tiresfor Trikes

[wingman]

has any one had noise issues with the Michelin, pilot active being placed on backwards on a Trike,
at low speeds when touching the front hand break do you get an unusal feeling?
How much greater miliage do you get by running it backwards than frontwards?
There are 4 of us Trike riders who are having these issues.
wingman:

[W7ZR]

Just finished a 5700 mile trip with my new trike. I put a Michelin on the front just before I left. Ran it backwards at 41psi. No problems with noise, breaking, rain, or wind. Looks like it will last longer than me.

[RED BARON]

I just got back from a 1500 mile trip in the mountains of the Rockies...I have the pilot mounted backward and see no problems that you were talking about. I have about 7000 miles on it now and looks brand-new. Don't worry..just ride and enjoy !!

[PStan]

I have Piolet mounted backwards and it performs well, but It is noisy! I have lots of treadwear left on the tire but I am looking for quieter tire. Someone at Wing ding said that michelin has a new tire with treads going straight back tht is suppose to be q=uieter. Anybody hear anything about it?<br />
<br />
Pstan<img src="images/smilies/confused.gif" border="0" alt="" title="huh??" class="inlineimg" />:

[Yellow Trike]

My tire has been on the trike since I purchased it so I wouldn't know if mounting it the normal rotation would have different mileage. I now have around 40k miles. Plenty of tread left.<br />
<br />
On some road surfaces there is plenty of noise. On really good roads the noise level is considerably less.<br />
<br />
I just ordered a new Michelin - like the performance.

[Lady Triker]

On my 05 GW Trike, the MPA is a great tire. Handles great, with no signs of wear after 18k kms. Reversed on mine. No complaints at all.

My husband just installed a new MPA on his Valk trike, but in the normal rotation and he says it makes more noise than the OEM, but that's the only complaint.

[Ozarkryder]

We had a rear Dunlop mounted backwards, lasted about 8000 miles. Kept it inflated to 41psi, it had plenty of tread lefe, but was cupping something fierce. Wasn't really surpirsed at the cupping, we are in the Ozarks, and I don't think there is more than 2 miles of straight road in a streach here. The lateral forces must be tremendous. On a trike the force during a turn is along the axis of the axle, sideways to the wheel - on a 2 wheeler a lot of the force is routed down, 90° to the axle. Seems to me (may be wrong) a tire will cup/wear faster on a trike.

The dealer put a bridgstone on this time. Parts guy said the 'Stone wears better.

We'll see. Have a trip coming up, usually put about 2000 - 2500 miles on during this trip. Should be a good test.

[07BlueCSC]

The OE Bridgestone lasted less than 8500 miles. The only thing worn out was the center of the tire. No cupping, just center groove almost gone.
Would not pass inspection.

Put on Pilot Activ, proper rotation for arrow. It is a lot noisier than the 'stone but there is a lot more tread and no center groove to wear out. I only have a hundred miles on it.

[BlueTrinity]

Someone please explain the theory behind running the front in reverse. Doesn't that defeat the tread patterb that pushes water away?

Seem to me hydroplaning would be a problem.

What am I missing here?

Thanks,

Dave

[Ozarkryder]

Never had hydroplaning as a problem for the front wheel even with a rear mounted in reverse. Been triking for more than 15 years, and have ridden when it was very, very wet.

As it was explained to me, a rear tire goes on the front of a trike because it is built with a deeper tread, thicker sidewalls and is generally more stout. It is made to carriy more weight most of the time than a front tire, and mostly has driven acceleration forces on it. It is mounted in reverse rotation to keep the forces on the plies of the tire in the proper direction, as it is made to withstand being driven forward, as opposed to the turning and braking the front tire does.