Harley Front Tire???

[GARYD]

What is an average milage for a stock front tire on a 2012 TG? I have almost 9k on mine and it looks like it doesn't have much tread lift - maybe another 1k.
I just read in Rider magazine's "TechQ&A" column that 9k is really good milage for a Harley trike. The author said " I would be happy with 9k miles out of any front tire, let alone a trike."
I see here others with a lot more miles.

 

[Livin2Ride]

I got 8400 miles from mine, it probably had another 1000 in it. The back roads here have a rough surface and on a recent trip to Montana I ran a lot of freshly "chipped and sealed" roads. I also installed a MT90B16 rear tire on the front with reversed rotation. I don't have enough miles to really comment on it, but the wear pattern at 32 PSI looks real good.

 

[Trent]

I squeaked 15,000 out of my original front tire and the wear bars started showing at 14,950..I too have installed a rear tire reversed, have 3,400 on it now...not enough to comment about wear yet. I am really happy with the feel of it in the curves and turns,,

 

[bobs67ss]

I only have been able to get about 8500 on my fronts.after a guy pulled out in front of me I locked it up and had a flat spot in it ,so rear on front for me now also

 

[1852cc]

I have a Bridgestone Battlax BT45 rear tire, on the front and running in reverse direction on my 2009 RoadGlide/Lehman, just did 3500 miles, tire works and looks great, so far, lots of tread.

 

[Bruce]

My trike just turned 19000 miles and have the original front tire ( 10 Tri-Glide ) It looks like i could get another couple of thousand miles out of it. I have a couple of long runs planned for this fall so I'm going to change it out now. I'm going to use the same Dunlop that came on the trike.

 

[trikermutha]

I am just curiuous as to what you all are running on front tire pressure. I am seeing the wear miles vary on this thread. And are you riding two up??

 

[Trent]

Two up more than solo..34 pounds pressure. It is pretty much impossible to do any interesting riding around Idaho without a lotta curves and twisty roads no matter where you go...except the freeway of course. They chip seal a lotta the roads here also, so that rough gravel surface grinds 'em down faster, verses just plain smooth asphalt.

I am usually pushin' it close to the max in the curves, and more so when ridin' solo, so I am fine with buying tires more often to facilitate my fun.

 

[GARYD]

Last night at my HOG chapter meeting I was told that the front wheel on 2009 and up is a 17" dia.
My question is for those that are putting a 16" rear tire on the front in reverse, how does that work?

 

[trikermutha]

Last night at my HOG chapter meeting I was told that the front wheel on 2009 and up is a 17" dia.
My question is for those that are putting a 16" rear tire on the front in reverse, how does that work?

The tire is still a 16 inch

Tires, Front Specification MT90B16 72H

 

[trikermutha]

Last night at my HOG chapter meeting I was told that the front wheel on 2009 and up is a 17" dia.
My question is for those that are putting a 16" rear tire on the front in reverse, how does that work?

The tire is still a 16 inch

Tires, Front Specification MT90B16 72H

 

[GARYD]

Thanks for that info. What about the width of the rear tire? Isn't it wider then the front on newer bikes?

Would doing so void the warranty if something happened?

We had a gal in our chapter last year that had a new tire put on her bike, when some members saw that they bashed the dealer because they put the tire on backwards(don't know if it was a rear tire or front tire).

How widespread is it to mount the rear tire on the front?

There sure is a big difference between 8500 miles and 19000 miles. Is it because of nitrogen in the tires?

My rear tires still look brand new.

I do ride solo - highway and city streets - probably 50/50.
35psi front -20psi rear.

 

[1852cc]

My 2009 roadglide/lehman has a 17" on the front, i will not change to a 16".
Because of the 17, it did limit the rear tire options available. That is why I choose the Bridgestone BT45. I could have put the Mich Pilot Active on, but it was taller and wider (by alot) than stock, and just was not sure it would fit without clearance issues, the BT45, was very cloose to the stock front tire. All be it, finding information on the stock tire was difficult, as it was recalled on 2009's with the 17" front wheels, as well as discontinued.
The BT45 so far is much better in all respects, to the stock tire or its replacement verision of Dunlop.
Oh, I do run the BT45 reversed of course!!
I run 39lbs in the front, 20lbs in the rears and 25 psi in the shocks, I ride 2 up all the time, and lots of long mile trips!

I do have the shock lift, on the Lehman, custom built for me by Dennis! "works great by the way"!

 

[Trent]

The whole tire itself is not wider, but the area that contacts the road is wider, because it is not as rounded as a regular front tire. Since we don't lean the Trike in the curves, we don't need a rounded front tire, which is made with more tread up the sides for maintaining traction when the bike is leaning. Rear bike tires are not as rounded as front tires. Reversing the tire simply makes it grab a little more cuz the treads are going the opposite direction,,,kinda like a farm tractor...

Your HOGS that were bashing the dealer are un-informed about tires on Trikes... or was the Gal's ride a 2 wheeler? Can't speak for recommends on one of those. My dealer thinks it is a great idea, I am the first one they tried it on, and they are watching to see the wear and handling results. The service manager recommended to his Dad, who has a TG, to do the same thing I did. Avon tire company even recommends in writing doing what we are doing on Trikes with their tires. I would say by the number of members on this forum that are doing this, it appears to be fairly wide spread, on all types of Trikes.

As I have mentioned on other posts, I tried to find a flat across car tire that would fit the front and try it out. Could not find one that would fit or I would have it on there right now. Not 100% sure, but I don't think there is any warranty on any tires that HD installs.

 

[GARYD]

Harley put 17" front wheels on all the new electra glides except tri glides. I wonder why.

 

[1852cc]

Harley put 17" front wheels on all the new electra glides except tri glides. I wonder why.

lol who knows its HD, why do the do alot of the stuff they do!

 

[Harleyrider2810]

Anyone gone or have info on going from stock 16" front tire to an 18" tire using the rear wheel option discussed here?

 

[cavie]

I cannot find a 16" Bridgestone on any of their websites.

go to dennis kirk. search bt45 16" rear. they have 2 choices. I run 18" rear backwards on my vtx honda

 

[pcombe]

I have searched "front tire" and all I get is front tire changes for Honda. I found one for a Harley and the person used a MU85B16 rear tire. They did not say if they mounted backwards.

Has anyone put a rear tire on the front of a triglide? Which rotation direction? I notice the MU85 has 11/32" tread depth, the stock front tire has 5/32". What type of tire? What size?

You probably already know this but here goes, Look at the tire size you are currently running on the front and get a rear tire the exact same size and run it reverse rotation.

 

[cavie]

Dennis kirk list an Avalon that mounts front or rear. forward or backwards