Author Topic: Front tire rotation backwards? (Read 6099 times)

mende21 · « **on:** June 07, 2006, 03:33:24 PM »

Next week I will mount a new set of tires on my B12 so I have been doing a little research. Has anybody noticed that many bikes appear to have the front tire on backwards? The tread of directional car tires make roughly a vee shape to help evacuate water but what would be the benefit of a tread design with an upside down vee shape? I have always wondered why the factory front tire on my bike looks that way.

Sven · « **Reply #1 on:** June 07, 2006, 03:44:28 PM »

Dunno the physics behind the design, just glad they put little arrows to indicate "wheel rolls this way"! Sort of like the blonde's shoes with TGIF on them.

mende21 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 08, 2006, 03:27:15 PM »

I found this comment from the metzler web site in another thread. Apparently the tread on a front tire is designed opposite of that on a rear tire. Anybody know what that is?

Arrow = The arrow indicates the rotation direction of the tire accordingly to its fitting position (front or rear). In case a rear tire is fitted on a front wheel, the tire has to be fitted reverse to the rotating direction indicated on the sidewall. Fitment of front tires on rear wheel is not permitted.

tannerismyhero · « **Reply #3 on:** June 08, 2006, 03:39:47 PM »

man, puttin a rear tire up front? that would be one helluva ride

Sven · « **Reply #4 on:** June 08, 2006, 04:05:56 PM »

I know the tread on the Pilot Roads are seem to go in opposite directions, and I think that was the original question...how is this better than the typical car treads that all match? It's not like we spend a lot of time on motorcycles in reverse. (No offense to Wing riders intended.)

mende21 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 09, 2006, 11:07:36 AM »

I guess I am not the first person to ask this question. Check out this article on hydroplaning. http://www.msgroup.org/TIP035.html I read up on tire construction a little and the direction arrow has more to do with the internal construction of the tire than the tread design. The plies inside the tire overlap and putting the tire on backwards would tend to peel the plies apart.

Sven · « **Reply #6 on:** June 09, 2006, 11:55:11 AM »

Actually, I already knew that the tire orientation had to do with the way it was made and to ensure it didn't fly apart.

But...as to why the tread patterns are they way they are...even after reading your link, WE STILL DON'T KNOW. Must be a trade secret, huh?

PS: There's a lot of interesting stuff at that site.

Red01 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 09, 2006, 01:20:03 PM »

Quote

tannerismyhero: man, puttin a rear tire up front? that would be one helluva ride

I remember back in the day of my RD350, I ran Dunlop K81's front and rear and they were the same...

tannerismyhero · « **Reply #8 on:** June 09, 2006, 02:25:08 PM »

how did that steer for ya?

Red01 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 09, 2006, 02:36:58 PM »

Just fine... it was one of the better handling bikes of its day. Perhaps the best Japanese bike in the handling dept. back then. In fact, it came stock with different front (ribbed) & rear tires, but the mod of the day was to dump the stock tires and spoon on a set of K81's, which was the top sporting tire on the street side of slicks back then.

OTOH, there's been a lot of advances in tire technology since 1975.

PitterB4 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 09, 2006, 03:58:09 PM »

It's funny - since most tracks are run clockwise, there are a lot of trackday guys that burn up the right side of their tires and then flip 'em to get an extra day out of them. I've not heard of anyone having a tire tear up on them from doing that.

mende21 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 12, 2006, 01:33:13 PM »

MY TIRES ARE OUT FOR DELIVERY.

I took the old tires off Saturday and my new Shinko 009's should be waiting for me when I get home. My Bandit has been garaged since I picked up a nail last summer so I'll be riding tonight no matter what time I'm finished!

mende21 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 13, 2006, 08:30:31 AM »

Ahhhhh, effortless power again. The new Shinko's went on much easier than I expected and they look nice too. I just need to fiddle with the balance of the front tire a little and it will be perfect.