Rear tire on front

[Trike Rich]

Hello again every one the u-joint is in and seems ok thanks again for all the help from every one.I have seen on this and other sites guys saying to put a rear tire on the front.Ihave a 1988 Goldwing ,I looked at the rear tire from when the bike was a two wheeler and is to wide to fit the fender.Can some one inlighten me and why put a rear tire on the front,Thanks Rich

[Gorilla]

Rich the rear tire has more tread on it then the front. So therefor more tire to wear. Also there is a possible difference in construction. Look around the forum this subject has been discussed several times. Yes most rears are also bigger and might have a clearance issue on some trikes.

[Wayne Harmsen]

You don't use your rear tire, as it is a differant size than the front
You use a rear pilot activ tire in 130/70/18 mounted in reverse, not a pilot active.
I have 15000 miles on mine with out any cuping or noticeable wear.:yes:

[Trike Rich]

thanks for the info Wayne but why put the tire on in reverse

[Ozarkryder]

For an answer and more, check this thread out, going on now:

http://www.triketalk.com/forum/gener...ront-tire.html

[John Luciano]

U R right when u say "A" rear tire not "The" rear tire . The tire you are looking for is for a different bike . The size you are looking for is the same as the one you will be removing from the front. Only difference is it will be a rear tire. I KNOW we tell people this is a true story and no body believes us .. Just put the tire on as if that is the only way it should be. Forget a motorcycle front tire U don't have a motorcycle anymore. Trikes use a rear style bike tire on the front. PERIOD.... actually any brand will work . One guy even swears by one he got from J C Whitney for $75.00 BTW make sure it is not A radial only a bias ply will work. I argued with a guy at Americade last year because he said radial on the rear you MUST run one on the front.WRONG :no:

[TRIKERBOB69]

Thanks for all the advice I am reading from the salts, getting coverted 4/12 2008 gl1800 into a CSC, can't wait for that bug eatin , got the Michlen Pilot Activ to install on the front as per the boards. God its gonna be like xmas as a kid!!

[Nana]

WooHoo....Welcome to the fun place, TrikerBob! Sounds like you are going to fit right in here

[Gorilla]

Welcome aboard trikerbob69.

[TRIKERBOB69]

Thanks for the welcome, MY WING IS IN LABOR NOW DOWN AT THE FACTORY, MONDAY MORNING CANNOT COME FAST ENOUGH, my gut is twisted and I am not sleeping well, should have given her my cell number , have a local guy who just had his wing CSC kit put on, dropped a jaw when I TOLD him my shake down cruise was to the arctic circle in june, hope I wear a couple of front tires to the cords in the next year or 2

[taxall]

I would like to here from all that have used rear tires on the front wheel of thier trike. What has been the best selection and the tire pressure that you usally run. My mechanic said that he had heard this was the best thing to do.

[pettifogger1]

Don't you find it odd that no trike builder uses or recommends using a car tire on the front? Go out and turn your forks from left to right and look at the front tire and the contact it makes on the ground. Try to visualize doing this with a square shouldered car tire.

[Nana]

Taxall, If you do a search here for "rear tire on the front" you will find several previous discussions about recommended front tires. I think you will find that most put a rear motorcycle tire on the front with a trike. Most of the Goldwing trikers prefer the Michelin Pilot Activ, I know of several of the Harley guys who choose a rear Dunlop on the front. Read through the threads you find on your search for specifics on sizing, etc.

[Trikerjim]

taxall, the Pilot Activ handles great wet /dry and you should get at least twice the mileage of normal front tires. I talked to a tech at Michelin before I did it, and he explained the whole theory and recomended it. Good luck and ride safe.

[Venture 1]

Can anybody tell me what the Dunlop Elite 3 is like on the front of a goldwing

[Venture 1]

goldwing trike

[sdhndymn]

Have heard good results from running a Bridgestone BT45 rear tire in reverse direction on a trike. Some have posted better than 20k miles on them. Personally have not tried it , but that will be my next front tire.

[White Knight 04]

Don't you find it odd that no trike builder uses or recommends using a car tire on the front? Go out and turn your forks from left to right and look at the front tire and the contact it makes on the ground. Try to visualize doing this with a square shouldered car tire.

Wow kinda harsh, the man ask a valid question!! Evidently you aren't up on the trike world way of doing things there are many trikes out there running rear tires on the front !!!! THEY ARE HAVING NO TROUBLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Try reading just a little bit !!!!!

[Gorilla]

Wow kinda harsh, the man ask a valid question!! Evidently you aren't up on the trike world way of doing things there are many trikes out there running rear tires on the front !!!! THEY ARE HAVING NO TROUBLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Try reading just a little bit !!!!!

Also the Stallion Trike has a car tire on the front. I think if you could find a car tire narrow enough to fit between the forks and fits the rim it would work just fine. There is not any need for side tire tread on a trike because there is no lean to use it. I've watched my wifes Stallion tire and it works just fine. Just my opinion.

[skuuter]

Here's another "MY PERSONAL OPINION" on the Trike Front Tire Discussions: Car Tires tend to be harder rubber compounds than Motorcycle Tires. They seem to work fine on Stallions (...I have ridden two different ones, one of them all day), because basically They have closer to car curb weight, and "Auto Industry Drive Trains".

Having ridden my Buddy Timer's Car Tire Equipped (Special Conversion Wheels) 2 wheel Gold Wing on two occasions, I easily pushed the Frontend out when I tried to "wick-it-up" in the Twisties. No way I could even remotely get the Car Tire warm enough to stick to an October Fall Temp Road. I was also no where near the speed I normally carried with my 2-wheel Wing on stock Dunlops.

What I like about the Michelin Pilot Activ on the Trike is:

(1) The Rubber is a Sport Bike Compound (Hard end of this Bike segment), making it quick to heat, and quick to stick, especially given the Trike's weight

(2) It has a more rounded, wider profile than the stock Motorcycle Front Tires, and actually does have a wider contact patch when in the turned position

(3) Being a Rear Tire it has more useable external rubber, before having to be replaced

(4) It has a stiffer sidewall than Front Motorcycle Tires, which, due to Trikes being steered instead of countersteered cuts down on unwanted Tire deflections in Frontend turned modes...a Good Thing for Trikes.

I went to the Pilot Activ Tire initially for the same reason Most Members did..."MILEAGE", but since then have come to appreciate the Enhanced Ride, Steering Response, and Road Feel even more so than the Extended Mileage that I definetly gained*****


***** Another "Personal Opinion": If You have contemplated a Fork Brace, but haven't used one, I think using this Tire requires one even more because of the stiffer overall Tire. Your Lower Legs will "twist-n-roll" even more before actually starting to move the Front Wheel. This will be hardly noticeable unless You ride Your Trike Hard/Fast in Twisties, and sometimes can be felt in Tight/Slow Parking Lot maneuvers...Just "MY" Take on the Subject.....:Biker: