To put a figure on it, timing belts usually need replacing somewhere between the 55,000 miles (approx 90,000km) and 90,000miles (approx 150,000km) mark. So, a timing belt is still an extremely reliable and important part of your vehicle.

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Established in 1992, BST is based near Johannesburg, South Africa. BST engineers and manufactures the world's finest carbon fiber motorcycle components from wheels and frames to fuel tanks and fenders, to the highest international standards. The standard equipment wheels on Confederate and Norton motorcycles, BST was also chosen to provide wheels and produce the carbon-fiber frame on the radical MotoCyz project. On the world stage, BST wheels have been proven at every level of FIM Grand Prix road racing competition and have won multiple national championships. BST has sold more than 50,000 carbon fiber wheels around the world.

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A lighter rear wheel is easier for the shock to control properly, which leads to superior power application and much higher trap speeds in competition and track days.

Using high-tech processes pioneered in the aerospace industry, BST wheels are manufactured in a single molding operation. This technique produces a wheel that is far superior in strength and much lighter than any aluminum or magnesium wheel, and one that is light and strong enough for racing and street use.

We recommend you check the tyre size against the size written on the wall of your vehicle tyre. If the above results are incorrect, you can search manually here

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The longer lifespan of a timing chain is why they are chosen over timing belts – they very rarely break, but any problems that do arise are easy to catch before they reach the point of no return. For example, a worn chain will start to rattle noisily, which gives you a heads up that something is wrong, whereas a timing belt can snap without warning.

Timing chains generally have a longer lifespan than timing belts. The reason for this is quite simple: chains are made from metal, whilst timing belts are made from rubber, which simply isn’t as strong. That isn’t to say timing belts are weak, but they will likely need replacing at some point, whereas a chain can last as long as the vehicle itself does.

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Whether you have a timing belt or a timing chain in your vehicle, it’s important to ensure they are in the best condition in order to keep your vehicle safe and roadworthy and avoid any unwanted expenses. By being alert and proactive with regular vehicle servicing, you can minimise the risk of being caught out.

Where a quiet, more efficient engine is required, a timing belt is often preferred. As they are made from rubber, they’re also cheaper to manufacture, which means that car manufacturers may choose to build them into the vehicle. A quieter engine is often more appealing to buyers, so the timing belt is installed to ensure a smoother sound.

Maximizing the molecular and structural properties of carbon fiber, BST has reduced spoke and rim weight without compromising their strength. Mass is therefore concentrated in the hub, reducing rotational inertia. This results in quicker acceleration and braking, allowing faster corner entry and exit speeds.

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TPMS Note: Beginning in 2016, Harley-Davidson started including TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) on certain CVO models and beginning in 2020, Touring bikes equipped with the RDRS system have TPMS as well. BST wheels use a 7.5mm diameter air valve and would need to be drilled out to 11.3mm to accommodate the TPMS valve. If your application has TPMS, please call us to discuss your options. We do not recommend nor warrant, any modification to the BST wheels unless they are completed by factory trained personnel.

Both timing belts and timing chains are essential parts of your car’s internal combustion engine, and play a part in controlling the crankshaft and the camshafts, which in turn ensure that the engine valves open and close at the correct time. The main difference lies in the materials used – timing belts are made of rubber composite, whereas timing chains are made of metal.

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Weighing between 40 and 60 percent less than OEM wheels, BST wheels bestow sport bikes with sharper corner-carving abilities, faster acceleration, and quicker braking by weighing less than their production-bike counterparts. Lighter wheels are also easier for suspension systems to control over bumps and irregular surfaces, yielding more traction and unimpeded acceleration. Less rotating mass also equals less rider fatigue.

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The average cost of replacing a timing chain is between £500 and £1,300. You won’t have to replace your timing chain as often, if at all, but the cost of doing so is more than offset by the long lifespan of the component. The chain itself will cost around £180; the majority of the expense is paying for labour.

Mr Tyre has been providing our expert car maintenance services in Central England for over 50 years – tyre fitting, new clutches or an air con recharge for vehicles of any make, model and age, all carried out by our expert technicians. For a reliable vehicle inspection – including assessment of your timing belt or chain – contact your local branch and we’ll be happy to help.

Whether your vehicle has a timing belt or a timing chain, it’s important that you pay attention to any signs of wear and tear and act accordingly. Depending on your engine type, if your timing belt breaks, the consequences can be catastrophic – the repairs can be so costly as to be unfeasible, which in certain instances can mean you are better off looking to buy a new car!

BST designs the tooling, molds, wheel and hubs, then manufactures them in its state-of-the-art factory. Precision cutting machines, like those used in the aeronautical industry, ensure that the process is repeatable and meets the highest certification standards. BST uses only the finest œprepreg carbon fiber, which is embedded in a top-secret resin matrix epoxy. Carbon-fiber layup is done in a dust-free and temperature-controlled œclean room. The wheels are cured in a superheated steam oven, or autoclave, at 260 degrees and 85 psi. This produces the best material compaction and smoothest surface finish. Every step of this process is logged, the entire history of each wheel is stored and stamped with a unique serial number. To ensure the highest quality manufacturing processes and components, BSTs entire operation is managed under strict, new ISO 9002 standards.

Your vehicle will either have a timing belt or a timing chain to keep the engine’s timings in order, which in turn keeps your vehicle running safely and efficiently. But why is it only one or the other, and what is the difference between the two? The team at Mr Tyre are here to tell you all you need to know.

To replace a broken timing belt, the engineer will need to remove a number of components, which adds to the labour costs of the job. The average cost of replacing a timing belt is around £300.

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Brake Rotor Note: Before purchasing wheels for Harley-Davidson Touring models, due to variations in the OEM wheels equipped on each model, please verify the brake rotor mounting size. Models equipped with 7-bolt rotors (Agitator / Slicer / Chisel) will still be compatible with the purchase of aftermarket rotors. See Brake Rotor pitch circle diameter (PCD) on the description tab to see what rotor fits this wheel. For CVO models look over the engineered drawing to verify fitment.

BST wheels are a unique monococque (single unit) design with hollow spokes. The end result is wheels with unsprung weight reduced 40-60 percent compared to stock wheels. This delivers the lowest possible moment of inertia, a critical factor that affects all aspects of motorcycle performance.