Double darkside

[cocheese72]

Anyone running a rear tire for the front? I thought due to the size, it would be a good candidate.

[MAS Tequila]

I have a D404 turned backwards on the front of mine.

It makes a little noise in the garage, but that is the only difference I have found.

I do like it better than the Michelin Commander I had previously.

MT

[glwilson]

No... but it you do, turn it to rotate in the opposite direction it is intended to run.

Why not just use the tire the bike calls for?

[cocheese72]

Looking for many more miles out of the front. As my Goldwing friend tells me. I have a car tire on the back, so why not if there is no ill effect.

[cocheese72]

I have a D404 turned backwards on the front of mine. It makes a little noise in the garage, but that is the only difference I have found. I do like it better than the Michelin Commander I had previously.
MT

Doesn't that affect your tread pattern for water removal?

[cocheese72]

I have a D404 turned backwards on the front of mine.

It makes a little noise in the garage, but that is the only difference I have found.

I do like it better than the Michelin Commander I had previously.

MT

Can you comment on the mileage you have been getting out of either.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Why not be the first on your block and run a CT on the front? http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[MAS Tequila]

I've ridden through some absolute toad soakers and not had a bit of problem with the water.

I was getting around 12-14000 miles out of a front tire. This rear on the front has been on for about 3000 miles and still has considerably more tread depth than a new front would have.

MT

[AlabamaNomadRider]

I don't have a CT on and don't know if I ever will. When I had the Dunlops installed I remember that the rear tire tread depth was 7/32 and the front 5/32 so with a rear tire on the front you should be able to get better mileage out of it.

[cocheese72]

I have heard that they do have more tread and the patch is wider. Just going by what a Goldwing friend say. He said he had about 18k on his latest front tire. I will keep looking for a good tire. How many miles are you guys getting out of Avons or any other standard front tire?

If there is not a substantial mileage gain or lower cost, I may not worry about it. I have a Avon now but do not know how many miles are on it.

[Jared]

I have a Metzler 880 rear tire on the front. It has about 27K miles on it and I know for a fact it will outlast my Dunlop sp5000 car tire I have on the rear.

Absolutely no ill effects what so ever. When I had it parked next to the other Nomads at our sw rally, I noticed and mention that the tire I was using, a rear tire rotated backwards, had almost the exact same tread pattern as those who were using a Meltzer 880 front tire. The only visible difference was the tread depth. Mine had probably twice as many miles on it and still had twice the depth.

I have ridden my bike, with this tire set-up, through every weather condition imaginable. It's been on both coasts, over 13K feet above sea level, through huge rain storms in Florida, and this fall I actually got caught in some minor snow. It performs just fine.

It's important that people realize this is NOT a car tire. It is a motorcycle tire, which has been label as a rear tire. I would never recommend putting a car tire on the front of any bike.

[cocheese72]

I have a Metzler 880 rear tire on the front. It has about 27K miles on it and I know for a fact it will outlast my Dunlop sp5000 car tire I have on the rear.

Absolutely no ill effects what so ever. When I had it parked next to the other Nomads at our sw rally, I noticed and mention that the tire I was using, a rear tire rotated backwards, had almost the exact same tread pattern as those who were using a Meltzer 880 front tire. The only visible difference was the tread depth. Mine had probably twice as many miles on it and still had twice the depth.

I have ridden my bike, with this tire set-up, through every weather condition imaginable. It's been on both coasts, over 13K feet above sea level, through huge rain storms in Florida, and this fall I actually got caught in some minor snow. It performs just fine.

It's important that people realize this is NOT a car tire. It is a motorcycle tire, which has been label as a rear tire. I would never recommend putting a car tire on the front of any bike.


Now 27k, that's what the hell I am talking about. I think I will go that route, unless something better comes along.

[wheelie]

This is all great information, I've been thinking of going to the darkside, hadn't given any thought to the rear tire on the front, but will now. Back in the day before the current design of bike tires the front and rear tire were usually the same size and type. I can remember going to the local farm service store and getting VW Beetle tires to run on a HD dresser. A 500-16 was a 500-16 so running car ties is no new thing. Granted the rib tread design was a lot different from what we have today.

[tombstone]

I just replaced my front tire with a Metzler 880 rear tire. I only have a couple hundred miles on it so far. The rear is a CT and I have about 14K so far and it is still going strong.

[Top Cat]

So you guys run a rear tire in the correct front tire size,right?

[Jared]

So you guys run a rear tire in the correct front tire size,right?

Yes, that's correct.

[Top Cat]

Thanks Jared, one more question.
Does it matter if it is a radial or a bias ply?
I know Bias rear and radial front not good but any other combination is OK
When running a rear tire on the front can you run either a bias or radial backwards with no problem?

[Jared]

Thanks Jared, one more question.
Does it matter if it is a radial or a bias ply?
I know Bias rear and radial front not good but any other combination is OK
When running a rear tire on the front can you run either a bias or radial backwards with no problem?

To be honest with you, I'm not too sure on that one. With this combiniation, I've only had experience with the DS tire on the rear and the metzler 880 on the front. I believe the 880 is a radial.

[lonewolf]

pirelli mt 66 rear on the front ! no problems !

[MAS Tequila]

I'm running a 170/80/16 on the front where my stock tire was 150/80/16.

MT

[tombstone]

So you guys run a rear tire in the correct front tire size,right?

Correct, with the arrow pointing backwards.

[cocheese72]

I'm running a 170/80/16 on the front where my stock tire was 150/80/16.

MT

Damn that is a fat front tire.

[MAS Tequila]

And it feels so much better than the 150 or the M series Michelin Commando I last ran.

MT

[biscuitsngravy]

Why run the rear tire backward on the front?

Also, does running a rear tire (wider tire) on the front effect how the steering feels? Does the larger tire cause a change in gas mileage?

I thought the rear tire wore out sooner because most of my weight is on the rear tire. That is why I went to the dark side. Haven't had much time before it snowed here to try out how the c/t performs.

Does the rear tire have a different rubber compound than the front tire? I guess I have a lot of questions about this. BnG

[cocheese72]

Why run the rear tire backward on the front?


It has to do with how the tire is made and overlaps. A rear tire is setup for acceleration, while the front for stopping, so they are made different. Honestly my buddy says he doesn't reverse them and have no issues, but most people do.



Also, does running a rear tire (wider tire) on the front effect how the steering feels? Does the larger tire cause a change in gas mileage?



I think the Nomads have about the widest tire around at 150. My other bike is a 90 and it handles much easier. I would think going bigger would handle worse, and gas would suffer, but prob not enough to notice. I won't be doing that, I plan on getting the exact specs the bike calls for. I am sold on the rear ME880 unless something better comes along.



I thought the rear tire wore out sooner because most of my weight is on the rear tire. That is why I went to the dark side. Haven't had much time before it snowed here to try out how the c/t performs.


With the rear tire, we brake and we accelerate with it. That is my guess.



Does the rear tire have a different rubber compound than the front tire? I guess I have a lot of questions about this. BnG

I do not know, but I was told that the tread is deeper and the patch across the middle is wider, making it last more miles, especially when put on the front.

[MAS Tequila]

I have the 170/80/16 rear tire on the front of mine. I notice no difference in the handling or in the effort required to turn. But it feels better, rides smoother, and tracks better on rough and uneven pavement. Mileage did not noticeably change.

Frank over at Victori Cycles installed it and asked if I wanted it reversed. That is the accepted way to install it.

MT

[mikeyger]

Mas tequila, What brand of tire is that? I tried looking up one at jake wilson and could not find 170/80/16 anywhere or any brand. Thanks

[mikeyger]

Mas tequila, What brand of tire is that? I tried looking up one at jake wilson and could not find 170/80/16 anywhere or any brand. Thanks

[tombstone]

The way I understand it is the front and rear have mirrored (sp?) tread. When riding in wet conditions, they are designed to move water out from the tire. If you reverse a rear tire on the front, then the tread is the same as if it were a front tire. That way it is spitting the water out, instead of pulling the water into and underneath the tire.

So far I have about 300 miles on my front (rear) tire..I can feel no difference, but then I'm shivering so much is could be way different and I wouldn't feel a thing!! LOL http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[jesse]

Tread pattern on some tires used to be reversed depending on use. Some lug tires were placed in one direction if they were to be used as a traction tire, reversing the tire was referred to as a rolling tire.
If I remember correctly. ???

That seems to be what's happening here.