Can you use a bias-ply front tire with radial tires?

[brianl]

A bike mechanic looked at my 97 wing's tires. After explaining to him that the front tire is SUPPOSED to be mounted backwards, he noticed that my Michelin tire in front is a bias-ply and the rear on my Roadsmith are radial. He says you shouldn't mix the two. I've had that tire on for quite a while without any problems but it is coming near the end of it's lifespan and will need to be replaced soon. Does anyone have any opinions about mixing the two kind of tires? Do they even make a radial tire I can use on the front?

[1dn5up]

Front radial tire, no exist. I am very pleased with the OEM tire choice the MOCO uses.

I also am not going to re-invent the wheel !

My opinion, " If it ain't broke don't fix it"

And if it is- just replace it.

[Gold Rush]

A bike mechanic looked at my 97 wing's tires. After explaining to him that the front tire is SUPPOSED to be mounted backwards, he noticed that my Michelin tire in front is a bias-ply and the rear on my Roadsmith are radial. He says you shouldn't mix the two. I've had that tire on for quite a while without any problems but it is coming near the end of it's lifespan and will need to be replaced soon. Does anyone have any opinions about mixing the two kind of tires? Do they even make a radial tire I can use on the front?

Brian there are hundreds of us out here running a bias ply like you do. On a trike it is perfectly acceptable. Just in case you don't already know there is a radial alternative now. AVON Cobra TRIKE tire is proving to be a FANTASTIC choice. Do a little research here and you'll see what I mean.

[tfdeputydawg]

Gold Rush beat me to it about the Avon! This, IMHO, would be the best trike front tire now

For the OP, your mechanic apparently doesn't know much about trikes and their tires! What you have is fine but, the nest time you need a front tire, it's Avon time.

Also, of interest is that fact that a couple of tire manufacturers, several years ago, advertised to reverse mount the rear tires when used on the front explaining different stresses as the reason. Those statements seem to have disappeared and several threads on several forums state many are running these tires not reversed with no ill effects! Guess it's up to ones preference as which way to run one!

[GoldWingrGreg]

I too would recommend Avon's new front trike tire. In search for your answer, you might consider reading all the warnings written in the side walls of your tires. If you still have a G704 (OEM Bridgestone rear) laying around, the warning on that side wall is very clear. The warnings in a GL1800 Owner's Manual makes for a good read too (index > tires > replacing).

Also keep in mind, that directional tires run in a certain direction to better disperse water out from under their tread. Running one in the opposite direction will cause them not to work as well in wet conditions ... thus the reason for the arrow on the side of the tire.

[brianl]

Brian there are hundreds of us out here running a bias ply like you do. On a trike it is perfectly acceptable. Just in case you don't already know there is a radial alternative now. AVON Cobra TRIKE tire is proving to be a FANTASTIC choice. Do a little research here and you'll see what I mean.

I contacted Roadsmith and they also recommended the Avon trike tire. Does anyone know if that tire needs to be mounted in reverse or is it made to run in forward direction? As for the mechanic not knowing much about trikes, you're right. He's someone I met while helping my son find a new bike that he happened to be selling. He didn't claim to know about trikes but is very knowledgeable about motorcycles and works at a top dealership in Boston. He also works on the side which will save me a lot of money for future maintenance.

[mhgoldwing]

I contacted Roadsmith and they also recommended the Avon trike tire. Does anyone know if that tire needs to be mounted in reverse or is it made to run in forward direction? As for the mechanic not knowing much about trikes, you're right. He's someone I met while helping my son find a new bike that he happened to be selling. He didn't claim to know about trikes but is very knowledgeable about motorcycles and works at a top dealership in Boston. He also works on the side which will save me a lot of money for future maintenance.

DO NOT MOUNT IN REVERSE! This tire is designed for the front of trikes and therefore should be run in the position shown by the arrow.



The only reason the bias ply tires were run in reverse is because they were designed as rear sport bike tires. Some mfg. early on said to reverse because of the way the belts were laid in the tire for "acceleration forces". When put on front the tire is subject to "braking forces" in the opposite direction so they recommended running in reverse direction. I ran them both ways with no problem.

The original radial front tires for the Wing have sidewalls that are too pliable. They will "squirm" under load and the usually only get 5-7,000 miles before there are worn out.

Try the Avon Cobra Trike tire and you will see and feel the difference. Be SURE you get the trike tire as they also make a radial for bikes. The trike tire has "Avon Cobra Trike" stamped on the sidewall.

[CrystalPistol]

You can use a bias front tire with radials on the rear of a trike, most are used that way and have been for many years as there just weren't any radials for the front of a trike. The 130/70R18 Avon Cobra TRIKE Radial(# 90000020646) works well on front of a trike, it's what it was designed specifically for (so no reason to reverse it).

Back in the '60s when radials first started showing up on American highways the warning was always run in full sets. They handled different than the then available bias ply, often unbelted, skinny tires. Radials sidewalls bulged more, they would squirm a slight bit but had better steering response than bias ply tires, running radials on front with bias on rear made for real tricky oversteer. It was however, very much the opposite when bias ply tires were run on front and radials on rear, even on a car. Steering went more towards understeer, even plow as the rear of the car stayed planted. In time, the rule changed to yes, you can mix two radials with two bias ply tires as long as the radials are paired on the rear axle.

In 1965 Dad got a new Plymouth SW and soon he and some buddies at GE got a group order together and got a bunch of Michelin Radial X tires, they were great .... but people were always trying to tell us the tires were low. In 1972 a couple years after Dad passed away, my Mom and Sis and I went on a vacation trip to West Texas. Had our '68 SW checked over and alignment done. 1st lunch stop at Abingdon, Va. found front two tires near bald on edge ..... bad alignment. Went to local Ply dealer, they realigned it .... then local Sears for two tires .... put two 8.25x14 bias ply tires on front over objections of tire sales guy who was adamant we needed two more 215-14 Radials like on rear .... car drove GREAT, even at high speed on I-81 & I-40. Didn't buy two radials as rears were 1/2 worn anyway, she sold it the next year and bought a '73 Satelite Sebring Plus with Goodyear Polyglass GT rubber.

[Gideon]

Gold Rush beat me to it about the Avon! This, IMHO, would be the best trike front tire now

I have been told that Avon doesn't make a front trike tire for the 1500 Valkyrie.

Is that true?

The stock tire is 150/80-17.

[ol' school]

I have been told that Avon doesn't make a front trike tire for the 1500 Valkyrie.

Is that true?

The stock tire is 150/80-17.

That is correct. 130/70R18 (radial) and MT90B16 (bias) are the only sizes they are making thus far.

http://www.avonmoto.com/products/cru...om/cobra-trike

[camplejeune]

I have been told that Avon doesn't make a front trike tire for the 1500 Valkyrie.

Is that true?

The stock tire is 150/80-17.

Hello Gideon, I am just now seeing this. I have the Avon 150/80R17 on my 97 valk and love it. I put the regular Avon on my trike the same year as I ordered it wrong wanting the trike tire. So far I am very happy with the Avon on both scooters. I mounted both myself, balanced and using Ride-On. So far so good.

[Gideon]

Hello Gideon, I am just now seeing this. I have the Avon 150/80R17 on my 97 valk and love it. I put the regular Avon on my trike the same year as I ordered it wrong wanting the trike tire. So far I am very happy with the Avon on both scooters. I mounted both myself, balanced and using Ride-On. So far so good.

Thank you Brian, I appreciate your reply. However, I

recently installed a New Dunlop D404, 130/90H-17 Rear Tire with Reverse Rotation.

I may try the Avon when the Dunlop needs to be replaced

[GLtryker]

Generally, the rule of thumb is not to mix bias and radial tires on the same axle. Common sense and assumption says mixing a front bias with radial rear tires would be a bad combo. But this is not the case. What is interesting is that the engineers that designed the new two wheeled full sized Indians chose to equip it from the factory with a bias ply front and radial ply rear tire. I was checking out the new Indians a while back when I asked the salesman which tire was radial and which was bias. He claimed both were radials. I disagreed and he looked it up to prove me wrong only to exclaim I was right and that the front is bias with a rear radial.

[rhino 2]

Generally, the rule of thumb is not to mix bias and radial tires on the same axle. Common sense and assumption says mixing a front bias with radial rear tires would be a bad combo. But this is not the case. What is interesting is that the engineers that designed the new two wheeled full sized Indians chose to equip it from the factory with a bias ply front and radial ply rear tire. I was checking out the new Indians a while back when I asked the salesman which tire was radial and which was bias. He claimed both were radials. I disagreed and he looked it up to prove me wrong only to exclaim I was right and that the front is bias with a rear radial.

Never ask a salesman a question [Unless you already know the answer] except what is the starting price....Most know how to sell, Not what their selling...That same salesman might have been selling refrigerators at Sears last week...

[Burnerboy]

I also have the Avon trike tire on my Roadsmith, converted Goldwing trike, never any problems, My trike converter recommended it instead of any other type so I just said ok , go with it, and so far I'm very happy with it...It's been a full season, that I've ridden with it, and will order another Avon when this tire goes bad... I have well over 10,000 miles on my wing since the conversion, I looked at it just yesterday, and I feel like I can go another season w/o any worries, the tread is like brand new!!!!!!

Ronnie