Front tire?

dbeii · Aug 18, 2010

Trike front tire

What is the best radial tire to put on the front of 2008 golding motortrike? Time to buy and I wanted some input on maybe a tire with a bigger footprint or handleing.

Thanks

Don

John Luciano · Aug 18, 2010

Re: Trike front tire

DO NOT PUT A RADIAL ON THE FRONT I repeat;;;;No Radial.... I know you have radials on the rear. This is not a car ( many people say y didn't you buy a car I know ) the radial is too soft in the sidewall. The Idea is you want a firm side wall or it will bounce in corners. Look for a Pilot Activ rear tire the same size as the front tire you now use . Michelin Pilot Activ

Boscoporp · Aug 22, 2010

Re: Trike front tire

I agree with John. Michelin Activ P is the only way to go. I have had two of them and put over 20,000 on each with no problems.

duane43344 · Aug 23, 2010

Re: Flat Tires on Trikes...Anyone had the experience...?

When I bought my trike, I was riding it home from the shop where I got it. They had washed it, and somehow broke the valve stem on the front tire..went completely down about half way home. I smelled hot rubber, and it started pulling HARD to the right. Got off the road and called a tow..lol

Casper · Aug 23, 2010

Re: Flat Tires on Trikes...Anyone had the experience...?

Insurance!!!!
1. plug kit and air comp.
2. tow package from either insurance or AMA etc...
3. Cell Phone
4. Credit Card
works for me

Doc · Aug 23, 2010

Re: Flat Tires on Trikes...Anyone had the experience...?

Just a Heads-up regarding Fix-o-Flat...worked 5 years managing repair shops in Fla and any Tires that came in with Fix-o-Flat had to be"

1. Broke down for repair with extreme caution (Smokers Beware) as it's highly Flamable.

2. Entire inside of Tire must be washed out thoruoghly, as plugs/patches will not fuse to

the inner tire.

3. Your Nice Shiney Rims will quickly start to rot (break down), as the Fiz-o-Flat acts as

a corrosive.

skuuter · Aug 23, 2010

Re: Flat Tires on Trikes...Anyone had the experience...?

Doc said:
Just a Heads-up regarding Fix-o-Flat...worked 5 years managing repair shops in Fla and any Tires that came in with Fix-o-Flat had to be"

1. Broke down for repair with extreme caution (Smokers Beware) as it's highly Flamable.

2. Entire inside of Tire must be washed out thoruoghly, as plugs/patches will not fuse to

the inner tire.

3. Your Nice Shiney Rims will quickly start to rot (break down), as the Fiz-o-Flat acts as

a corrosive.

Had the "ruined rim" problem before from a fix-a-flat product after leavin' it in too long.....

Gorilla · Aug 23, 2010

Re: Flat Tires on Trikes...Anyone had the experience...?

sounds like its something that needs to be delt with as soon as possible after having to use it. nice to know that you do.

Saltywheels · Sep 7, 2010

Re: Trike front tire

Well have now been riding around since Fri with an MPA on the front end (backward). Turn-ins are smoother & dare I say, easier. But the front end slow speed shake, well it's still there. According to JBJ Cycles the installers(great bunch of guys!) of the CSC kit, that is normal due to the 3-w geometry. Since it's not irksome, I am going to ignore it. Love the tire though.

John Luciano · Sep 7, 2010

Re: Trike front tire

I can ride no hands from 60 MPH down to 10. no shake . tighten up the front steering bearing . run 20 lb in rear tires and 41 in front one . Let me know how that works . start with the air pressure first

Saltywheels · Sep 8, 2010

Re: Trike front tire

John, JBJ Cycles did attempt to snug the front steering bearing. Was not loose. I already run 20-21 / 40-41 psi. Seems to work best for mostly 2-up. Thks a ton

Jimsjinx · Sep 14, 2010

Re: Trike front tire

If you have three wheels on the ground, and have a wobble, something is very wrong. The dreaded "tank slap", and wheel shake is only "normal" on a two wheel vehicle. Notably the GoldWing. jimsjinx

Doug Nie · Apr 5, 2012

Needing to replace the front tire on my new to me 95 GoldWing/Roadsmith trike. What is the recommended tire to use. Before the trike, I rode Avons on the two wheeled Valkyrie.
DO you go forward or reverse the tire?

Gold Rush · Apr 5, 2012

Bridgestone BT-45 bias ply or Michelin Pilot Activ (MPA) are to two most often used rear tires run on the front. To do reverse or forward rotation is a personal choice. Unless you are a real hard breaker I don't think you will ever damage the carcass by mounting in forward rotation. Don't know about the MPA but the tread pattern on the BT-45 looks to me like it will shed water really well in the reverse rotation mount. That seems to be the main issue with the nay-sayers...

I run BT-45 reversed and will continue...

don graham · Apr 5, 2012

I'm using the Bridgestone BT 45 on my 2007 Wing. Only have a few thousand miles on it so far but i'm happy with it so far. Rides good, even used it in a hard rain. I do have it reversed. The shop I had put it on says they do a lot of reverse mountings.

leo3wheel · Apr 6, 2012

Really like our Avon Venom rear tire reverse-mounted.

Doug Nie · Apr 6, 2012

Thanks for the information.
I have used Avons, will speak to the mechanic Monday.

What size did you use?

leo3wheel · Apr 6, 2012

Doug Nie said:
Thanks for the information.
I have used Avons, will speak to the mechanic Monday.

What size did you use?

Doug, You have a Goldwing, and I have a RSV. The tire sizes are most likely different. What I did is bought a Avon Venom AM42 rear tire that is the same exact size as the OEM Bridgestone front tire I had. The recommended front tire size on a RSV is 150/80HB-16. Changing to the Venom rear tire increased the load rating from 71 to 77 and tread depth from 9/32" to 11/32". Our Yamaha dealer had no problem reverse-mounting the rear tire. He just had me sign that I approved this work. Just returned from Key West/Tampa ride, 3,877 miles. Front tire tread is now 10/32" in the center. The interstate speeds are 70 mph down south. Just set the cruise control and let the trike go. Never had to slow down on curves. Really like the AM42.

oldbear · Apr 6, 2012

I spoke with Doug L. at Roadsmith the day before yesterday about a new front tire on mine when I do the conversion (hopefully late next week). Anyway, what he recommended to me for the Roadsmith kit on my Wing was the Michelin Pilot Activ mount for reverse rotation...Since they make the kits, I figure he knows what works so that's what I've got coming to have put on mine when the conversion kit is installed. (Current front tire is "worn" but not worn out, however I want to ride the conversion once it's done and not have to worry 'bout tires for a while :wave4:

leo3wheel · Apr 6, 2012

Many folks are achieving great results with the MPA. If we go with Michelin on our trike, it would have to be the Michelin Commander 2. This tire is cheaper than the Avon Venom, and I may consider it in the future. For now, I'm enjoying what we have. Hoping we won't need a new front tire for a very long time. You are smart to replace your front tire with a new rear tire. Your trike will handle great! :Trike1: