Time to get that new front tire

[triwinggirl]

Hey all it's finally time to get that new front tire. As i said in the past i have come to feel the standard motorcycle tire is wholly insufficient. It has limited mileage, high replacement cost and does not handle well on a trike.

I want to replace it with the car tire option. I need to know which tire to buy and were i can get it installed in Vegas. i am aware there are shops that won't put it on, i do not know which ones will or won't.


For those that are not familiar with me i ride a GoldWing 1800 D.F.T. Trike with the factory front suspension, wheel and fender.


Thank you

[Blondie Gal]

See the thread that deals with Michelin Pilot Active - most folks reverse the rotation and get anywhere from 18000 to 25000 miles out of it. Ours has over 13000 and still looks new!

[triwinggirl]

Very cool i Knew trike talk would come through and a sister too. :wtg:

I knew i had heard that a ct would work on the front. very cool

What size do i get and does any one know who will install it for me in vegas?

:woohoo:

[Nana]

Teresa, there are a number of threads with tons of information (much more knowledge than I can give you on it) if you do a search for "rear tire on the front". However, I do know that most of the GoldWing riders strongly recommend using the Michelin Pilot Activ rear motorcycle tire on the front of a trike. It should give you much longer wear than a traditional front motorcycle tire which has less thickness of tread and also a more rounded shape (needed with the leaning 2-wheelers do in turns). You will need to find the MPA in the same size as your front tire.

I suggest you read through the thread linked below for more information, and PM skuuter if you have specific questions on size and mounting. He has a GoldWing also and would be able to give you details I just don't have.

http://www.triketalk.com/forum/honda...-opinions.html

[sgmdudley]

I have a 2009 GL1800. I am running the Michelin Activ Rear Bias ply tire backwards on the front. More rubber on the road that way. Another recommendation is the Brigstone battleax BT-45. Also a Rear tire bias ply mounted backwards on the front. Radial = 130/70R-18. Bias = 130/70-18
.
Another option is the Euro Wing modified front rim and fork system for $4500. The rim is modified to accept a real car tire. Other wise there is no way you will find a 18" car tire to fit the standard GW rim.

http://www.eurowingusa.com/home.html
.
As to the science of mounting a Rear Tire backwards on the front. Years ago when the same size tire was used on both front and rear, the tires had two arrows. One for front mounting and an opposite for rear mounting. There is a difference in the internal construction: rear tires are designed for the stresses of take-off/traction, front tires are designed for steering and stopping. The main advantage for us trikers is more rubber from a rear tire. Also mixing a rear bias ply tire for the front with the radial tires in the rear is not a problem.

You said you have factory front suspension. It will be harder to steer then a trike with a rake kit. Rake kits are from 3 degrees to max of 6 degrees. I have the 5.5 kit on mine. Rode 160 miles yesterday, 50 miles of really twisty road. No problems. I also have the MBL bar adapters to bring the bars back and in so I don't have to reach so far.

[triwinggirl]

Thank You every one for helping me remember what i learned last year about front tires for the gold wing. i probably learned it here anyway. i was definetly confused :groan::banghead:

the good news is i should not have any trouble getting it installed.

:wtg::yourock:

[triwinggirl]

An update

all the tires recommended are available here, so a new tire will be easy to find, easy to get put on, cheaper than the usual front tire and will get well over 10,000 miles. which is way better than the 2500 i have been getting.

I have it all picked out and will get it on it's way soon. i have run bridgestone for awhile so i think i'll go with the BT-45. i kinda like the battleaxe name.

Thank you all for helping me think and remember what to get. i hate having hit my head but is nice to know there are those that will help me remember.

:GrpHug1:

[skuuter]

Two Things to remember triwinggirl.....

MICHELIN PILOT ACTIV"and"TRIKE TALK .com

.......... :wtg: :Biker:

[rodeo1]

An update

all the tires recommended are available here, so a new tire will be easy to find, easy to get put on, cheaper than the usual front tire and will get well over 10,000 miles. which is way better than the 2500 i have been getting.

I have it all picked out and will get it on it's way soon. i have run bridgestone for awhile so i think i'll go with the BT-45. i kinda like the battleaxe name.

Thank you all for helping me think and remember what to get. i hate having hit my head but is nice to know there are those that will help me remember.

:GrpHug1:

2500 miles ?????????? what, are you riding that thing sideways ?? i average 18 to 20,000 on an elite 3 front tire. wow !

[triwinggirl]

I'm finally going to get that new tire, at this point i was just almost out of bars to see.

yea i do ride sideways yu seen me

i get what i get out of a front tire. lets see somewhere between 5000 to 7000 i think. those dual compound front street tires just were not holding up.

It's vegas baby and i ride my trike everywhere not just highway and road them to.

Vegas eat tires, batteries, what ever yu got VEGAS eat it for yu where it out fast.

Temp today 115 OHHH a cooling trend yeee haaa

[rmrc51]

Does anyone have a good source and specific size for the Michelin Pilot Active rear tire for the GL1800? I'm also looking to replace my front tire.

[Shimpy]

I also have the MBL bar adapters to bring the bars back and in so I don't have to reach so far.

Moving the bars back also gives you much more leverage advantage to make steering easier and at the same time less squirrelly at hwy speeds.

[mhgoldwing]

I had the Michelin and just changed to the Bt-45. Less noise from tread and I like it! Remember to run pressure at 41 psi as recommended.

In the Arkansas twisties all trikes only average between 11-13 kmiles as scrub them off pretty fast. Regular front tire only last about 5 kmiles.

[triwinggirl]

Question

Why do we mount the tire backwards?

[Nana]

It is actually an option to mount the tire either reversed or forward. We have as many members doing it both ways and both seem to have equally good reviews.

The most important thing for long wear is to use a bias ply rear motorcycle tire in the same size as your current front tire.

This article explains the rationale for running the tire reversed: Tires Directional Arrows Explained By Avon Tyres at Cyril Huze Post

[triwinggirl]

Found it

Tires Directional Arrows Explained By Avon Tyres at Cyril Huze Post

It's a tread thing. the tire splice were the rubber is fused together needs to be reversed for braking.

the tread pattern needs to be reversed for water diversion.

As a power tire it is the right direction. as a driving tire it needs to be reversed.

Very cool Thank you

[triwinggirl]

OK I ordered my tire bt-45 130/80/18 rear speed index 66v

Is this to big?

[John Luciano]

Peeeeeeeerrrrrrrrfect ... You should feel the difference in 500 feet ( especially if there is a corner involved )

[Stephen]

OK I ordered my tire bt-45 130/80/18 rear speed index 66v

Is this to big?

130/70/18 is the correct size. I'm wearing the BT45 tire and it's looking real good with about 3500 on it but I didn't install it backwards like some think you have too.

[Stephen]

Tire Size Comparison

Specification Sidewall Radius Diameter Circumference Revs/Mile Difference
130/70-18 3.6in 12.6in 25.2in 79.1in 801 0.0%
130/80-18 4.1in 13.1in 26.2in 82.3in 770 4.1%

The 80 seems to be a taller tire, maybe to tall for the goldwing.