Bike tyres

[kapri]

What are they , apart from black and round ? Are they crossply or radial construction as I don't understand the tyre markings as they read like crossplies ie 3.90 x19 etc

[Olds]

Just like car tyre there are imperial/imperial (4.00" x 19") and metric/imperial (100mm x 19") versions
Imperial widths used to increase in .25" increments. With metrics, profile ratios have also been added but can't remember that happening with the old imperial sizes. There are also tubed and tubeless tyres.
The construction can be  radial, cross ply or bias belt and just like for cars there are rules on what fits front & rear.
With cross ply on the front you can fit anything on the back, bias front = bias or radial rear and radial front you can only fit radial rear. I think.

[kapri]

But what tells you the type of construction on a bike tyre ? ie on a car a crossply will shown as a 5.60x15 and the equivalent radial as 165/80 x15 and those numbers make it obvious whats what . The figures I look at on my bike tyres led me to believe that they would be crossply construction if the same size designation as cars applies.  However it would then appear that crossplies were the tyre of choice on bikes long after they ceased being OEM on cars ?

[Olds]

Crossply tyres are still common for bikes. If the tyre doesn't say radial or belted, or have an R or B in the size designation it is quite likely of crossply construction. One of the best selling tyres, the Bridgestone B45 is crossply. Best to check with the manufacturer if you can't work it out from the sidwall markings.
Is this for the trike or have you been out and bought a bike.

[kapri]

Having some thought on the trike   What's the sidecar front tyre like on yours size /make handling type thing?

[Olds]

It's not a sidecar tyre. It's a 3.50 x19 made for 'high speed' Austin Sevens and the like by Longstone.
Vast improvement in grip and stability over the Pirelli bike tyre that was originally on it and unlike the Avon sidecar tyre it's S rated, 112 MPH, whereas the recomended top speed of the Triple duty is 75 MPH.