Rear Tire in front of the handlebars?

[redeye]

For those who do such a thing, what is the reasoning the tire is mounted backwards?.....-Rich

[blowndodge]

I'll explain it to you if you tell me what "Rear tire in front of the handlebars" means??? http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[redeye]

I'll explain it to you if you tell me what "Rear tire in front of the handlebars" means??? http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

Brad,

When you buy tires, the salesperson asks if you're going to mount the tire on the front or rear of said motorcycle. I have heard & seen with my own one Redeye, that some have mounted a rear tire in the forward (in front of the handlebars) position. I have been told by said biker's that if the rear tire is mounted in front of the handlebars, it has to be mounted with the tread in back wards rotation. If my ignorance is showing, I apologize. But my question is the same, What is the reason for doing the back wards mounting?...-Rich

[Yellow Jacket]

I believe that it has to do with the tread pattern for water dispersion. No guarantee that this is correct.

[ringadingh]

Im not sure why you would want to mount a rear tire on the front wheel unless your stuck somewhere and its an emergency. I don't know the reason why but if someone does Im curious as to why also.

[blowndodge]

Most rear tires are built with a compound that is more "durable" Ring. Placing them on the front I've heard many get well over 20K on them. As far a mounting them backward, both my stock Bridgestone and now my Avon front tire has the outside of the sipes leading the center grove as if to look backwards compared to a rear tire.

As I understand from my dealer's explanation is that a rear tire driving force needs the sipes mounted in its direction for proper handling during acceleration and turning a rear tire backwards to go on the front allows that tire's sipes to act like a front tire during hard braking

Those with stock motorcycle tires or matching aftermarket tires can check and see that the sipes of the front and rear run in opposite directions. As I said it's "something" to do the accelerating and braking forces applied to the tire.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

I'm glad that is cleared up for me.

[chainsaw]

Clear as mud.

[eagleman]

I think mud may be a little clearer.

Eagleman

[skeeter]

Now I'm all turned around. Where do I sit?

[dkdixie]

There's always sidesaddle skeeter! ;)

Redeye, this topic has been covered in depth on darkside forum.
BD's explantion pretty much sums it up but if you want more info, go to Darkside forum and search.

http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/main.asp?webtag=DarkSiding&nav=message

[dantama]

I think they do it to be consistent. A car tire in the rear, and a rear tire in the front. It's kind of like being 'extra' darkside :)

[redeye]

Thank You all for your informative replies. Since I don't run a CT on my Nomad, I do not visit the DS forums. I guess I was trying to take an information short cut for a friend. Thanks Again....-Rich

[Jared]

What make a tire a rear tire or a front tire?

If you reverse the tread, it's the same tread pattern as a front tire, but rear tires have 2mm more tread depth.

[skeeter]

There's always sidesaddle skeeter! ;)

Then ya gotta decide on shifting or braking.
If ya can't shift, brakes are kinda pointless.
On the other hand, if you can shift but not brake and can't downshift fast enough.....your already halfway to jumping off.
http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[dkdixie]

There's always sidesaddle skeeter! ;)

Then ya gotta decide on shifting or braking.
If ya can't shift, brakes are kinda pointless.
On the other hand, if you can shift but not brake and can't downshift fast enough.....your already halfway to jumping off.
http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

If you decide to try it Skeeter.....be sure to post pictures! http://s2.images.proboards.com/cheesy.gif

[dogdoc]

And don't forget to clean out your sipes every 3,000 miles for best performance. :-)

[ridemslow]

DITTO!
Clear as mud.

[lonewolf]

i have a pirelli mt 66 rear on my front, have roughly 2000 miles on it so far. and yes it is mounted backwards, for water dispersment ! no problems so far.

[Jared]

I've got 16K+ miles out of my Metzeler 880 rear tire. It shows no wear on it at all and I would expect it to last longer than my Dunlop sp5000.

[mac]

I did look at my 2 ME 880's and you are correct, the tred patterns are oppisite on front and rear.

[Jared]

I did look at my 2 ME 880's and you are correct, the tred patterns are oppisite on front and rear.

Yep...They are the same, but when they are new, you'll notice that the rear tire has 2 mm more tread depth.

People do realize that you don't put a 170 or 180 (the stock rear tire size) on the front , right? You find a 150 (the correct front size), that is "rear" tire. The only thing that make something a "rear" tire is the direction of the tire, so by mounting it backwards you get a "front" tire with 2mm more tread.