Front Wheel--Rear Wheel

[drumdoctor]

Asking for trikers & bikers who are knowledgeable about motorcycle wheels...

Can a rear wheel off a motorcycle be used as a front wheel on a trike?

If so, how can dual disc rotors be attached to it?

Put on your creative thinking caps and come up with some answers.

Thanks...

[trikertroy]

I use the rear wheels from the big Harleys a lot on the front of my Bettertrikes..They have bolt bosses on both sides of the hub... Im pretty sure duel disks will work.. Iv never run duals.. (no need)

[classycustoms]

that is what I'm running on my big beast. rear wheel & tire off Harley Fatboy. I have 737 lbs on my front wheel on a 45degree rake. 20,000 miles with NO problems!

[Gold Rush]

Many GL1800 trike owners are running Bridgestone BT-45 or Michelin MPA (both are bias ply rear motorcycle tires) on the front (with dual rotors). Some of us run in reverse rotation while others don't. Both tires get superior performance and tread ware. Depending on who you talk to there will be pros and cons....

[Gorilla]

I believe the rear wheel sprocket side has bigger bolt holes then the rotor side.

[ea81slush]

It would be really beneficial to seek out a motorcycle tyre expert for this topic.

Reason being that I've read many forum comments over recent years with opinions that recommend not using rear tyres for front wheels and visa versa.

This is based on the design of the tyre and its construction. Rear tyres are designed with different construction to allow for acceleration distortions while the front tyres have to cope with different braking forces. If this is correct then simply placing a rear tyre backwards on a front wheel could have some interesting things going on inside the tyre.

That' all I know but I'm just concerned. An official expert answer is justified.

[Gold Rush]

It would be really beneficial to seek out a motorcycle tyre expert for this topic.

Reason being that I've read many forum comments over recent years with opinions that recommend not using rear tyres for front wheels and visa versa.

This is based on the design of the tyre and its construction. Rear tyres are designed with different construction to allow for acceleration distortions while the front tyres have to cope with different braking forces. If this is correct then simply placing a rear tyre backwards on a front wheel could have some interesting things going on inside the tyre.

That' all I know but I'm just concerned. An official expert answer is justified.

Here are two expert answers.... Long but informative.


Tires Directional Arrows Explained By Avon Tyres
Published by Cyril Huze August 23rd, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Wheels.

Before we can talk about directional arrows you must first understand a bit about tread patterns. There are many different tread patterns but there is one main reason to have any tread and that is to disperse water (dust, dirt). A tread pattern can be designed to disperse more water by making it rotate in only one direction. Thus, the need for directional arrows. The arrow tells you which way to mount a tire for maximum water dispersal.

Another, less apparent reason for directional arrows is the tread splice.What is a tread splice? When a tire is manufactured the tread portion of the tire starts out as a long flat strip.

This strip is wrapped around the tire and the two ends are cut on an angle so one end overlaps the other rather than having square cut ends. This overlapping point or splice offers a bigger surface area to bond together, rather than the small surface area provided by square cut ends. (Imagine gluing your fingertips together, as opposed to gluing along the entire length of your fingers laid on top of each other. Like an angled splice, the overlapping fingers result in a much stronger bond). To further ensure the strength of this bond along the tread splice the directional arrow will show you which way to mount the tire so that when the rider is “on the gas”; the acceleration force on the rear tire is pressing the splice together, rather than peeling it back.

As for braking, 80 % of the braking should take place in the front on most bikes. Therefore, the front tread splice is run in the opposite direction than that of the rear, so when the rider is on the brakes, he’s not peeling the tread splice back.

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 Tyres.




September 08, 2010

Mr. Lebaux,

Per our phone conversation regarding the Michelin Pilot Activ, this tire can be used on the front of a trike mounted to run in reverse.

Many consumers use a rear tire and turn it around (tire is mounted opposite to the directional arrows on the sidewall of the tire) to be used on the front.

The rear tire tread pattern is designed for acceleration while the front tire tread pattern is designed for braking and stopping. So the tread pattern must be reversed to change it from acceleration to braking and stopping.

The rear tire is used in these applications because it provides longer wear.

Thanks for choosing Michelin.

We appreciate your business.

It is our goal to ensure that your issue has been resolved or you question answered to your satisfaction. If we can assist you further, please respond to this email or call us at 1-800-847-3435 (toll free) between 8:00AM and 8:00PM Eastern Time Monday through Friday or between 8:30AM and 4:30PM Eastern Time on Saturday.

Sincerely,
Dale
Michelin North America
Consumer Care Department
Certified Michelin Product Expert

Privacy Policy – Michelin Privacy Policy

(Please Do Not Delete the line below)
Case number: 2492147

[Gorilla]

Gee I think you guys are not reading his question. He's not asking about the tires (that subject has all ready been well covered in other threads) he is asking about the wheels (rims). The wheel/rim will work but if you want dual calipers then you will have to think about drilling out the left rotor to allow the larger bolts used to attach the sprocket. I believe the rotor bolts are 3/8 and the sprocket bolts are 7/16. Not positive about the sizes but I know they are different.

[Rsw]

Sorry Gorilla...I deleted my post.

[Gold Rush]

Gee I think you guys are not reading his question. He's not asking about the tires (that subject has all ready been well covered in other threads) he is asking about the wheels (rims). The wheel/rim will work but if you want dual calipers then you will have to think about drilling out the left rotor to allow the larger bolts used to attach the sprocket. I believe the rotor bolts are 3/8 and the sprocket bolts are 7/16. Not positive about the sizes but I know they are different.

......

I fell into the trap!! I hate that. Sorry guys... Hope that info will come in handy some day...

[TomL]

Thanks for for this info. Honda dealer in Evansville, IN told me he had a letter from Michelin advising not to mount in reverse, that they would not be liable. They will not install a tire in reverse.
TomL, Evansville, IN

Here are two expert answers.... Long but informative.


Tires Directional Arrows Explained By Avon Tyres
Published by Cyril Huze August 23rd, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Wheels.

Before we can talk about directional arrows you must first understand a bit about tread patterns. There are many different tread patterns but there is one main reason to have any tread and that is to disperse water (dust, dirt). A tread pattern can be designed to disperse more water by making it rotate in only one direction. Thus, the need for directional arrows. The arrow tells you which way to mount a tire for maximum water dispersal.

Another, less apparent reason for directional arrows is the tread splice.What is a tread splice? When a tire is manufactured the tread portion of the tire starts out as a long flat strip.

This strip is wrapped around the tire and the two ends are cut on an angle so one end overlaps the other rather than having square cut ends. This overlapping point or splice offers a bigger surface area to bond together, rather than the small surface area provided by square cut ends. (Imagine gluing your fingertips together, as opposed to gluing along the entire length of your fingers laid on top of each other. Like an angled splice, the overlapping fingers result in a much stronger bond). To further ensure the strength of this bond along the tread splice the directional arrow will show you which way to mount the tire so that when the rider is “on the gas”; the acceleration force on the rear tire is pressing the splice together, rather than peeling it back.

As for braking, 80 % of the braking should take place in the front on most bikes. Therefore, the front tread splice is run in the opposite direction than that of the rear, so when the rider is on the brakes, he’s not peeling the tread splice back.

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 Tyres.




September 08, 2010

Mr. Lebaux,

Per our phone conversation regarding the Michelin Pilot Activ, this tire can be used on the front of a trike mounted to run in reverse.

Many consumers use a rear tire and turn it around (tire is mounted opposite to the directional arrows on the sidewall of the tire) to be used on the front.

The rear tire tread pattern is designed for acceleration while the front tire tread pattern is designed for braking and stopping. So the tread pattern must be reversed to change it from acceleration to braking and stopping.

The rear tire is used in these applications because it provides longer wear.

Thanks for choosing Michelin.

We appreciate your business.

It is our goal to ensure that your issue has been resolved or you question answered to your satisfaction. If we can assist you further, please respond to this email or call us at 1-800-847-3435 (toll free) between 8:00AM and 8:00PM Eastern Time Monday through Friday or between 8:30AM and 4:30PM Eastern Time on Saturday.

Sincerely,
Dale
Michelin North America
Consumer Care Department
Certified Michelin Product Expert

Privacy Policy – Michelin Privacy Policy

(Please Do Not Delete the line below)
Case number: 2492147

[cavie]

I've been reading about the tire delema for 2 years. hours and hours of reading. 30,000 miles on front tires. Not once has anybody posted any problems with a tire mounted on front running in reverse. NOT ONE POST out of 1,0000's. Nothing but positive resopnces. Only some IT IS NOT SAFE. PROVE IT OR SHUT UP.

[irmagoo]

well I converted a 16x5.5 Harley rear wheel (2006 road-glide if I remember right) to dual disc. front wheel on my 3.8 supercharged trike build- check it out!! ..
it does require some machine work but its not to hard for someone with some basic machining knowledge..
I wanted a 7 inch front tire so a started by buying rim and tire and was going to just run 1 rotor,,,, my buddy at bike shop shamed me into building a aluminum adaptor to make it work!! he said "you know you want to do it so go do it" we will remount tire when your done!!! ok its done!!
check out my build may get you going !!
mike/ aka magoo