would like to replace the front tire on my 2011. its got Dunlop 402 on it right now. was going to buy the avon trike tire but here a lot about running a rear tire in reverse rotation. would like to here more about this and the advantages of running it in reverse rotation. also not to worried about how many miles I can get out of a tire, more interested in putting the best tire money can buy to get the best steering performance. also, why cant I run a radial tire in the front? thanks for everybodys input.
rear tire in front. advantage?
- Thread starter johndeeredr
- Start date
The only thing I've heard that actually makes sense as to why doing that might some day cause a problem is the way the overlap is bonded. It's designed so on hard braking you won't peel the overlap apart. If you reverse the direction, rather than 'sliding' over the overlap it could catch and peel it apart. Sorta made sense to me but I wonder how it plays out in reality. I can certainly see it would tear at and pull at the overlap more but just how good is that bond anyway?
I put a Michelin directional tire on the front of my scooter. Seems good . If I get time will call tec support and ask if any benifactor.
My Michelin Commander II rear is mounted in reverse rotation .. PER MICHELIN"S INSTRUCTIONS for mounting a rear tire up front.
If you look close you will see the direction arrow on the tread near the sidewall.
I am extremely happy with how this tire rides and handles the corners.
Bob
If you look close you will see the direction arrow on the tread near the sidewall.
I am extremely happy with how this tire rides and handles the corners.
Bob
This started many years ago with trikers looking for tires with deeper tread, thus more mileage. Even a couple tire manufacturers suggested reverse rotation due to braking forces.
Doesn't seem to make much difference.
With the release of the Avon trike specific front tire, I see no reason to use the rear tire on the front, reversed or not.
While "talking" about this, it became almost mandatory to run 41/42psi in these sport bike rear tires.
Did that with my first Bridgestone BT45. What a harsh ride that turned out to be! Now running 36psi for a much more pleasant ride!
Doesn't seem to make much difference.
With the release of the Avon trike specific front tire, I see no reason to use the rear tire on the front, reversed or not.
While "talking" about this, it became almost mandatory to run 41/42psi in these sport bike rear tires.
Did that with my first Bridgestone BT45. What a harsh ride that turned out to be! Now running 36psi for a much more pleasant ride!
- Thread starter
- #6
what size is the commander 2? and is it a radial tire or bias? also I was just checking at bike bandit web site, I can either get a radial tire or a bias avon cobra tire. im thinking the radial tire is better. need some advise.
MT90B16 73H .... same as stock .... just a rear tire in the same size for more tread depth / more mileage.
http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/michelin-commander-ii-rear-tires
ra
Radials are not usually recommended for trikes!
Look up the Avon Cobra trike specific front tire.
Radials are not usually recommended for trikes!
Look up the Avon Cobra trike specific front tire.
My understanding of the Rear tire for the front is that it also gives a slightly larger contact patch. As the rear tire has a different radius, more rubber to the road. Thoughts?
jc
jc
YES!!!! To me the contact patch seems much better than the original Dunlop for a trike application. I have noticed very little "skip" when pushed very hard. I have found no down side to my decision to go with the Michelin Commander II rear on the front of my 2014 TG.
Bob
- Thread starter
- #12
after much thought, I decided on the avon trike tire. I have no doubt that the rear tire mounted backwards is a good way to go. but since avon makes a front tire made for are application, ill go that route. ordered it yesterday will be here today and going to have it mounted today. I will ride next 3 days and report back on tueday. thanks for everybodys input!
DK Custom Products
Sponsor
after much thought, I decided on the avon trike tire. I have no doubt that the rear tire mounted backwards is a good way to go. but since avon makes a front tire made for are application, ill go that route. ordered it yesterday will be here today and going to have it mounted today. I will ride next 3 days and report back on tueday. thanks for everybodys input!
Looking forward to your report. ThumbUp
I've been running a rear reversed for the last 15k miles and it is MUCH better than stock.
Like you said, Avon should be even better since they were specifically engineered for the trike front...if they did it "right".
Kevin
just to open another avenue for you this topic has discussed many times.
If you look at the top of the page and use the search feature you can access all the archived info that has been written on any given subject. ThumbUp
Try and use simple words and questions for best results?
If you look at the top of the page and use the search feature you can access all the archived info that has been written on any given subject. ThumbUp
Try and use simple words and questions for best results?
I ran a Bridgestone rear tire on the front of my Goldwing GL-1800 trike. The installer failed to put it on "reversed" as I asked him to do but I had no problems running it in the forward rotation. A rear tire has much more tread depth than the same size front tire so you will get significantly more mileage out of it. I didn't notice any real difference in the handling but I was after more miles so I was happy.
Sunman
Sunman
I'm an Engineer by trade. I know nothing about tires, tire rotation, or composition of tires. I leave that up to tire and motorcycle engineers. I can only think that they produce front and rear tires for a reason.
Good Luck
Good Luck
If my measurements are correct, the depth of the tread on the new Avon is 11/32. I believe this is the same as a rear tire, so you get the extra tread with the Avon
- Thread starter
- #18
had the avon trike tire mounted to and took off for the hills near Yosemite national park. just got back and all I can say is if anybody has the oem Dunlop 402 still on the ride take it off and spend the money on a avon trike tire. im fairly new to riding a trike and my first 2 rides on the same roads in short were pretty hairy in the turns, the steering was heavy and sometimes I felt I was going out of control.today, I had the best ride yet! did the same route and felt totally in control in the corners and long sweeping turns on the hwy. 38 psi front 22 psi rear and 25 psi in shocks. if you still like the idea of a rear tire running in reverse, I would say that that's probably has good has the avon trike tire, don't think you can go wrong with either choice. also have the comfort lift kit installed from DK products. cant wait to go again!
Thanks for the Avon writeup, please keep us posted as you get more miles on it.
DK Custom Products
Sponsor
had the avon trike tire mounted to and took off for the hills near Yosemite national park. just got back and all I can say is if anybody has the oem Dunlop 402 still on the ride take it off and spend the money on a avon trike tire. im fairly new to riding a trike and my first 2 rides on the same roads in short were pretty hairy in the turns, the steering was heavy and sometimes I felt I was going out of control.today, I had the best ride yet! did the same route and felt totally in control in the corners and long sweeping turns on the hwy. 38 psi front 22 psi rear and 25 psi in shocks. if you still like the idea of a rear tire running in reverse, I would say that that's probably has good has the avon trike tire, don't think you can go wrong with either choice. also have the comfort lift kit installed from DK products. cant wait to go again!
Great report! Glad to hear you had a good time riding. ThumbUp Those are some great roads out that way.
When I went with the rear reversed it was a significant improvement, but it does not sound like as much as an improvement as you experienced.
Looking forward to hearing future reports...this may be my next front tire.
Kevin
after much thought, I decided on the avon trike tire. I have no doubt that the rear tire mounted backwards is a good way to go. but since avon makes a front tire made for are application, ill go that route. ordered it yesterday will be here today and going to have it mounted today. I will ride next 3 days and report back on tueday. thanks for everybodys input!
Which Avon tire did you use on the front?
- Thread starter
- #23
its a AV-71 MTB-90B-16 TRIKE TIRE. there is another avon AV 71 front tire but its a radial tre. it will say for a trike. avon makes its just for are application on tri glides. may fit other trikes not to sure. by the way, just got back from a 150 mile trip in the foothills of calif. nothing but praise for this tire. lowered my shocks to 20 psi. had a great time, still learning, but feel more confident on a trike in the twistys, still a little trouble in the long sweeping left hands turns on a 2 lane hyw. but that's just me trying to find what works for me.. I will say it again, if your new to trikes and have the Dunlop 402 tire, TAKE IT OFF and either go with a reverse rear tire or a avon trke tire. spend the 200 or so bones and it will be the best mod you will ever make. thanks again for everbodys input.:clapping:
My Michelin Commander II rear is mounted in reverse rotation .. PER MICHELIN"S INSTRUCTIONS for mounting a rear tire up front.
If you look close you will see the direction arrow on the tread near the sidewall.
I am extremely happy with how this tire rides and handles the corners.
Bob
View attachment 33275
Bob,
After reading this posting I sent an email to Michelin asking them about them recommending you reverse mount a rear tire on the front. I plan to do this but I had never been able to get a manufacturer say they would recommend this. Below is a excerpt from the email I sent to them and the response also. I would love to know who gave you that advice.
thanks, Mike
---------------------------------------------------------------------
I need to replace the front tire on my 2014 Harley Tri Glide. I am interested in your Commander II line and I have seen a lot of people buying a 130/90B16 rear tire for the front and mounting with the directional arrow going reversed. Some have said that you actually recommend this, is this true?
---------------------------------------------------------------------
We appreciate your request for clarification on the use of a rear tire on the front wheel position of your trike. The rear tire tread pattern is designed for acceleration while the front tire tread pattern is designed for braking and stopping. Therefore, we do not recommend the use of a rear motorcycle tire as a front application regardless of the mounting direction. At this time we do not produce a tire that would be a proper fitment for your vehicle. We are sorry for any inconvenience.
I can understand a technical reason for which, on a 2 wheeled, a rear tire must be mounted backwards on a front wheel. As the rear tire must sustain significant forces when accelerating, the front tire must sustain significant forces when decelerating, mainly due to center of gravity shift. But I don't think this is the case on a trike. At least not on mine, which is a trike built as a trike (Rewaco). On conversion trikes I don't know, never seen one in reality. But mine has a significat braking force on the rear axle, by design. Its center of gravity is way in the back, the engine is mounted between the rear wheels. I'd say at least 70% of braking energy is dissipated on the rear axle. My front tire is 200/50R17 and in the back I have two 335/30R18, so a lot of contact surface is on the back. Furthermore, the surface of the braking pads on the back is double compared with the pads in the front. Mine has in front a bridgestone G852 mounted normal. I care more about the correct direction of water evacuation channels than the braking force on the front tire. I cannot say more, as the trike is still in repairs and I've done only few km at low speed testing it.
My tire installer called them directly. Here is info on this from Avon http://cyrilhuzeblog.com/2009/08/23/tires-directional-arrows-explained-by-avon-tyres/
I really think it does not matter since trikes do the majority of braking with our rear tires (especially with the 2014+ with linked brakes .... where as most 2 wheelers do most of their braking with their front tire.
The debate about rear tire mounting on the front is as old as the what oil to use debate. :laugh:
Bob
My tire installer called them directly. Here is info on this from Avon http://cyrilhuzeblog.com/2009/08/23/tires-directional-arrows-explained-by-avon-tyres/
I really think it does not matter since trikes do the majority of braking with our rear tires (especially with the 2014+ with linked brakes .... where as most 2 wheelers do most of their braking with their front tire.
The debate about rear tire mounting on the front is as old as the what oil to use debate. :laugh:
Bob
Folks I have a rear tire (the exact same size as my original rear tire, mounted backward rotation) on the front of my old Harley tour glide trike. It is a Dunlop elite and I have 17,000 miles on it with plenty of tread left, no cupping and no separation, I run it max inflation for handling purposes, My bike rides just a little harder on bumps but since I rebuilt the entire front end at 999,000 miles with heavy duty progressive springs, new upper tubes and lower sliders it has become very insignificant.
On my old Tour glide the front brake is still a majority in braking and stopping ability as my brakes are not linked.
The rear tire on front is made of a much harder rubber compound than that of any front tire made, I am not leaning to turn so the side wall doesn't take the beating a two wheeler does and I don't need the side flexibility that a front tire provides on a two wheeler I have no problem in cornering and no problem on wet roads and have had it in snow and slush and it does just fine.
My buddy has a the same set up on his 2011 tri-glide and has 28,000 miles on the same tire with no problems whatsoever and still plenty of tread left and no cupping.
:wave4:I aint talking any smack on the new Avon tire as I have no experience with it but come on lets face it. A rear tire (the exact same size as the original front) mounted backward rotation has been road and time proven, kid tested and mother approved for so long it's just really a mute point discussion isn't it? I do understand a new comer coming onto the site to find the info on the subject and were glad to help when possible? It works, and if it works don't fix it unless you want too and if it gets your nut to do so that's all the justification required.
Use the advance search feature at the top left of the page and access everything ever written on this forum about the subject?ThumbUp
- Thread starter
- #29
debating the subject for some is a fun thing to do. I don't think nobody on this thread had anything bad to say either way. it was a learning experience for those who are new to the trike world. old threads are like old news. new threads on a subject matter tends to give fresh ideas and wisdom on what tires to run, then put on what ever you want and be happy!
:Agree: 100% with pcombe, use the search feature and save all the "oldies" the typing!!
epper:Roger
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