If you are a go-kart owner, then you understand the woes of not having adequate storage space for spare tires. This is especially noticeable on track days or when you’re in the garage tire prepping or doing regular go-kart maintenance.
While you can simply stack tires on top of each other, the best solution to storage and transportation are go-kart tire racks. In this article we’ll go through some of the benefits of using go-kart tire racks, where to install them and which ones you should consider.
What Are Go-Kart Tire Racks?
Go-kart tires racks are large metal frames that hold several go-kart tires. While these tire racks come in all shapes and sizes they all have the same function, which is to store tires and keep them from rolling away.
While the traditional method of stacking tires is still commonly practiced, it’s always best to keep your garage, shed or trailer as organized and uncluttered as possible.
Using a tire rack for tires is not only convenient, but it can also save you a lot of space, as you’ll be able to mount in on the floor or across walls. This gives you more working area and makes your entire setup look more organized.
So, if you own a go-kart and enjoy your track days, you should consider getting a go-kart tire rack installed in your:
- Garage
- Shed
- Trailer
Best Go-Kart Go-Kart Racks
There are plenty of tire racks that you can choose from. These racks vary in design, number of rows, dimensions and cost. Below are some of the most popular go-kart tire racks.
Triple Tier Go-Kart Tire Rack
This tire rack is made of aluminium and has a strong powder-coated and zinc yellow-plated steel tubing, with a telescoping range of 32″ to 48″.
- Triple-tier racking
- Telescopic width
- Made of aluminium
Single Tier Go-Kart Tire Rack
A Single-tier tire rack made of high-quality aluminium. It’s non-telescoping, but holds tires safely in place with it’s rugged bucket design.
- Single-tier racking
- Bucket design
- Made of aluminium
Suitable Locations For Go-Kart Tire Racks
A go-kart tire rack can be installed anywhere where you would store tires. The most common places are in your garage, work shed and trailer. Let’s take a look at these locations a little more closely.
Tire Racks For Garages and Work Sheds
A go-kart needs to be regularly maintained and that also means that you’ll need to have access to spare tires. Whether you’re prepping go-kart tires or replacing old tires with new ones , you’ll need a place to conveniently store your tires.
There are standing tire racks that can be moved around or wall mounted tire racks. Both of these options store tires effectively and also help to declutter your workspace.
Tire Racks For Trailers
On track days, you’ll want to bring not only enough spare tires with you, but also the right ones for the occasion (rain, slicks and dirt). In order to do this, you’ll need space for quite a few sets of tires.
Tire racks for trailers are a great way to ensure convenient and safe storage. You’ll be able to store them in the same location that you transport your go-kart with.
Tire racks for go-kart trailers are best mounted to each side of the wall. They are usually placed slightly higher up, to ensure that you have enough space for your tools, spare parts and of course your go-kart.
Sizes for Go-Kart Tire Racks
Tire racks for go-karts usually fit standard tire sizes. This means that they can only support standard sized go-kart tires with a maximum tire diameter of about 10 – 12 inches.
So, before deciding on your purchase, ensure that they fit your tires. If you’re running standard slicks, dirt and wet tires, you shouldn’t have any problems. However, if you’re off-road racing, you’ll need to ensure that the diameter of your tires are not too large for the rack.
Some go-kart tire racks also have telescoping extension features. While this does not increase the support for larger tires, you can extend the width of the rack allowing you to store more tires.
How to Install a Go-Kart Tire Rack
Installing a go-kart tire rack may seem like a daunting task, especially if you’ve never mounted anything against a wall before. If you’re installing a tire rack on a thin wall (for example a thin trailer wall), it’s best to use nuts and bolts, and if you’re installing it on a thick wall, then self tapping screws will work just fine.
Below is a short guide on how to install a tire rack against any type of wall. Before you start, ensure that you have all the required tools.
Tire racks using nuts and bolts (thin walls):
- Predrill holes on tire rack (skip if not required)
- Mark drill spots onto wall
- Drill holes
- Place rack against wall
- Slot in bolts, washers and nuts.
- Tighten securely
Tire racks using self tapping screws (thick walls):
- Predrill holes on tire rack (skip if not required)
- Mark drill spots onto wall
- Screw in self tapping screws tightly
Can You Build Your Own Go-Kart Tire Racks?
If you can’t find a suitable tires rack for your tires or if you’re a builder, you can definitely construct your own go-kart tire rack. You’ll just need to build a light frame and horizontal steel rods to hold the tires in place.
You can even get a go-kart tire rack kit that only contains vertical plates. This lets you customize the length of your horizontal bars and lets you modify the tire rack if required.
