Front tire

[Smoken'JOE]

Going to put a new tire on the front. Please tell me why they should be reversed, or if it really needs to be for the trike.

[Ozarkryder]

Trikes generally have a <i>rear</i> tire installed in the front, but reversed. Rear tires usually have a stiffer sidewall and are beefier overall than a front tire. You might notice the rear tire is usually more expensive even when a bike takes front and rear tires of the same size - there is more into them. The rear is reversed when put on the front of a trike because it is made to take <u>acceleration</u> forces. Front tires get <u>braking</u> forces most, so the rear tire is put on backwards to take the strain in the right direction.

[Puff]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>Ozarkryder</strong>
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<div class="message">Trikes generally have a <i>rear</i> tire installed in the front, but reversed. Rear tires usually have a stiffer sidewall and are beefier overall than a front tire. You might notice the rear tire is usually more expensive even when a bike takes front and rear tires of the same size - there is more into them. The rear is reversed when put on the front of a trike because it is made to take <u>acceleration</u> forces. Front tires get <u>braking</u> forces most, so the rear tire is put on backwards to take the strain in the right direction.</div>

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</div>This I find very interesting :yes: I finished converting the Valk to a trike in August last year, and having covered quite some distance since then, have been amazed at the wear on the front tire. Trikes in Oz are thin on the ground, and there is always conjecture about front rubber and tire pressure. This is the first I've read of your solution to the problem... is it common practice in the States?<img src="images/smilies/confused.gif" border="0" alt="" title="huh??" class="inlineimg" />

[Lunchbox1983]

This I find very interesting :yes: I finished converting the Valk to a trike in August last year, and having covered quite some distance since then, have been amazed at the wear on the front tire. Trikes in Oz are thin on the ground, and there is always conjecture about front rubber and tire pressure. This is the first I've read of your solution to the problem... is it common practice in the States?

yes very common, and it does work

[ThirdWheel]

Joe and Puff dig into some of the older threads. There has been some really good stuff on this subject.

[Baz]

Puff be warned -- It is not legal to reverse the DOR in New Zealand &amp; some other countries I know of . I suspect Aus to be the same. Doing so see's your insurance void not to mention other non compliant issues. Baz.

[Puff]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>Baz</strong>
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<div class="message">Puff be warned -- It is not legal to reverse the DOR in New Zealand &amp; some other countries I know of . I suspect Aus to be the same. Doing so see's your insurance void not to mention other non compliant issues. Baz.</div>

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</div>When I posted the info on our forum, a few trikers are already doing it (reversing a back tire that is...<img src="http://www.tiptopglobe.com/skin/smile/s11953.gif" border="0" alt="" /> ) So obviously even though I've been head down, bottom up for months doing the build etc., and riding a bunch of Km's, I'm still a bloody newby! Nobody ever mentioned it till I posted on the 3 Wheelers forum yesterday.<br />
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Well, the time is just about right, looks like I'll get me a rear tire and do the backwards thing. Thanx for the concern Baz, but I've always been a bit of a rebel, and if others are doing it, I'd assume it's not an issue in Oz... Ignorance is bliss <img src="images/smilies/grin.gif" border="0" alt="" title="big grin" class="inlineimg" />

[Ozarkryder]

Well Puff, (he says in his best Mom voice) "... if others are doing it..." so if all the other kids jump off the cliff I suppose you think it is all right for you, too. (crossed arms and tapping foot)

The best scenario would be to find a car tire that would fit on the front rim. they are built to take the forces that trikes put upon them, as they don't lean like 2 wheelers. Rear tire on the front (preferably reversed) is the second best choice, and the only one due to clearance issues on most motorcycle front ends.

[John Luciano]

If the law says don't rev don't the difference is not that great . The rear tire on the front option is a necessity

[Puff]

Trikes generally have a rear tire installed in the front, but reversed. Rear tires usually have a stiffer sidewall and are beefier overall than a front tire.<snip>

Hi again.
Since reading this snippet I transplanted the info onto the National 3 Wheelers
forum with the resounding response "yeah, we know, we already do that" which as I said previously, you can always learn something 'new' every day.

But ALL of those guys have VW based trikes and didn't know whether the same applied to bike trikes... Well Ozarkryder, looking at your avatar and signature, you ride a GL 1500 (like me ) so I'm going to assume the same reasoning applies to bike-trikes. "Backwards back tire on the front... deal me in!"

[Puff]

Well Puff, (he says in his best Mom voice) "... if others are doing it..." so if all the other kids jump off the cliff I suppose you think it is all right for you, too. (crossed arms and tapping foot)

The best scenario would be to find a car tire that would fit on the front rim. they are built to take the forces that trikes put upon them, as they don't lean like 2 wheelers. Rear tire on the front (preferably reversed) is the second best choice, and the only one due to clearance issues on most motorcycle front ends.

Heh heh, actually, when my dear mother was alive, I can still hear her saying "If Johnny Smith jumped off a cliff, would you follow him too?" so you did touch a raw nerve with that comment.

Now, I used to run a car tire on the rear of the Valk when it had 2 wheels, but was surprised when an engineer told me to use a car tire up front when I did the trike conversion. When I look at the wear my m/c tire is incurring since it's been a trike, there is naturally a flat-spot down the centre, but it's also worn flat (on an angle of course) either side of the centre due to cornering. Question is, how does a car tire cope with cornering when the tire 'lays' over during cornering? Wouldn't it sit on the 'edge' of a flat profile? I ask these questions because I'm intrigued, not because I'm doubting their effectiveness.

Secondly, is there any other Wing or Valk owner on the forum running a car tire up front? If so, what size and pressure?
See, you were right Ozarkryder, "... if others are doing it..." (sorry mom )

PS, I'm really not gullible, but will certainly take on board a suggestion that will provide better safety/performance for my pride and joy... Remember, I'm still a newby compared to most of you guys.

[subeetrikerdon]

Going to put a new tire on the front. Please tell me why they should be reversed, or if it really needs to be for the trike.

I do agree about reversing the front tire.
On my home built trike with my leading link front end I prefer a narrow 19" front tire. This is because the narrow tire has a quicker turning response and the larger tires would make it harder to turn. I also lower the tire pressure in order for it to be able to "hug" the road in turns, etc.
So, while the larger (wider) front tire works with the GW's etc., it wouldn't work very well with my type of rake and front end. JMHO

[Gorilla]

I be courious if there is trikers out there using a car tire on the front also. The Stallion comes with a car tire on it's front and it steers just fine.

[John Luciano]

To answer one Question the tire never LAYS over in a turn. I still have the little nubs on the side of my tire after 13,000 miles

[tis]

John: do you run a rear tire on the front? Also would appreciate other members thoughts on this as I was under the impression everyone was running Bike tire on front. This could be a interesting post, & get a varied response.....

[Smoken'JOE]

WOW there is some good info here.

[John Luciano]

I found a BIKE REAR tire that was the same size as my original front tire. (Actually I got one that was an 80 series not the 70 series as original that's another story ) it happened to be a Macadam 50 by Michelin... I have heard people use others with just the same success. Avon Venom, Brigstone Battle Axe and the Pilot Activ even a Chinnon ) They all work better than the original Brigstone Elite.. The trike does not LEAN so the side of the tire is never used . You don't want a Radial up front. Bias ply only. I know I got Radials on the rear story . fagetabautit... the radial is too soft. Beleive me Don't even give this a second thought BUY a REAR tire mount it frontwards or backwards what ever makes you happy. the corner hopping will be a thing of the past. BTW the 80 series only works on the 1500 Wing not the 1800

[magusjinx]

When I look at the wear my m/c tire is incurring since it's been a trike, there is naturally a flat-spot down the centre, but it's also worn flat (on an angle of course) either side of the centre due to cornering. Question is, how does a car tire cope with cornering when the tire 'lays' over during cornering? Wouldn't it sit on the 'edge' of a flat profile? I ask these questions because I'm intrigued, not because I'm doubting their effectiveness.

Motorcycle tires are designed and formed to vary the location of te contact surface of the tire to the road during turning ... hence the roundness of the tires profile ... Automotive tires on the other hand have a more square profile as they are designed to handle lateral forces during turning while keeping the same location of contact between the road and the tire in the relative same place ... Also since automotive tires are designed for greater weight loads their sidewalls are stiffer so the tire does not move laterally in relation to the centerline of the rim ...

Basically the directions of the loads are diff between a vehicle that leans into a curve and rolls the tire onto its side and one that relies on a flat footing ...

And if you understand any of that please let me know ... Sometimes it is hard getting the pictures in my head into words ...

[Gertbuilt]

I am going to throw the cat among the pigeons here. I don't believe it is the carcase construction of the tyre that determines the direction of rotation. Not on the rear tyre anyway. This tyre has to have braking forces applied to it as well as accelleration forces so I would imagine (not a tyre expert) that on that basis there is no front or back. The reason in my understanding that tyres are uni directional is because of the tread pattern and efficient water dispersal. Tyre treads are designed to throw out water from the contact patch, and if mounted the wrong way, there is a danger that it will do the opposiste: ie. draw water into the tread rather than disperse it. This could lead to aquaplaning and a very unpleasant experience.

With respect to tyres on the front of a trike leaning.... No they don't lean like a two wheeler, but they do in fact lean a small amount. That is unless you have zero rake on your front end. Try it. Move your bars (when stationary of course) to full lock on one side. Then check your front wheel. It is leaning. :eek:

[Puff]

Motorcycle tires are designed and formed to vary the location of te contact surface of the tire to the road during turning ... hence the roundness of the tires profile ... Automotive tires on the other hand have a more square profile as they are designed to handle lateral forces during turning while keeping the same location of contact between the road and the tire in the relative same place ... Also since automotive tires are designed for greater weight loads their sidewalls are stiffer so the tire does not move laterally in relation to the centerline of the rim ...

Basically the directions of the loads are diff between a vehicle that leans into a curve and rolls the tire onto its side and one that relies on a flat footing ...

And if you understand any of that please let me know ... Sometimes it is hard getting the pictures in my head into words ...

Thanx for taking the time to transfer your mental pics into words MJ (love the avatar )
I sorta, kinda, er, maybe understand what you're saying, I guess I'll have to do a little more research before I purchase the next hoop. I'll be needing a replacement in a month or two, and that's when I'll decide which way to go. I did ask one of the members who runs a car tire if he could give me the size and make, but obviously he hasn't got the PM yet