Front tire for trike

[djaecks]

I am currently running a stock front tire on my 2013 Roadsmith conversion. I am looking for suggestions as to what front tire to replace it with when the time comes. I believe I may have 5,000 miles on it if that. I've also heard of some riders mounting front tires backwards?

Does anyone have run flat tires on their trikes? Are you able to only run them as rear tires?

One last question.....I also need recommendations for front and rear tire inflation on the trike? I believe I've been running between 40 - 42 psi front and between 24 - 28 psi in rears.

We are heading to Yuma, AZ for the winter so will be running it in a warmer climate.

Thanks in advance for your assistance/ suggestions.

Denny

 

[CrystalPistol]

I am currently running a stock front tire on my 2013 Roadsmith conversion. I am looking for suggestions as to what front tire to replace it with ....... etc ....
Denny

Currently I have the Michelin Pilot Activ (no "e") 130/70-18 bias ply tire (I forget which way it's mounted) and while it wears like iron, mine has a low speed "buzz" vibration of sorts that is felt through the grips at 30-35 mph. It's only got maybe 5K miles and is still well over 1/2 "there". I am gonna remove it now while it still is so thick and may simply run it on the back of my '74 Trident as it is a rear tire.

What I am going to replace it with is a "Avon Front Cobra Trike AV71" 130/70R-18 BW tire - item# 90000020646 , it is a radial and was recently developed specifically for GL1500 / GL1800 Trike front tire use. I've read a lot about it, all over .... and here as well. All good.
http://www.avonmoto.com/testimonials/cobra

http://www.avonmoto.com/images/Cobra_Trike_AV-71.jpg

I run 38-40 psi in my front bias ply tire (cold setting) and 20-25 in rear P215/70-15 tires (20-22 unloaded with just wife and I on local roads, BRP, etc non interstate ..... and closer to 23-25 when towing trailer or anticipating a lot of higher speeds on smoother interstate like roads). I do check and adjust when tires are cold or I add 4psi for warmed tires .... it gets me close enough. I think the Avon radial front will be calling for a little more maybe?

 

[mhgoldwing]

Roadsmith recommended 28-30 psi in rear tires when I talked to them. I run 28 two-up and heavy. If loaded for trip with trailer I run 30 psi.

Front tires: all are 130/70-18

Avon Cobra Trike tire - radial tire developed for trikes. Run at 38-42 psi per Avon. Mount forward rotation only. This is what I'm running now. You can do a search and find lots of reviews. I think it's much better than the bias ply tires and plan on continued use. I'm on my second one now.

Michelin Pilot Activ - bias ply, rear sport bike tire. Run at 41 psi. Mount either forward or reverse. (I also had buzz in mine and never used again)

Battleax BT-45 - bias ply rear sport bike tire. Remainder same as MPA.

 

[87Trike1200]

Thank you for joining Trike Talk - good choice.

To save time waiting for a reply, try doing a site search (upper right) as there already are about "2 gazillion" posts on this subject...

Have fun, post often, ride safe.... ThumbUp

 

[Fireeater]

I use 40 psi on front and 28 on rear. Feels good. I ride 1 up most of time.

 

[kybigmac]

Get the Avon trike tire, you wont regret it.

 

[geol]

Zook, Might want to expand the scope of the tire sticky with the MPA topic. Seems this topic is a never ending reason for questions. Having ALL the feedback in one blob would make sense to me. I can't imagine ANYTHING about front tires for a Wing conversion that hasn't been discussed in the past month or two.