Back tire in the front?

[Jared]

Anyone running a back tire in the front? I read that it last longer and has deeper tread- providing better handling in wet conditions.

[ringadingh]

I have heard its been done by accident, but never intentionally, I dont think it wouldn't work but I don't see enough reason to try it myself. It may steer a little heavier since front tires are usually rounder than a rear tire.

[blowndodge]

I looked at my front tire and it's perfectly round! ::)

[Jared]

Originally Posted by Blowndodge "Darksider"

I looked at my front tire and it's perfectly round! ::)

Are you running a back tire on the front?

[strobe]

I heard that either Metzler or Avon actually has a cross reference somewhere for doing this. They have it for tire sizes that they don't make a front for, but make a rear the same size. I remember reading about this over at the BTK forum.

[glwilson]

Not to start an argument here, but if you were to speak to an engineer designing tires they would tell you it is not a good idea.

Has something to do with the way the tire's ply is wrapped differently than on a rear tire -- can't remember exactly how the reasoning went -- but I was convinced at the time enough not to consider it.

Personally; I wouldn't do anything against what is recommended; especially given that you are talking about a motorcycle. Doing 65 MPH is not a good time to learn why a rear tire isn't good for the front.

I know this will "rile" the darksiders... but was not my intention here; and I am not so sure the same principles/problems apply here as to that subject.

[unwind2]

Last year dealer ordered by mistake 2 rear metz for my Nomad and installed. I noticed when went to pick up bike. At first dealer tried to say he did not think it would hurt . I contacted Metz and asked their opinion. Rep told me the rain channels differently and bike may handle differently in cornering. He said they could not recommend driving the bike with rear tire on front. I got this in writing from him. Dealer then ordered front tire, mounted it and apologized for their error.

[Jared]

Check out #3. http://www.us.metzelermoto.com/web/p...q/default.page


If I understand this, Metzeler gives it the okay. You just have to turn the direction of the tire.

[Jared]

Originally Posted by glwilson

Not to start an argument here, but if you were to speak to an engineer designing tires they would tell you it is not a good idea.

Has something to do with the way the tire's ply is wrapped differently than on a rear tire -- can't remember exactly how the reasoning went -- but I was convinced at the time enough not to consider it.

Personally; I wouldn't do anything against what is recommended; especially given that you are talking about a motorcycle. Doing 65 MPH is not a good time to learn why a rear tire isn't good for the front.

I know this will "rile" the darksiders... but was not my intention here; and I am not so sure the same principles/problems apply here as to that subject.

Come on....Live a little ;) ;) ;) ;) j/k If you ask most people, they'd say riding a motorcycle in general isn't a good idea.

[duneseven]

if the rear tire is on the front dismount you on the ride backwards

[lonewolf]

i am running a darkside tire on the back. (sp 5000) i am going to run a battax bt45v rear tire on the front when my stock stoner goes. yes i will be mounting it so that the tread is backwards, so that the water channels off. darksiders hav been doing it with cruisers along with some goldwingers. as with my darkside tire, when i get this on, i will not be ripping up the hwy, until i am comfortable with it. if it doesnt feel right, i will replace it with a front tire. Hey, its only money, right ? lol

[Cajunrider]

Not knowing much about darksiding or putting a rear tire on the front of the bike, I'm going to ask a question that may sound ignorant. If you were involved in a crash and carried high payout liability and comp, would a close investigation by an adjuster risk the insurance company not fulfilling their obligations for serious injuries or property damage if they determined improper or in their opinion unsafe tires were being used? Anyone on here in the auto/motorcycle insurance business please chime in. I'm considering darksiding for my next tire and would want to know more before I do.

[lonewolf]

where would it end? risers? altering the stock handlebars. fuel programmer? altering the stock torgue/hp. road pegs? didnt have your feet in the proper position? it would be up to the insurance company to PROVE, thats what caused an accident. not trying to be an a$$ just not gonna let it bother me. maybe the wrong attitude, buts thats just me.

[johnb]

A couple of months ago my dealer mounted a rear tire on the front of my Nomad in "error". Unfortunately, I believe they were clueless and not intentional ie: give them what you have in stock and not what they need. The steering was heavier and I would rather err on the side of caution and "trust" the engineers, so I had him replace it with a "front" tire.

From what I could tell as I checked this out, the tread grooves or "sea" as the engineers call it do run different as compared to the rear. I don't remember where I read it, but part of the orientation is to clear water but also to prevent cupping of the "land" portion of the tread on the front tire.

I am not a mechanic or engineer and it is next to impossible to get tire companies and bike manufacturers to comment on "alternate" applications because of potential legal problems. Ma Kaw will only endorse using the OEM tires. I have decided for myself, that after reading as much as I could and the comments/responses I have received to my questions both on this forum and others, that while you may successfully run a "rear" tire on the front that there could be situations where this could make the difference in "staying up" or "going down". I don't think it's worth the risk. It seems logical that the rear tire will have a different construction with deeper tread as compared to the front. The rear carries most of the weight and takes more strain being the driven wheel. The front primary strain is from steering.

Right now I'm running Dunlop D251's on front and rear (18070HR16 rear/15080VR16 front) and have about 7k miles on the rear and about 1k miles on the front. Looks like I will get 10-12kmiles out of the rear. I'm happy with them so far, but might want to try the Avon Cobra tires next.

[Jared]

+10,000. The tire is DOT approved and has sufficient tread. That's what makes is legal.

99.99% of adjusters aren't going to look and notice that the writing on the side of a tire has an arrow point the other direction. jmo.