Front tire mileage stinks

[Shriner Jim]

Got 13,500 on stock Dunlop and decided to not push it and changed to a Michelin Commander II REAR tire (same size as front was). I'm very happy with the Commander II. It is wearing like iron and I feel I get better traction in the corners. It seems to have a bigger contact patch with the ground due to a slightly flatter profile.

Bob

Attachment 37851

I did exactly the same as you. This is my second trike, I used a rear tire on the front of it as well. They wear and wear and wear.

[bikerbillone]

Anyone following this thread has worn out a Avon Crobra Tike tire? If so, at how many miles?

[MikeyTX]

Anyone following this thread has worn out a Avon Crobra Tike tire? If so, at how many miles?

I'll let everyone know when I wear mine out.

[HarleyPap57]

Let me get this straight, you are running the rear tire from a two wheeler on the front of your trike ?

I replaced my stock front tire at 15,000 with a Dunlop American Elite MT Rear Tire which is the same size as the front. The tread depth is deeper and the profile is flatter. 25,000 now on that tire and it still looks new (kid you not) Looking for another 15 to 20,000 more on it.

[FuLong]

Mine is near by finished after 7500 KM (about 4700 miles). Seems that the roads here in Bavaria are more windy then in the United States. Last weekend I was in Austria, did some mountain passes and could watch the rubber going away...
My indie shop is looking for a car tire and we change at the 5000 miles inspection.
If he finds one and our Technical Supervisory Association accepts it, I will keep you informed. If not, I change to a rear tire, hopefully it lasts longer.

[mcdonaldroadcapt]

I have a Motortrike conversion and I always run a Dunlop rear tire on the front wheel in reverse rotation. The present one has over 20,000 miles with enough tread to go through next summer. Tracks like an arrow.

[Trent]

Any of you guys that have not heard of running a rear tire reversed on the front need to do a search for the millions of threads discussing this practice. Some of us have been doing it for several years. I was the first one around here to have my dealer do it, which they had no problem with, and now they highly recommend it to Trike folk needing new front tires. It is a good thing. We promise. !!

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Any of you guys that have not heard of running a rear tire reversed on the front need to do a search for the millions of threads discussing this practice. Some of us have been doing it for several years. I was the first one around here to have my dealer do it, which they had no problem with, and now they highly recommend it to Trike folk needing new front tires. It is a good thing. We promise. !!

http://www.triketalk.com/forum/threa...ont-Tire-Stuff

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Any of you guys that have not heard of running a rear tire reversed on the front need to do a search for the millions of threads discussing this practice. Some of us have been doing it for several years. I was the first one around here to have my dealer do it, which they had no problem with, and now they highly recommend it to Trike folk needing new front tires. It is a good thing. We promise. !!

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http://www.triketalk.com/forum/threa...ont-Tire-Stuff

http://www.triketalk.com/forum/threa...ley-Front-Tire

[malclingan]

My 2003 BMW K1200LT Hannigan came with the Michelin rear tire mounted backwards. No problem and getting over 15k miles so far.

[PosseRider]

Any of you guys that have not heard of running a rear tire reversed on the front need to do a search for the millions of threads discussing this practice. Some of us have been doing it for several years. I was the first one around here to have my dealer do it, which they had no problem with, and now they highly recommend it to Trike folk needing new front tires. It is a good thing. We promise. !!

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http://www.triketalk.com/forum/threa...ont-Tire-Stuff

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http://www.triketalk.com/forum/threa...ley-Front-Tire

Why do you run it reversed ???

[HDB0B]

Why do you run it reversed ???

This will explain it.

http://cyrilhuzeblog.com/2009/08/23/...by-avon-tyres/

Bob

[MikeyTX]

Why do you run it reversed ???

He backs up a lot ...........................

[FuLong]

Dammed, no car tire in the needed size available
Now I have a Dunlop D402 rear tire in reverse direction, I hope it lasts longer than 5k miles.

[MikeyTX]

I do not understand this propensity to use a tire designed for the rear on the front when there is available a dedicated front trike tire from Avon.

[FuLong]

I just searched for Avon and trike, google finds the Avon Cobra AV71, but on the German Avon site I can't read anything about Trike.
So, no option for me, if they don't inform the customer.

[Capt.Bob]

I do not understand this propensity to use a tire designed for the rear on the front when there is available a dedicated front trike tire from Avon.

Mike, From what I have been reading about the Avon trike specific tire, there have been some complaints of poor wet weather handling and some wandering of the front end. Kevin of DK Products uses his TGU as basic transportation and racks up the miles and he has stated that he prefers to use the Dunlop American Elite MT90 B16 74H installed in the reverse direction as his preferred tire. He has stated that it does not seem to wander and has excellent wet weather traction. For the reasons stated above, I just ordered a Dunlop from his partner Devin and it should be here in a day or two. I have just about 14k on my OEM tire and it does not show any signs of quitting on me tread-wise for another probably 2-3k miles. I don't ride my bike like and old lady and was taking gentle sweepers out West at 70-80 mph

[prariepilot]

Mike, From what I have been reading about the Avon trike specific tire, there have been some complaints of poor wet weather handling and some wandering of the front end. Kevin of DK Products uses his TGU as basic transportation and racks up the miles and he has stated that he prefers to use the Dunlop American Elite MT90 B16 74H installed in the reverse direction as his preferred tire. He has stated that it does not seem to wander and has excellent wet weather traction. For the reasons stated above, I just ordered a Dunlop from his partner Devin and it should be here in a day or two. I have just about 14k on my OEM tire and it does not show any signs of quitting on me tread-wise for another probably 2-3k miles. I don't ride my bike like and old lady and was taking gentle sweepers out West at 70-80 mph

You mention the preference of the Dunlop American Elite in MT90 B16 74H. My interpretation of the NHTSA Tire guide indicates this is a BIAS ply tire.

We always hear the warning on automobiles to "never mix bias-ply and radial-ply tires on a vehicle". Does this hold true for the TG?

[Capt.Bob]

You mention the preference of the Dunlop American Elite in MT90 B16 74H. My interpretation of the NHTSA Tire guide indicates this is a BIAS ply tire.

We always hear the warning on automobiles to "never mix bias-ply and radial-ply tires on a vehicle". Does this hold true for the TG?

Prariepilot, I think my current original stock front Dunlop 402F on my TGU are also a bias ply tire in the MT90b16 72H size. So I guess I am not changing the strategy that Harley had?

[Capt.Bob]

Mike, In terms of running the rear tire in reverse, this is what Avon suggests if using a rear tire on the front: "If you are using a tire that has a directional arrow for rear rotation only and for some reason you want to put it on the front, make sure it is rotating in the opposite direction so you don’t aggravate the tread splice." Avon Tyre

[prariepilot]

Prariepilot, I think my current original stock front Dunlop 402F on my TGU are also a bias ply tire in the MT90b16 72H size. So I guess I am not changing the strategy that Harley had?

I haven't checked my tires for the Bias/Radial mix yet, and am following this thread closely, as I'll need to replace them in about 1K.
If Harley mixes Bias and Radial, then they should know! (?) I like the idea of getting better than 7K miles on a front tire! This will be my second one in 14K!

BTW, Had a conversation with the guys at Dunlop....
....There is a new "Signature II" series tire on the market in sizes to fit the rear. The P205/65 R15 94T is $83.66 at my local Sams Club. I've got 30K on my rear tires and they're due. Guys at Dunlop say they are an acceptable substitute for the H-D OEM rear tire.

Thanks, Capt Bob for the insight on H-D strategy!

[MikeyTX]

Prariepilot, I think my current original stock front Dunlop 402F on my TGU are also a bias ply tire in the MT90b16 72H size. So I guess I am not changing the strategy that Harley had?

Believe he is referring to the rear tires which, are radial