-09-2018, 09:24 AM

You may want to measure the two tires to see if you actually did gain 3'' in diameter??

If you did its just a matter of math if your turning the same RPM's.

That engine should turn the 23's just as fast as the 20's

Rooster59 · 05-09-2018, 10:50 AM

It may be that your engine can't pull the same rpm with the 23" tires as it could with the 20" tires. If you don't have a tachometer to compare the two scenarios you won't be able to tell. You gained the potential for more speed mechanically but you also lost torque, so it may not pull any higher speed.

Clewis5201 · 05-09-2018, 07:15 PM

That’s kind of what I was thinking. I have a cheap tach laying around I’ll have to find out what it’s turnig. I know no more then 4400 for extended periods of time. It doesn’t sound like it’s working as hard to do 25mph. I was curious if maybe somthing to do with the governor.

Rooster59 · 05-09-2018, 07:35 PM

The axle reads ground soeed but that us relative. It is reading axle revolutions. With taller tires the gov wouldn't know any better.

Rooster59 · 05-09-2018, 08:16 PM

Pardon the spelling. Fat thumbs and smart phones don't mix.

05-06-2018, 03:10 PM	#1
Clewis5201 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 10	Bigger tires but same speed Hey guys, I have a 2009 st sport 2 (st400) kawasaki engine. I had 20.5x8x10 tires and it would run 25-26 mph. I upgraded to a 23x10x14. I expected to see a couple mph more. But still exactly the same. 26mph. Now the cart doesn’t seem to be working as hard, but I don’t understand why. I’m going to guess I’m not pushing as many rpms as I was with the smaller tire. But the carb is adjusted to open all the way. And I didn’t touch the governor since I put the Big tires on. Any ideas? What’s everyone else’s top speed with a kawasaki engine and 23” tires ?
Clewis5201 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 10

05-08-2018, 11:42 PM	#2
4mula1fan Gone Wild Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Western KY Posts: 218	Re: Bigger tires but same speed I had mine running 29, but turned it back down to around 25 for stability. Keep RPMs under 4000 is what I've heard.

05-09-2018, 09:24 AM	#3
Gearhead1956 Gone Wild Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Woodstock,GA Posts: 1,088	Re: Bigger tires but same speed You may want to measure the two tires to see if you actually did gain 3'' in diameter?? If you did its just a matter of math if your turning the same RPM's. That engine should turn the 23's just as fast as the 20's

05-09-2018, 10:50 AM	#4
Rooster59 Gone Wild Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: East Central Missouri Posts: 1,955	Re: Bigger tires but same speed It may be that your engine can't pull the same rpm with the 23" tires as it could with the 20" tires. If you don't have a tachometer to compare the two scenarios you won't be able to tell. You gained the potential for more speed mechanically but you also lost torque, so it may not pull any higher speed.

05-09-2018, 07:15 PM	#5
Clewis5201 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 10	Re: Bigger tires but same speed That’s kind of what I was thinking. I have a cheap tach laying around I’ll have to find out what it’s turnig. I know no more then 4400 for extended periods of time. It doesn’t sound like it’s working as hard to do 25mph. I was curious if maybe somthing to do with the governor.
Clewis5201 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 10

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05-09-2018, 07:35 PM	#6
Rooster59 Gone Wild Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: East Central Missouri Posts: 1,955	Re: Bigger tires but same speed The axle reads ground soeed but that us relative. It is reading axle revolutions. With taller tires the gov wouldn't know any better.

05-09-2018, 08:16 PM	#7
Rooster59 Gone Wild Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: East Central Missouri Posts: 1,955	Re: Bigger tires but same speed Pardon the spelling. Fat thumbs and smart phones don't mix.

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