New Michelin front tire

[Gorilla]

Baz the reverse DOR is really mostly for wear. Most rear tires have a deeper thread so more to wear off. I'm not sure what the reverse rotation does because the rotation is usually for dispitating the water under the tire via the tread pattern.

The bias ply will give you stiffer side walls therefor more thread stays on the pavement.

 

[John Luciano]

I noticed a big difference in the first 1/4 mile of driving.

 

[Boscoporp]

I am on my second Trike. Both of them had the Michelin Pilot Activ running in reverse. There is a lot of opinions about the reverse theory. Personally I have gotten a lot of miles out of the tires and they seem to have a lot of grip on the road. I feel very confident with that tire in the rain too!

 

[BlueTrinity]

I agree with the concept of the bias ply tire holding a better dry road grip and providing better steering. I have not researched it, but I suspect that on wet surfaces that may not necessarily hold true.

Reversing the tire direction however, is another matter.

It defies all logic that a tread design specifically engineered to move water from the front center of the contact patch to the rear outside will perform that function as adequately when rotating in the opposite direction.

Paradoxically, it is also a logical assumption, that pushing the water volume toward the contact patch instead of away from it, will increase the risk of hydroplaning, which by its very definition is when a layer of water builds between the rubber tires of the vehicle and the road surface, leading to the loss of traction.

I personally cannot justify even a small compromise in safety in exchange for whatever small savings I may gain from the increased mileage befor tire replacement.

Everyone must make their own personal decision, but that's my :2cents: worth.

 

[Gorilla]

I agree with BT. I will run a rear on the front because of the more rubber to start with, but I think I will leave the rotation as designed by the engineers.

 

[Baz]

I agree with the concept of the bias ply tire holding a better dry road grip and providing better steering. I have not researched it, but I suspect that on wet surfaces that may not necessarily hold true.

Reversing the tire direction however, is another matter.

It defies all logic that a tread design specifically engineered to move water from the front center of the contact patch to the rear outside will perform that function as adequately when rotating in the opposite direction.

Paradoxically, it is also a logical assumption, that pushing the water volume toward the contact patch instead of away from it, will increase the risk of hydroplaning, which by its very definition is when a layer of water builds between the rubber tires of the vehicle and the road surface, leading to the loss of traction.

I personally cannot justify even a small compromise in safety in exchange for whatever small savings I may gain from the increased mileage befor tire replacement.

Everyone must make their own personal decision, but that's my :2cents: worth.

An Excellent logical answer. Thank you. Baz

 

[JJTRIKER]

Well, i have ran the tire on my valkyrie reversed for 20k no cupping and no hydroplaning. The tire when i traded it still had over 50 % wear left.
Now because of sizing problems i am running a shimco rear tire on the front reversed i have driven it 12k with vertually no problems except for some minor cupping because the installer didnt put in the proper air pressure.(harley guy) hates trikes as well. Not going back. I expect it to go another 20k+at least. I will take a photo of it today and post it.
Anyway i also know a guy that ran the active 51k before changing it and he also ran it reversed.
I also am a logical guy but, i also dont know anything other than results.

 

[BlueTrinity]

the installer didnt put in the proper air pressure.(harley guy) .

Do I detect a bit of brand bias there?
Sure glad I don't have any!:Flag:


Seriously though, you make my point that every rider must make their own decisions, based on their own assessment of what is best for themselves.

 

[JJTRIKER]

yes you are correct no brand bias i was just teasing actually sorry no offence

 

[BlueTrinity]

None taken. And I was just pokin some back at you.

 

[cjmitch]

Reversing the tire direction however, is another matter.

It defies all logic that a tread design specifically engineered to move water from the front center of the contact patch to the rear outside will perform that function as adequately when rotating in the opposite direction.

The reason that you should reverse the PA is that there are different shear forces on a rear tire than on a front tire...
Let me explain...

The time when its most critical for a REAR tire to have good adhesion is when the tire is starting off, IE you hit the throttle and take off.

Now picture the tire from the side with that rotational force being applied, the tire will compress slightly at the front (at the point of contact with the ground "contact patch"), now if the rain dispersion groves are orientated as they are on the FRONT tire (ie pushing water foreward, and to the sides), the as the tire "scrunches" it will close off those channels, and to a degree give you a smooth tire (ie a racing slick = hydroplaining, not good:no:.)

You can see this effect when you watch a top fuel, or nascar racer hit the throttle, notic how the tire winkles at the bottom.

NOTE: rain tires are not designed to push water out of the back. they are designed to ush it to the sides, and slightly foreawrd of the vertical center axis. NOT THE BACK, WHY, because once a section of the tire reaches the bottom of the vertical axis, it is then starting to rise from the ground, is no need to remove anything

NOW look at the other side of that contact patch, where the tire is comming OFF the ground in the back. That area is being STRETCHED, so it would make more sense that the treads would be reversed, so that the tire would PUSH the water out of the back of the tire, where these water chanels are being opened up

So now you take that tire and put it in the front, you must reverse the tire rotation to get the correct orientation of the rain groves / tread

Now you may ask why dosen't this happen to the front? Well a front tire (on a MC) is basicaly free wheeling. There are no rotational forces being exerted on the tire BY THE BIKE, it not a drive wheel.
so that "scruncehd" contact patch does not exist, and the tire is free to push the water out of the way via the front/sides.

This is how a Michelin tire rep explained it to me

 

[cjmitch]

deleted

 

[JJTRIKER]

I want to thank you for the explanation i didnt know. I just do what i'm told to do. Now i have a couple of x's that will not agree with that but thats another story lol

thanks

 

[Gorilla]

It does make sense, but I need to give it some more thought.

 

[cjmitch]

NOW look at the other side of that contact patch, where the tire is comming OFF the ground in the back. That area is being STRETCHED, so it would make more sense that the treads would be reversed, so that the tire would PUSH the water out of the back of the tire, where these water chanels are being opened up

I made an error on the above statement... it shoud be as follows
NOW look at the other side of that contact patch, where the tire is comming OFF the ground in the back. That area is being STRETCHED, so it would make more sense that the treads would be reversed, so that the tire would Let the water just flow out of the back of the tire, where these water chanels are being opened up

Thats what I get for trying to "think" as I type

 

[JJTRIKER]

HERE I WHAT MY TIRE LOOKS LIKE AFTER 12K