Rear tire on front

[Gold Rush]

Re: Front tire reversal?

I ain't buying what that link says. Avon is the only tire company saying that. None of the others are. Problem is with this conversation it's going to end up just like a conversation about putting a car tire on the back of a motorcycle (two wheeler). Some are going to say it works great and some will say it's looney tunes. I'm wearing my BT45 with the arrows in proper rotation and I ain't never putting a car tire on a two wheeler M/C ever again.

Stephen your choice to run the BT45 in normal rotation is exactly that. None of us should feel pressured to reverse the tire if they are convinced it will do more harm then good. For most I suspect there is little if any benefit. From me I believe there is a huge benefit.

I do have to point out one discrepancy in your statement. Avon is not the only company endorsing the reverse rotation.. Please read the following. I include it in it's entirety although only part is really important to us trike owners.

September 08, 2010

Mr. Lebaux,

Per our phone conversation regarding the Michelin Pilot Activ, this tire can be used on the front of a trike mounted to run in reverse.

Many consumers use a rear tire and turn it around (tire is mounted opposite to the directional arrows on the sidewall of the tire) to be used on the front.

The rear tire tread pattern is designed for acceleration while the front tire tread pattern is designed for braking and stopping. So the tread pattern must be reversed to change it from acceleration to braking and stopping.

The rear tire is used in these applications because it provides longer wear.

Thanks for choosing Michelin. We appreciate your business.

It is our goal to ensure that your issue has been resolved or you question answered to your satisfaction. If we can assist you further, please respond to this email or call us at 1-800-847-3435 (toll free) between 8:00AM and 8:00PM Eastern Time Monday through Friday or between 8:30AM and 4:30PM Eastern Time on Saturday.

Sincerely,
Dale
Michelin North America
Consumer Care Department
Certified Michelin Product Expert

Privacy Policy – Michelin Privacy Policy

(Please Do Not Delete the line below)
Case number: 2492147

 

[Trikeum]

Re: Front tire reversal?

Tread sipes work well regardless of how the tire is mounted. The real reason a rear tire should be reversed when mounted on the front is that when tires are made, there is a slight overlapping as the rubber comes around to meet the opposite side. This microscopic flap is still a flap, hence the manufacturer wants the tire to role in the direction that does not oppose the flap.

 

[Stephen]

Re: Front tire reversal?

Stephen your choice to run the BT45 in normal rotation is exactly that. None of us should feel pressured to reverse the tire if they are convinced it will do more harm then good. For most I suspect there is little if any benefit. From me I believe there is a huge benefit.

I do have to point out one discrepancy in your statement. Avon is not the only company endorsing the reverse rotation.. Please read the following. I include it in it's entirety although only part is really important to us trike owners.

I've been in these discussions many times on another M/C forum and they all turn out the same. I highly doubt anyone can come up with any proof that either way is better than the other (yes including the tire manufacturers). It's purty much a you put yours on backwards and I'll put mine on the other way and we will both think we did it right but neither will be able to prove it. It's all based on opinions. After all, we buy these tires and put them on the front because tire manufacturers can't figure out how to make a long lasting front tire. It was WE the biker community who figured out putting a rear tire on the front was a way to get front tires to last longer not the manufacturers. And now they want to decide which way rotation should be? I'm not buying it. Pick your tire and put it on which ever way you want and long live the king of the road (that'd be me and you). :Trike1:ThumbUp

 

[rmrc51]

Re: Front tire reversal?

Pick your tire and put it on which ever way you want and long live the king of the road (that'd be me and you). :Trike1:ThumbUp

I'm with Stephen. ThumbUp

For me, its an MPA rear tire, in reverse, up front. I'm happy.

 

[Shimpy]

Re: Front tire reversal?

My last car had 4 tires of course and were marked with a direction of rotation. They don't say front or rear. They are made the same way as all tires with overlapping belts. Why would a tire on a trike be different on the front from rear if they are made the same as a car? I'm told on the car to rotate my tires but am not told to reverse them so they don't come apart.
I still can't find logic in running them backwards.

 

[keepinon]

Re: Front tire reversal?

I must have always had cheap cars & p'ups, or ran cheap tires, 'cause I've not seen one marked with rotation. But I understand some newer muscle cars are. :Shrug:

I figure we must all determine what works best for our situation and peace of mind. I've not found a rear tire large enough to match the front tire of the Valkyrie. But, I have found thru trial & error, a bias ply (vs radial) steers easier on front, so there I am.

I remember my old HD shovel head days, I don't remember there being a directional arrow on the tires. They looked pretty flat across, mostly as a car tire looks. And running patched tubes & booted tires down gravel roads in W. Texas...

 

[Trent]

Re: Front tire reversal?

On steel belted radial car and truck tires, the steel belts begin to curve in the direction that the tires are rotating. If you reverse it after a few thousand miles, the steel belts try to bend back and can break down and prematurely fail. That's what a Michelin factory rep told us when I used to work in a tire shop. This does not happen on bias ply tires with no steel belts. Thats why steel belted radials must be rotated front to back,,,bias ply tires can be rotated front to back or side to side..it makes no difference. As far as I know, our bike tires do not have steel belts in them,,,so no problem reversing them should you choose to do so. Which is what I have also done on my front mounted rear tire. 5,000 miles on it and it looks like new and has a wider foot print on the road than my original tire did. According to my walnut sized brain, more rubber on the road means a better grip in the curves. Thats why I did it. If you are not comfortable with more rubber on the road for some reason, then dont do it. Growing up on a farm, my Dad and Uncles always reversed the tires that came on a new tractor. They felt you got better traction with the bars reversed and the point of the bar going backwards, which made the triangle shaped bar act more like a scoop to grab the ground better. Made sense to me then and still does today concerning bike tires. Just m.h.o.

 

[Bobbi]

Re: Front tire reversal?

My stock front tire was worn at 5k, replaced it with a Michelin Pilot Activ mounted in the reverse direction (per the posting on the the Michelin website). Am replacing the Pilot Activ after 17K miles. Not a lot of straight roads at altitude and I maybe pushing the envelop in the curves somewhat. Besides, the flat lands can be somewhat boring. I am happy with the Michelin and replacing it with the same.

 

[Bobbi]

Re: Front tire reversal?

Anyone have any suggestions for replacing the rear tires? Currently have Dunlops installed.

 

[FRR]

Front Tire on Trikes

I realize this topic probably has been discussed a hundred times before I joined the site, but what are the pros and cons or reversing a rear tire on the front of the trike? I've been told several times that placing a rear tire on the front of my 1800 will double or triple my tire life, but there does not seem to be much agreement on whether to reverse it or not. I'm concerned that if the tire is reversed how it could affect handling on wet roads.

Comments are certainly appreciated. Thanks

 

[jfingalls]

Re: Front Tire on Trikes

That is exactly the problem with reversing the tire rotation - water dispersion. There is no evidence that the tire can separate if not mounted in reverse as many would claim. Take a look at the survey that is currently going on in this forum -- not one person can say that they have experienced this first hand. I know many experts on this subject and they insist mounting in the proper direction. The primary reason is safety while riding in heavy rain. Many tire instalers will not mount it in reverse for the fear of the liability that may engender. Good luck.

 

[Short Bus Bob]

Re: Front Tire on Trikes

Personally, I'm going to mount mine in the forward direction. The rain aspect is a Pro and there doesn't seem to be any con.

There has been so much talk about putting a 130/70 R18 Bias Ply Rear Tire on the Trike, it seems The Battleaxe and the Pilot are Backordered at the manufacturers. I have to wait a month to get one.

 

[Lucky]

Re: Front Tire on Trikes

I have 25000 on a MPA mounted in reverse. I rode in a hard rain Sunday and had no problems.This thing has been just about beat to death.RIDE SAFE

 

[Rosy]

Re: Front Tire on Trikes

There was a letter written by a Michelin offical who stated it was OK to mount the Pilot AT rear tire on the front in reverse fashion.
I have a Pilot mounted in reverse fashion with balancing beads in the front of my GL1800 and I have plowed water going home one night and never felt there was anything wrong with the steering. The street was completely flooded and the rear tires were splashing water forward so my feet on the pegs were getting soaked. The splash from the rear tires was so big it was hitting the front tire as we rode home.
I know my Goldwing only shop recogmended the Battleax or Pilot mounted in reverse fashion with balancing beads @ 41 PSI to get good mileage out of the front tire on my GL 1800 Hannigan trike and so far he is correct.

Regards,

Rosy
From NH

Use the search engine on this site go to Motogordo 9/27/2012 and look at my thread on how the MPA front and rear tires are constructed and why the rear tire up front gets good milage.

 

[Comanche]

Re: Front Tire on Trikes

I have 52,577 miles on my trike I just put the third Michelin Pilot Activa Reversed on the front wheel. Last MPA got 18, 031 miles. The trike has never hydroplanned with the MPA on it.

 

[John Luciano]

Re: Front Tire on Trikes

Rain on that skinny front tire is not a problem.. If you are worried about hydro planing then do not ride in the rain. In case you have not noticed, get off the trike and look under the rear of it... You have (2)9" wide tires back there with only 600 lbs of weight on them running 22 lb.. The last rain storm I rode in on a flooded high way MY rear end was all over the place , and so was the back of my trike. Hydroplane will not accur at 40 MPH. If you are doing 65+ then you need to get off the road.

 

[hdruss]

Re: Front Tire on Trikes

I just read an article ( http://cyrilhuseblog.com/2009/08/23/tires-directional-arrows-explained ) attributed to Avon Tyres. It said " Before we can talk about directional arrows you must first understand a bit about tread patterns. There are many different tread patterns but there is one main reason to have any tread and that is to disperse water (dust,dirt).
A tread pattern can be designed to disperse more water by making it rotate in only one direction. Thus the need for directional arrows. The arrow tells you which way to mount a tire for maximum water dispersal. Another less apparent reason for directional arrows is the tread splice.
What is a tread splice? When a tire is manufactured the tread portion of the tire starts out as a long flat strip. This strip is wrapped around the tire and the two ends are cut on an angle so one end overlaps the other rather than having square cut ends.
This overlapping point or splice offers a bigger surface area to bond together, rather the small surface provided by square cut ends (imagine gluing your fingertips together, as opposed to gluing along the entire length of your fingers laid on top of each other. Like an angled splice , the overlapping fingers result in a much stronger bond).
To further ensure the strength of the bond along the tread splice the directional arrow will show you which way to mount the tire so that when the rider is "on the gas", the acceleration force on the rear tire is pressing the splice together, rather than peeling it back.
As for braking, 80% of the braking should take place in the front on most bikes. Therefore the front tread splice is run in the opposite direction than that of the rear, so when the rider is "on the brakes", he's not peeling the tread splice back.
If you are using a tire that has a directional arrow for rear rotation only anfd you want to put it on the front, make sure it is rotating in the opposite direction so you don't aggravate the tread splice".

 

[FRR]

Re: Front Tire on Trikes

Thanks to all that responded. I think I'll probably mount the tire in the forward direction just to be safe if I hit that big rain storm.

 

[Missouri Charley]

Re: Front Tire on Trikes

While in Sturgis this year, visited with all the tire companys and not 1 of them would commit either way. I run mine forward. Charley

 

[jfingalls]

Re: Front Tire on Trikes

FFR, it looks like you made a good decision. Ride safe and enjoy the trike my friend.