Front tire

[Ctmb]

This has been discussed before but we r new to trikes, what is the best front tire and will a trike wear it out faster?

 

[Gold Rush]

This has been discussed before but we r new to trikes, what is the best front tire and will a trike wear it out faster?

For years many of us have used a rear sport bike bias ply tire - Bridgestone Battle Axx BT-45 (same size as the OEM tire) or the Michelin Pro Activ (MPA). AVON has brought out a no kidding radial tire recently that is getting rave reviews. I have not personally run one of these yet but plan to give it a try when my current BT-45 needs replacing.

Regarding the ware out rate... I guess it does ware a bit quicker but not a huge amount. I use to get in the upper teens as a two wheel GL1800. When I converted and put the BT-45 on I only got around 15K. :xszpv: :xszpv:

 

[mhgoldwing]

IMO:

1. Avon Cobra Trike - new tire designed specifically for trikes. I have one and love it. Ride and handling much better than the two prevailing tires used before this came to market.

2. Battleax BT=45 - a bias ply sport bike rear tire. Very strong, great traction.

3. Michelin Pilot Activ - MPA - same characteristics as BT-45.

The reason for the bias ply rear tires up until now is that a trike would eat the stock radial tires on the 1800, usually obtaining only 5-7,000 miles. The heavy walled sport bike tires dramatically improved the mileage.

Your mileage out of any of these will greatly depend on where you ride the majority of the time. I live and ride in the Arkansas twisties on primarily chip-and-seal roads.

All trikes average only 11-13,000 miles out of a front tire. (Have had the Avon Cobra Trike tire long enough to wear it out yet so don't know. Currently has 8,000 on it) Flatlanders are reporting 25-30,000 miles out of both the BT-45 and MPA. I think the Avon tire will do at least as well in mileage, but I will buy another because the ride and handling are so much better. YMMV.

 

[1800 06 Champion Trike]

I put on a MPA rear tire mounted in reverse @ 41 psi, shortly after I bought my new 06 Goldwing Champion. I didn't like the stock front tire and was also putting on a new chrome front wheel to march the chrome back ones.
I got 25,000 miles out of it and only change to a new one as we were going out west.
I put on a new one and now have over 25,000 miles and still looks good.

 

[Ctmb]

Ft tires

Thanks for the info.

 

[kybigmac]

This has been discussed before but we r new to trikes, what is the best front tire and will a trike wear it out faster?

Don't know if its the best, but I just got the cobra trike tire and I really like it! I took it on a 130 mile ride today and it stuck like glue . If it will give me decent mileage it will be my tire of choice.

 

[Gorilla]

welcome aboard

 

[Dman]

Front Tire wear

I have a GW1800 and a Roadsmith kit with almost 10k on the front tire but its getting cupped pretty good. The tire is a Bridgestone Battlas BT45R running 41psi per the tire info. Much of my riding is highway and good roads. How is everyone getting 15k out of theirs? I'm looking to getting a replacement soon.

 

[cavie]

use the search box. you can read for hours.

 

[Solidbob]

If your tire is truely as you say a BT45R - the "R" stands for Radial / it is not a Bias Ply tire and they do make the same tire Non-Radial BT45, have seen this occurr a lot.., I've always rum MPA's and never had a problem, just make sure its a Rear Sport Bike tire in Bias Ply.....

I have a GW1800 and a Roadsmith kit with almost 10k on the front tire but its getting cupped pretty good. The tire is a Bridgestone Battlas BT45R running 41psi per the tire info. Much of my riding is highway and good roads. How is everyone getting 15k out of theirs? I'm looking to getting a replacement soon.

 

[Lucky]

I have ran BT45'S with good success. Thinking the R is the problem you are having. GOOD LUCK! RIDE SAFE

 

[FRR]

I have a GW1800 and a Roadsmith kit with almost 10k on the front tire but its getting cupped pretty good. The tire is a Bridgestone Battlas BT45R running 41psi per the tire info. Much of my riding is highway and good roads. How is everyone getting 15k out of theirs? I'm looking to getting a replacement soon.

You are not the only one. I've got 14k on the BT 45 and it is cupped so bad it comes off Monday. In my case it is cupped only of the right side which I'm told is caused by the trike kit not being aligned properly. I'll get that fixed Tuesday. I'll also have the anti dive disabled. Got a new BT 45 ready to go on. We'll see how the next one wears.

 

[Dman]

Thanks everyone for the input. I'll be looking into the Avon and bias ply BT45.

 

[Dman]

Well, after looking into the Avon I've ordered one. A specific trike tire convinced me to try it. I'll let you know how it goes! Shopped around and got it for $154 delivered. :laugh:

 

[Solidbob]

Dman,
Remember it is also a Radial, I still say as I have stated in prior tire threads the R/H Cupping on a Goldwing is a front end problem. Please read the following as it is not from me, they have years of experience with this problem: http://www.traxxion.com/Gold-Wing/ I bought a 2003 GL1800 and within a year of hard riding trying all types of tires and having all of them cup on the right side / Crowned Roads or Interstates it didn't matter. At least 5 tires in the first year from Bias to Radials when it was still a bike... in 2004 I changed to AK-20 Traxxion front end and the next ME880 Front that Honda furnished got 21,000 as a bike..... no cupping.... In 2012 we added our Roadsmith kit HT1800 along with a SuperBrace and changed to the MPA Bias tire mounted reverse to try..... that tire never cupped in its 23,500 miles and we changed to another one because of a planned Canadian trip.... Just some FYI

Tires don't cup on the R/H downhill side without something being off.....

 

[Dman]

I appreciate your input. My tire cups on both sides, not just the r/h side. I'll look into the super brace. With the tire on order and trip planned I'll see what happens and update later. thanks again.

 

[schiel1]

I noticed on this and other threads that some recommend installing a rear tire in the front in the reverse rotating position. When I installed mine I installed it in the forward rotating position, rides great before and after the conversion. I have 10,000 miles on my BT45R's with 2,000 as a trike and it still looks like new.
So why do some install it in reverse. It seems to me the tire tread is designed to run in a specific rotation no matter where is installed. The tread pattern is designed to expell the water, so installing it backwards will defeat that purpose?
But then I am no expert on tires

 

[Dman]

I noticed on this and other threads that some recommend installing a rear tire in the front in the reverse rotating position. When I installed mine I installed it in the forward rotating position, rides great before and after the conversion. I have 10,000 miles on my BT45R's with 2,000 as a trike and it still looks like new.
So why do some install it in reverse. It seems to me the tire tread is designed to run in a specific rotation no matter where is installed. The tread pattern is designed to expell the water, so installing it backwards will defeat that purpose?
But then I am no expert on tires

I've had two BT45R's one over time installed in the reverse. Same result, about 10k and then the cupping is bad. I should clarify that that was two different trikes. I'll put the new Avon's per the tire and run the pressure per the tire, after all, the tire was designed for a trike. I just hope this solves the issue.