My Michelin Pilot Activ Rear/Front Tire Opinions

[Muleskinner]

I run an 06 GW w/ Hannigan kit w/ 6 degree rake & 2" riser. OEM forks, with new seals. My wife and I normally ride 2-up with our combined weight of 460 or so. We live in central Arkansas and do all of our riding on some of the most twisted roads you will find.

First tire was the MPA, backward, w/ 41psi. Got 18,000+ out of that one with no cupping or other problems.

Current tire is MPA, backwards, but psi dropped to 36 as I was told it would lessen jarring in grips from ridges/bumps in the road. It seems to ride smoother, however at 10,000 miles the center of the tire is worn flat and rapidly running out of tread.

From reading the forum, it seems that we need to increase our psi back to 41, however as all our wear is on the center, wouldn't that only cause the center to wear out that much faster???

 

[skuuter]

From reading the forum, it seems that we need to increase our psi back to 41, however as all our wear is on the center, wouldn't that only cause the center to wear out that much faster???

At only 36 lbs, "HEAT" was the main player in Your Tire's early demise. Air is a Tire's Best Friend...The Center is the only part of a Tire used on a Trike anyway, since Lean is no longer involved. Your Trike doesn't have enough weight to distort the sidewall carcass of the Tire enough, as is the case with Automobiles, causing the Tire's edges to touch down.....ThumbUp

 

[Muleskinner]

Thanks, I'll put'er back on 41 and leave it there.

 

[Barnaclebill]

A most interesting and informative posting! Only thing is that the "jargon" passes right over my head! I do not talk "Tyre Talk"! I have a Honda 1500SE trike. Front tyre is a Bridgestone Exendra G701, 130/70 18MC G3H, whilst the rears are also Bridgestone, Turanza GR 03, 215/55R16 93V. I've inflating them at 36 psi. Comments please!

 

[Nana]

A most interesting and informative posting! Only thing is that the "jargon" passes right over my head! I do not talk "Tyre Talk"! I have a Honda 1500SE trike. Front tyre is a Bridgestone Exendra G701, 130/70 18MC G3H, whilst the rears are also Bridgestone, Turanza GR 03, 215/55R16 93V. I've inflating them at 36 psi. Comments please!

Bill, try inflating the front tire to about 40 psi and dropping the rears a bit... maybe start at 25 psi there and adjust it up or down for your comfort.

 

[Lucky]

A most interesting and informative posting! Only thing is that the "jargon" passes right over my head! I do not talk "Tyre Talk"! I have a Honda 1500SE trike. Front tyre is a Bridgestone Exendra G701, 130/70 18MC G3H, whilst the rears are also Bridgestone, Turanza GR 03, 215/55R16 93V. I've inflating them at 36 psi. Comments please!

Bill I run 41 in the front on PEARL 90SE/Motor Trike and 22 on the right and 20 on the left. I am running a MPA mounted in reverse.RIDE SAFE

 

[rmrc51]

For what it's worth I had my Valk Motor Trike set at 40 in the front and 20 in the rears. Seemed to work for me.

 

[skuuter]

...and right now my Gold Wing 1800 motor Trike IRS is.....FRONT: 42.....REAR: 20.....pretty much runnin' 42 all the time now in the Front....Rears get adjusted between 20 to 25.....

 

[Coach 64]

Meredog
I see that you put a Michelin pilot Activ tire on your front, was wondering what size you used? I could not find the size I needed on my 07 1800 VTX (150 80/17 ). Thanks Tom

 

[Barnaclebill]

Thanks to all for your responses. Isn't it great too be able to put up a problem and get the answer right back from "Users". I'll make the necessary adjustments and see how it runs.

 

[v1butche]

If I switch to a car tire on the front of my trike (GL1800 MotorTrike), what other changes would I need to make? Another front rim? Different forks?
Thanks.

 

[Nana]

A car tire is really not recommended. Look for a bias ply rear motorcycle tire in the same size as your current front tire, and you are good to go for somewhere around 20,000 - 25,000 miles .

 

[trucker]

I would suggest for you to look for the same size your front tire is right now but look for a REAR tire to put on the front.
It will be a stiffer sidewall.
That was recommended to me right from the trike manufacturer.

 

[Gold Rush]

If I switch to a car tire on the front of my trike (GL1800 MotorTrike), what other changes would I need to make? Another front rim? Different forks?
Thanks.

There is a front end conversion (I believe it's called Euro something) that changes out the entire front fork and wheel assembly to accommodate a full car tire. They are extremely costly (like $4K) so not very popular. Most everyone I know of runs either the Bridgestone Battleaxx (BT45) or the Michelin Pilot Activ. Some run them in reverse rotation and others don't. Just depends on how you ride. I brake pretty hard with the front so I do run in reverse.

 

[skuuter]

I deliberately took the Gold Wing Trike out in the pouring rain today for a spin (not literally...) to test this tire again.....I ran it up and back down Monteagle Mountain fairly briskly.....in my opinion, still the Best Way to Go.....ThumbUp

 

[Mgammon]

Just did the Michelin Pilot Activ Rear Sport Bike Tire swap on the front of my 2008 Goldwing Roadsmith ..
So, the guy looked at me funny when I told him to put it on reversed, and I got a real surprised look
when he said, hey, this is a rear tire .. I told him I would not come get him if I didn't like it ... So, it is
on and OMG, what a difference. The front end feels 200lbs lighter, it executes on the flick of a finger on either side
and steering is very precise .. No wobble, no pull to the right (yet) .. Was so amazed
at the total feel, took it for a 100 mile loop just to ensure I was not dreaming ...
Used OEM size 130/70HR/18 ... If this feels this good on my trike, then it is a winner.
Almost lost it in the dealership because the guy kept trying to balance it .. Told him
don't bother because I had automatic balancers on the front ... He had never heard
them ...

Happy Camper ...

 

[Bill Reber]

When my Wing/Champion got it's MPA tire I had the same thrill only I put mine on in normal order , not sure what putting them on backwards is suposed to do ?

 

[Bill Reber]

I put a MPA on my bike and it's great so far . But I would like to know why reverse the rotation when you mount it ?? This does not make sence to my simple mind ?

 

[Ozarkryder]

It is the way tires are made. A rear tire is made so the forces are from acceleration - there are cords and a lap joint made to take the force pushing foreward. Front tires are made so to take into account more braking forces.

 

[Bill Reber]

On linked breaks are they not the same force , sort of like a car after all you don't have front and rear tires on a car they are all the same ? Oh well if it works it works ....

 

[Konrad]

On linked breaks are they not the same force , sort of like a car after all you don't have front and rear tires on a car they are all the same ? Oh well if it works it works ....

At the risk of restating the obvious - car tires and bike tires are different and subject to different forces. On bikes most of the stopping power comes from the front brakes.

 

[Bill Reber]

At the risk of restating the obvious - car tires and bike tires are different and subject to different forces. On bikes most of the stopping power comes from the front brakes.

Don't think that is true on a trike , my champion has a large disk on each wheel as most do so I think a trike is more like a car less one wheel . But what the hell if putting them on backwards works for you all's good.:Trike1:

 

[trucker]

At the risk of restating the obvious - car tires and bike tires are different and subject to different forces. On bikes most of the stopping power comes from the front brakes.

A general rule is:

You will go thru 2 pairs of front brakes to 1 pair of back brakes on a car.

So I guess a car is like a bike............on cars most of the stopping power comes from the front brakes!

So why is a bike different then a car? :Shrug:

 

[skuuter]

Motorcycles and Trikes have more stopping power in Front....."natural inertia" places more weight forward in hard braking....unless doing a "panic stop" or pulling up to a "full stop", I never use my rears. I brake for corners, etc. much like a Road Racer does....scrub speed with the Front Brake only....

 

[mtn rider]

I have 6000 on mine and it still looks brand new. Im totally satisfied. It is mounted in the forward direction on a 03 1800 C HONDA VTX.

 

[skuuter]

I have 6000 on mine and it still looks brand new. Im totally satisfied. It is mounted in the forward direction on a 03 1800 C HONDA VTX.

Yep, this definitly seems to be the way to go with Trikes.....:10:

 

[Mgammon]

Just finished my first 1000 miles on my MPA ... Love it .. No going back ..
Wonder how it would work on my Road Star ... hehehe

 

[robval87]

What is the tire size, and is it a front or rear wheel, use balance beads or weights, forward or backwards? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[John Luciano]

The tire size is as close to the size that you now have on the front of your bike now. The only change, you are looking for a tire that size but only in a REAR tire. You want to use the same rim you have on the front. The only change will be the tire. You also want that to be a BIAS PLY not a radial.
Go back and read the pages of this subject. Forward backward no one know what is best. Use your own judgement. I balanced mine conventionally. You will love the results.

 

[Bill Reber]

All I can add is what my dealer told me . Mounted forward means the rain groves do the job putting the water out to the side and back. mounting backwards the water can't chanel correctly . This is the opinion of Sumter Honda they build CSC and Champion and they stock the MPA and smeam to know Trikes well.