Rear tire coming apart mounted in front. (Read 1st post)

[Big_Steve]

Does anyone have first hand knowledge of a rear tire that was mounted in front, using forward (not reversed) rotation coming apart?

In the poll, I'm using these definitions:

First hand: It happened to me, or I saw it myself on someone's trike.

Second hand: I didn't actually see it, but I heard it direct from the rider it happened to.

Third hand: Heard about it through the grape-vine.

Nope: Never actually heard/read of an account where it actually happened.

I'm just trying to learn. Hope this doesn't spark a war.

 

[skuuter]

Never heard of it, and as much ridin' as I do, and since joinin' the "Trikin Community" I keep comin' in contact with more and more Folks usin' this set-up, both reversed and straight up. None I've talked to so far, have had any kind of issues, but all profess to very extended mileage.....:wtg:

 

[Ray]

I'm thinking seriously of taking my Honda mechanic's suggestion and putting a Bridgestone Battlax BT45 on the front of my trike. He claims, if it's mounted "backwards" so as not to chance breaking the lap joints, that I can get up to 10k+ miles out of it. The Dunlops I've been using just don't have that kind of staying power. If any of you have any experience using this set up, please reply....

Thanks,

Ray

 

[ThirdWheel]

I'm thinking seriously of taking my Honda mechanic's suggestion and putting a Bridgestone Battlax BT45 on the front of my trike. He claims, if it's mounted "backwards" so as not to chance breaking the lap joints, that I can get up to 10k+ miles out of it. The Dunlops I've been using just don't have that kind of staying power. If any of you have any experience using this set up, please reply....

Thanks,

Ray

A lot of folks on here do that, everyone has had nothing but positive feedback doing that. Here in the best explanation I have read posted in another thread by a member.
Tires Directional Arrows Explained By Avon Tyres at Cyril Huze Blog

 

[Big_Steve]

Interesting results.

I suppose the next question would have to be along the lines of "how many trikers do you know with rear tires on front that haven't reversed the tire?"

 

[John Luciano]

10,000 I bet more like 20,000. I have 14,000 on mine and not even thinking of changing it . Have had a few use the battle axe. I have heard of almost every brand being used even the cheap JC Whitney tires with good results. I have not heard any pro or con from mounting it in either direction. got nothing to loose . do an update for us on how it turns out. We are trying to find out if there really is a difference . So far don't seem to be any.

 

[BlueTrinity]

We are trying to find out if there really is a difference . So far don't seem to be any.

Kinda make you wonder why do it...huh?:busted:

 

[John Luciano]

I did 5 years ago only because it was a new idea and I was told, that is what you did . I was not thinking the biggest part of this idea was the design , depth of tread ,flatness of tire and non radial was more important to the plan ,

 

[skuuter]

Interesting results.

I suppose the next question would have to be along the lines of "how many trikers do you know with rear tires on front that haven't reversed the tire?"

I'm one.....got 4000 miles on it right now on my Gold Wing Trike with seemingly no wear. I only got 5000 Total miles out of the stock Dunlop (actually needed replacin' at around 4000)......lookin' really promisin' so far, and I'm not always real easy on a tire.....

 

[triwinggirl]

Question?

Do the rear Tires on the front handle, turn better than cycle tires?

 

[Big_Steve]

Question?

Do the rear Tires on the front handle, turn better than cycle tires?

My experience is limited, so take that into consideration...... At this point, I'm starting to believe the bigger the trike, the bigger the differance. My trike is a VTX 1300, not very large compared to a wing. I don't think my bike handles any differently at all since I put an MPA rear on the front, reversed rotation. It's just louder then the old front Dunlop is all. I may remount it forward rotation just to see if it quiets down.

My regular dealer told me rear on front wouldn't be a good idea. Told me to put a Metzler 880 front tire on. But I chose the rear MPA. My guy was so adament it was a bad idea, he wouldn't sell/install it for me.

That probably confused you more than it helped. Sorry.

 

[meredog]

My guy installed my MTA backwards and gave me a receipt for the tire
only---- wouldn't give me receipt for install because i put it on backwards

 

[Lucky]

I asked my mechanic about a MPA and he sez that it or a Bridgestone something or other mounted backwards was the only way to go.Since I had never seen the Bridgestone mentoined here I went with the MPA.Bout a 1000 miles ago and it seems great.He has never steered me wrong yet

 

[Big_Steve]

I asked my mechanic about a MPA and he sez that it or a Bridgestone something or other mounted backwards was the only way to go.Since I had never seen the Bridgestone mentoined here I went with the MPA.Bout a 1000 miles ago and it seems great.He has never steered me wrong yet

That's what I ended up doing too. It was a tough call, since my regular guy practically bleeds motor oil. (He was adamant that it was a bad choice)

I wonder if he's going to throw me out the next time I go there?

Meredog..... The place that mounted the tire for me doesn't sell the MPA, so I got it online and took it there. They wrote up a whole paragraph on the receipt saying they accepted no liability if something happens due to the tire being mounted backwards. They made sure I signed it.

I live in Fl, where there seem to be a lot of trikes. Yet I could only find one shop (locally) that would mount the tire reversed, and they had never heard of it................

 

[Capt Chaos]

I purchased my Bridgestone Battlax from the Motorcycle Superstore online, had it within a week. I then looked at the installers they had mentioned, called them up and when I went in, gave them a copy of the Avon article, along with some TT members blogs. They didn't have any problem and only charged $30 for the install.

 

[Big_Steve]

I purchased my Bridgestone Battlax from the Motorcycle Superstore online, had it within a week. I then looked at the installers they had mentioned, called them up and when I went in, gave them a copy of the Avon article, along with some TT members blogs. They didn't have any problem and only charged $30 for the install.

The question is, does what Avon says apply to anything they don't manufacture?

We went for a short ride today. I had music and the intercom, and forgot all about the extra noise from the MPA. So maybe I'll just leave it reversed.

 

[BlueTrinity]

I had music and the intercom, and forgot all about the extra noise from the MPA. So maybe I'll just leave it reversed.

Yeah...I hear what you're saying. I had an awful screech inside the primary, but I cranked up the volume and BINGO...haven't heard the noise for weeks!

 

[Big_Steve]

Yeah...I hear what you're saying. I had an awful screech inside the primary, but I cranked up the volume and BINGO...haven't heard the noise for weeks!

That's what my dad used to do. :yes:

 

[jim peacock]

If you have a 1500 DO NOT USE A METZLER TIRE,they have had all kinds of problems with their rear tires coming apart on 1500s.
:no::no::no::no:

 

[trikes4ever]

I wouldn't put a metzler on a wheelbarrow

 

[W7AX]

I use a Michelin Pilot Activ mounted in reverse and never a problem in 60K . I just put a new 2010 Motor Trike Adventure on a 2010 Goldwing and the first thing I did was to install a new Michelin. Usually get 20 to 25K before renewal time.

 

[Boscoporp]

I have had two MPA installed on two different Trikes. I had them installed backwards and never had a problem. I have always gotten over 25,000 miles on all of them.

 

[skuuter]

Michelin Pilot Activ Rear on Front, mounted straight up, 9000+ miles, still no really visible wear, and still performing Great.....

 

[batteryman]

I am new to the forum so I must ask a silly question. When you talk about a "rear" tire mounted on the front, are you talking about a rear trike tire or a rear mc tire? I have a 2000 goldfwing/dft, and the stock mc tires are 2 different sizes. I woould like to put a Michelin Pilot Activ on the front but what size tire do I order? Thanks

 

[Nana]

Welcome, batteryman

Rear trike tires are actually car tires. I believe the intent here is to put a rear motorcycle tire on the front wheel of the trike. MPA is definitely a favorite among our members. You just have to select a size of rear motorcycle tire that is comparable to the size current front tire you have. Whether or not to mount it in forward or reverse direction is entirely up to you -- either way, you will get a much longer wearing tire and great handling. There are several discussions of this topic on here. Do a search for "front tires" and you'll find lots of great reading material!

 

[skuuter]

Welcome, batteryman

Rear trike tires are actually car tires. I believe the intent here is to put a rear motorcycle tire on the front wheel of the trike. MPA is definitely a favorite among our members. You just have to select a size of rear motorcycle tire that is comparable to the size current front tire you have. Whether or not to mount it in forward or reverse direction is entirely up to you -- either way, you will get a much longer wearing tire and great handling. There are several discussions of this topic on here. Do a search for "front tires" and you'll find lots of great reading material!

Yep....the Michelin Pilot Activ Rear Tire that fits the Gold Wing Front is the same size as a Kawasaki Ninja 250 Rear......ThumbUp

 

[Feg]

I had a BT45R on my 08 GW Hannigan trike and changed it out after 16,000 miles. The scalloping on the tire made the tire sing. There was still a good amount of tread on the tire. It was mounted in the reverse direction. I just replaced a MPA after 20,500 miles. It also scalloped and had significant vibration at speed, it was also mounted in the reverse rotation. I put another MPA on, but this time I did not mount it in the reverse direction. We'll see how it goes.

 

[Gorilla]

I had a BT45R on my 08 GW Hannigan trike and changed it out after 16,000 miles. The scalloping on the tire made the tire sing. There was still a good amount of tread on the tire. It was mounted in the reverse direction. I just replaced a MPA after 20,500 miles. It also scalloped and had significant vibration at speed, it was also mounted in the reverse rotation. I put another MPA on, but this time I did not mount it in the reverse direction. We'll see how it goes.

Thanks for that in put. Will be interested in the out come.

 

[jfingalls]

I recently had a Mich Pilot Activ installed straight up on my 08 GW Trike. The MC mechanics at this particular company would not install it in the reverse rotation. Fortunately, I did not want to anyway. I personally don't agree with the reverse rotation explanation. The process used to fuse the tire together is better than the tire parent material (rubber) so the probability of coming apart is near zilch.

 

[Big_Steve]

I recently had a Mich Pilot Activ installed straight up on my 08 GW Trike. The MC mechanics at this particular company would not install it in the reverse rotation. Fortunately, I did not want to anyway. I personally don't agree with the reverse rotation explanation. The process used to fuse the tire together is better than the tire parent material (rubber) so the probability of coming apart is near zilch.

There was a link to an article posted here by Avon Tyres that instructed folks to use reverse rotation. Because of the splice coming apart. That's pretty compelling. But the question is, does everyone manufacturer their tires the same way Avon does?