My lack of 3 wheel rear tire knowledge is showing a question of 3 if you please.....

[JaysGone]

3 quick question guys.
#1
Can you rotate the rear tires??
I know they are radials .................

#2 and 3
Is the rear end of a Motor Trike IRS a posi rear??
If not which wheel is the drive side??

Reason Im asking is my right side is showing more wear in the middle then the left.
I don't run them at any more then 24psi so its not from over inflation.
Id like to switch them, but as they are TA radials.
Ive always believed in the radial belt rotation thing, so Ive never done it.
Ive got 18K on the trike now. Id like to see the tires wear a bit more evenly.
If it was a car left to right would be a no-no.
Thanks

[Gold Rush]

Jay I've never heard of anyone rotating the tires on a trike. Following the cage rules I'd say not to..

I don't believe we have a posi trac rear end but it might be limited slip. I'd call and talk to Richard. He will be able to tell you for sure.

I can't help you with the uneven ware issue. My first set wore out evenly and this second set is doing very well....

Only thing I can think of is if you ride with the left tire in the left automobile tire track then the trike right tire will be in the middle and that part of the road is usually not as smooth as the tire tracks themselves.

[TwoBye]

3 quick question guys.
#1
Can you rotate the rear tires??
I know they are radials .................

Quick answer - No, not really. I know of guys that do but I'm not too sure it has been good for them.

#2 and 3
Is the rear end of a Motor Trike IRS a posi rear??

No. Think about it for a minute, if it was posi you wouldn't be able to turn very short at all.

If not which wheel is the drive side??

Path of least resistance mostly.

Reason Im asking is my right side is showing more wear in the middle then the left.
I don't run them at any more then 24psi so its not from over inflation.
Id like to switch them, but as they are TA radials.
Ive always believed in the radial belt rotation thing, so Ive never done it.
Ive got 18K on the trike now. Id like to see the tires wear a bit more evenly.
If it was a car left to right would be a no-no.
Thanks

Curious, have you ever had the rear end checked to see if it is 'square' to the centerline of the trike? I'm not sure how to go about this (maybe one of the smarter guys or gals will chime in) but I would start here. How about weight? Is one side heavier than the other? Again, not sure how that happens but worth a look. Just thinking out loud here, hope it helps some ...

[Leathel]

It doesn't cost much to take them off the rim (well here anyway), Take them off so you can swap side for side and keep rotation the same way

I have always been told not to change direction of travel of radials.

Non slip diffs in cars generaly put more power to the RH wheel but if your shaft is on the LH side of the bike (my current build is) the diff is upside down compared to a car so may well put more drive to the LH side ?

Does the LH skid first in loose gravel car parks?

[Solidbob]

#1 - No - construction of radials can only go in one direction.

#2 - Not Posi - Trac tires would not last well, tear each other apart...

#3- Drive side is variable, if you drive with Cruise Control a lot it will cause excess tire wear on the main drive side as power is applied regardless of road condition. Found that out when mine was a bike, got much better tire mileage with Cruise off.

Just FYI....

[JaysGone]

I thought my general knowledge was enough and from your answers guys it appears to be.
As to the actual wear its a few millimeters more on the right side center then the left.
I know rotating radials from side to side is a no-no.
But to have wear on the right center more so then the left seemed abnormal. Since I run the rears at 24psi.
I have also found out the hard way
Yes the bike is uneven as to the weight distribution,
I went to adjust the shocks one day.
I jacked up the bike using my platform lift under the pumpkin.
I loosened up both tires and took off the right side first.
As I took the left tire off.
The trike fell over on the right side, off the jack. No real damages done and now I use jack stands 100% of the time.

And as far as riding in the left or right side of a lane.
Nope
I ride dead center its my lane and I use it all.
Ive only had the cruise control on once in a while to check that it is indeed working.
I guess the next time I jack up the bike.
Ill start it up and figure which side is the drive side.
Not hard to do at all.

Thanks guys.

[riverrat]

Unless your tires are directional, it won't matter which side you put them on.

[howardg]

I know on my truck the rotation is the left tire goes to the left rear and the left tire goes to the right front. This is in the manual and it is a 2011 Chevy.

[JaysGone]

It doesn't cost much to take them off the rim (well here anyway), Take them off so you can swap side for side and keep rotation the same way

I have always been told not to change direction of travel of radials.

Non slip diffs in cars generaly put more power to the RH wheel but if your shaft is on the LH side of the bike (my current build is) the diff is upside down compared to a car so may well put more drive to the LH side ?

Does the LH skid first in loose gravel car parks?

Since replacing the old driveshaft this trike has been perfect.
A bit dirty but perfect.
Its running so well its actually boring.
No driveline issues at all.
Just the wear on the center of the right tire is bothering me. The wear its showing at 17K miles would be an over inflated tire on any thing else.

- - - Updated - - -

Unless your tires are directional, it won't matter which side you put them on.

As I would think, but if a car all you can do with radials is front to back same side.
I don't know what harm if any Id be doing if I switched them side to side. Heck its only 1 axle????
Maybe this weekend I will switch them and find out.
A blown belt might be the worst case????
Or as suggested have the tires remounted White Outline outside???

- - - Updated - - -

I know on my truck the rotation is the left tire goes to the left rear and the left tire goes to the right front. This is in the manual and it is a 2011 Chevy.

This is what Ive known and done since my 1st set of radials.

[Leathel]

I know on my truck the rotation is the left tire goes to the left rear and the left tire goes to the right front. This is in the manual and it is a 2011 Chevy.

the above is not an issue on cross ply tires but not always advisable on radials, some hold up fine but sometimes the cords let go and you end up with tires with lumps, bulges etc, Seen plenty let go (mostly tires purchased used) apparently tread wear can be "rugged" if the direction is changed as well, edges not worn squarely

Non directional can go either way when new but not advised when used.

I have seen the damage and told it was direction change that did it... but who can be sure?

[tfdeputydawg]

Interesting this would come up soon after I had my trike serviced by a local installer. I asked him if I should "rotate" the rear tires. His response was, absolutely not as radials are not to have the rotation reversed!
Never said anything further but, there are no rotation arrows on them so, how does one know which way to install them to start with?????????????????????????????????

I do not know of any trike rear that is posi-trak!

I also find it very interesting that one of our members gets increased tire mileage by not using his cruise control!!! I have never given that any thought at all! Very possible there would be more wear on the side that is the "main" drive side but, only, IMO, if you do "drag race" starts often and would not think it would cause just the center to wear!?

[JaysGone]

Jay I've never heard of anyone rotating the tires on a trike. Following the cage rules I'd say not to..

I don't believe we have a posi trac rear end but it might be limited slip. I'd call and talk to Richard. He will be able to tell you for sure.

I can't help you with the uneven ware issue. My first set wore out evenly and this second set is doing very well....

Only thing I can think of is if you ride with the left tire in the left automobile tire track then the trike right tire will be in the middle and that part of the road is usually not as smooth as the tire tracks themselves.

I do tend to ride in the left side of the left lane when possible most of the time.
Unless the front tire is bouncing around in the car tracks then I move away to where it may be a bit smoother.
I also believe but have no real proof that when making primarily long sweeping left turns one puts more of a strain on the tires.
Same with my 2 wheelers.
I always wear the front left outside of my front tire with my bikes.

[rhino 2]

I always wear the front left outside of my front tire with my bikes.

The Crown in the road will do that .

[JaysGone]

The Crown in the road will do that .

Crowns in the roads down here are quite severe and noticeable.
From the center so the water drains off.
It does rain here more then 7 or 8 months of the year.
We are sub-tropical down here after all.
Plus most left turns are longish outside right to left on a bike.
The trike I can turn right into the left lane no problem. No so on a bike.