Front Wheel Backwards?

[pcombe]

Saying that a dealer will screw up other stuff if they are willing to mount a front tire backwards is an interesting statement to make. My dealer is a Class A operation and they have the common sense to look at new things with common sense. They now carry a lot of parts in inventory that I have introduced them to, and that some dealers refuse to install.

And those of us who have actually reversed our tires and actually experienced the benefits must not know what we are talking about?? There are more threads about this subject than can be counted, and the few naysayers that pop up never ever have a basis for saying that it is wrong. Disagreeing with this practice is a personal opinion of course, but does not hold much water when the huge number of Trike owners that have actually experienced it have actual proof of the benefits.

Just sayin' that there will always be differences of opinion on some things, but if you do disagree with something, it would be more credible if you had some sort of proof other than "Just my opinion".. Show us your proof... We have ours!!!!

I'm with you all the way on this issue Trent.
Those who have actually done it have the experience to pass on to those who are considering it, Ignorance arises out of opinion,fact blows opinion out of the water every time.
I had to sign a release letter for the dealer that mounted my tire so what?
How many dealers have trike experience?

Here is my only real life warning.
Make sure the rear tire you are mounting backward on the front of your
trike is exactly same size as the tire you are replacing for reasons that should be obvious including speedometer.
My trike rides just a little harder on the front end because the rubber compound is harder than a regular front tire but the benefits outweigh the difference. I have had no handling issues whatsoever in every
condition or circumstance.
I find if i run the tire at max inflation it's even a more stable tire in mountainous terrain or in high speed turns.

 

[Shriner Jim]

I'm with you all the way on this issue Trent.
Those who have actually done it have the experience to pass on to those who are considering it, Ignorance arises out of opinion,fact blows opinion out of the water every time.
I had to sign a release letter for the dealer that mounted my tire so what?
How many dealers have trike experience?

Here is my only real life warning.
Make sure the rear tire you are mounting backward on the front of your
trike is exactly same size as the tire you are replacing for reasons that should be obvious including speedometer.
My trike rides just a little harder on the front end because the rubber compound is harder than a regular front tire but the benefits outweigh the difference. I have had no handling issues whatsoever in every
condition or circumstance.
I find if i run the tire at max inflation it's even a more stable tire in mountainous terrain or in high speed turns.

The front tire size has NOTHING to do with the speedometer. That went by the way of the moped. Just be sure the tire size you select will fit between the fender mounts. I've done this on a previous trike, unbelievable mileage. I have a 2012 TG and it will be due a new front tire this year and it will be a rear tire mounted in reverse.

 

[pcombe]

The front tire size has NOTHING to do with the speedometer. That went by the way of the moped. Just be sure the tire size you select will fit between the fender mounts. I've done this on a previous trike, unbelievable mileage. I have a 2012 TG and it will be due a new front tire this year and it will be a rear tire mounted in reverse.

has it occurred to you that some of us do have a mechanical drive speedometer?

 

[FLTR2008TRIKE]

has it occurred to you that some of us do have a mechanical drive speedometer?

If you mount the MT90B 16" rear tire on the front, its the same diamter as the front tire.

Also the Dunlop MU85 rear is the same height as the front.

 

[pcombe]

If you mount the MT90B 16" rear tire on the front, its the same diamter as the front tire.

Also the Dunlop MU85 rear is the same height as the front.

That certainly was the case on my 89tourglide

 

[Sloufoot]

That certainly was the case on my 89tourglide

Putting a rear tire on the front will also make a difference in the outer circumference because it has more rubber on the tire to make the tread deeper ! If you have a direct drive to the front wheel,,,,, well,,,,, If you can't find the correct drive gears a little math might keep you away from the guy with the ticket book !
It isn't like you are going to a 17"or taller tire. But there would be a very small drop in your speedo reading. Basically like changing from a worn out tire to a new one plus a little.:cxtv:

 

[Trent]

My speedo has never been accurate since the day it was new. Always off 2 to 3 mph... I have used my gps from day one as my digital speedo.

 

[GARYD]

I'm not a bit worried about going 3 or 4 mph over the speed limit, and as Trent said, my speedo (actually on any of my bikes) has never been correct.

 

[Shriner Jim]

has it occurred to you that some of us do have a mechanical drive speedometer?

On a Harley Trike? Don't think so.

 

[pcombe]

On a Harley Trike? Don't think so.

Jim, im talking about a 1989 Harley tour glide ultra that I converted to a trike, Not a factory built machine.
I would love to have a tri- glide but they are out of my price range and one of the very few factory built trikes, therefore i think i could comfortably say that the majority of trikes on the road are conversions and some still have mechanical drive speedometers

 

[Shriner Jim]

Jim, im talking about a 1989 Harley tour glide ultra that I converted to a trike, Not a factory built machine.
I would love to have a tri- glide but they are out of my price range and one of the very few factory built trikes, therefore i think i could comfortably say that the majority of trikes on the road are conversions and some still have mechanical drive speedometers

Sorry Brother, my bad.

 

[pcombe]

Sorry Brother, my bad.

No problem Jim, right info just the wrong application.

 

[rider1234us]

put a dunlop d402 rear tire on backwards [ with 'ride on' tire balance and leak preventative] ran it 250 miles and was not very impressed with the handling, so last night i turned it around so it ran forwards, put another 250 on it today.
my 2c worth , run the tire in the direction it is made to run, for me the handling was greatly improved running it forward and it handled better than the front tire [500/16 dunlop d404 that wore out at 5500 miles] how long the new tire will last will remain to be seen.
i don't know anything about tire compounds so the difference in the wear between 404 or 402 . the front tire when i triked the bike was a 402 and i think i got around 12,000 out of it after it became a trike total life being about 16000???