Do I need a new front tire?

[ZeroG]

New to trikes and have not ridden in years so I took a Advanced rider class last weekend. It's for those who do not have the motorcycle endorsement on their license but have ridden in the past.

I rode the new to me trike to the class. I bought it last month. A 2014 Goldwing CSC conversion with 10k miles.

A couple guys were looking over my trike and the instructor says you better be getting a front tire soon.

I'll admit I thought the same thing when I looked at this trike but the former owner said 'Naaa that tire has a lot of good miles left on it.".

The tire does look like a slick in the middle. An the class instructor said since it's a trike the bike does not lean like a two wheel bike so you need more tread that touches the asphalt. Made sense to me but I'd like your all's opinion.

Here is a pic of the trike and 3 pics of the front tire.

 

[trike lady]

I'd suggest a new tire. :clapping:

 

[nucseal]

Yup a new tire is needed. Why take the chance. If you think you might need a new tire, then realistically you do!

 

[pwhoever]

Absolutely need new tire. Tread is completely gone in the area that meets the road. Not safe especially if the road gets a little damp...

 

[ol' school]

Yup, new tire time.

 

[Motorcycle Mike]

Past due.

 

[ZeroG]

Wow. We have a consensus for sure. It's unanimous. Thanks all.

Now, tire make suggestions please. I've read quite a few tire threads and Avon seems to be on top of everyone's list. So I'm leaning that way already but would love to here your thoughts and suggestions as to what tire would be best to purchase.

Is a Honda dealership the best place to have the new tire put on?

 

[woody]

I believe I see some cupping in that old tire so when you do get a new one you will notice a different in the ride for sure.

I am running an Avon Trike Tire and I am satisfied with it.

 

[ol' school]

I am going to say go with the Avon Trike tire but that is just my opinion. I have ran Avon tires on my last couple two wheelers before I got the last one triked and am running the Avon Trike tire on it now too. I have always had good luck with them, good handling, good mileage and handles rain well.

 

[ZeroG]

I'm currently running a Bridgestone G709 Radial. I couid not find the exact size but bike is in the garage. Looks nice and wide. The Avon tire I looked at was a Avon Cobra Trike Radial AV91. Pic looks narrower than my current tire.

Since it's a trike tire I'm guessing it does not need mounted backwards?

 

[Motorcycle Mike]

Avon does not make a tire to fit my bike, other wise I would try it.

I run a Michelin Commander 2 rear tire on the front of my trike.

11000+ miles. I'm starting to get some cupping now. going to stick with the same tire.

 

[Phu Cat]

With a 3 wheeler get accustomed to the front tire wearing faster than the rear tires.

PC

 

[pwhoever]

My thoughts... I had a Bridgestone Batlax BT-45 on mine first (Now its a BT-46 but haven't tried it). It was ok. When I was troubleshooting some high speed vibrations, shop determined that the BT-45 was to blame and convinced me to switch to a Michelin Pilot Activ. Vibrations were lessened but still there. Turns out rear tires were to blame and got them changed. With new rear tires and the MPA, it definitely rode better than with the BT-45. The MPA gave me many trouble free miles. But when it came time to finally change out the MPA, I decided to give the Avon Cobra Chrome AV-91 trike tire a go. Wow! Big improvement! Nice and smooth while running down the road.

Some background. I already had Progressive Suspension fork springs installed. With both the BT-45 and the MPA, I couldn't run them at the suggested 41psi because the trike rode like a tank and I felt every defect in the road. I did have the fork anti dive valve disabled but still rode rough. I had to run both of those at 36-38psi max. With the AV-91, I started of right at 41psi and it seems to have a much smoother ride all around. Both the BT-45 and MPA were bias ply tires. The AV-91 is a radial and I'm guessing that's why there was a difference. My suggestion is to skip the now BT-46 or the MPA and just go with the AV-91 and you won't be sorry. The downside on the AV-91 is that it's a bit pricey but IMHO, well worth the cost.

One FYI, make sure if you go with Avon that you get the "TRIKE" tire. The Cobra Chrome AV-91 comes both as a motorcycle tire and as a trike tire in the same size. Not sure why they did that so it's a bit confusing.

 

[ol' school]

I'm currently running a Bridgestone G709 Radial. I couid not find the exact size but bike is in the garage. Looks nice and wide. The Avon tire I looked at was a Avon Cobra Trike Radial AV91. Pic looks narrower than my current tire.

Since it's a trike tire I'm guessing it does not need mounted backwards?

View attachment 102761

Correct Greg, does not need to be mounted backwards.

 

[ZeroG]

Awesome info guys. Thank You.

Next question: where to get the tire changed? I doubt a normal tire shop can do it can they?

 

[pwhoever]

Any bike shop should be able to handle it. It's usually even better if you can remove the wheel and just bring it to them. Just because it's a trike, it's not that hard.

When I did mine, I was camping with my son down in Tennessee. I had taken the toyhauler down there with the trike tucked in. I already had the tire with me as I just needed the right push to get it done. We had a day of pretty good rain so that was the opportunity I was looking for. I had dragged the quick lift jack along because I had the space. I centered it under the engine and a couple quick pulls on the handle and front wheel was up in the air. I took off the front fender, loosened the 4 12mm bolts on bottom of the fork legs, pulled the axle and wheel was out. Thinking about it, I don't even remember taking off either caliper. I called a couple shops in town and they either were busy or wanted $50 to do the swap. I called an small independent shop and the guy said bring it by and he could do it right away for $30. He was right, took all of about 15 mins and my new tire was on the rim. He also asked if I wanted old tire back and I said not really. He said, no problem and said he would just keep it, no extra charge. Money well spent.

Sorry for the long winded response but either pulling the front wheel yourself or having a shop do it is not a difficult task and any shop should be able to do it. It's when it comes to rear tires that you might run into some issues and some shops may balk at it. Especially since you will find it almost impossible to get car tires at a MC shop...

 

[pwhoever]

Just to add, if you want a trike shop to handle it, not sure how far away from Zanesville you are, but there is a trike shop there that I had heard some good things about. Trikes by Rodney. You could reach out to them and see what they say...

https://www.trikesbyrodney.com

 

[ZeroG]

Thanks again guys.

I'm a couple hours away from Zanesville but ride the Triple Nickle weekly lately. Get close enough to Zanesville that I'll have to plan a trip up that way to check em out. Awesome info. Thanks again.

 

[ZeroG]

I called local shops and no one had the Avon Trike tire in stock. Nor does anyone on the internet that I could find. So I called Trikes by Rodney in Zanesville. Yep, they got em. Heading up there next week to get er done.

 

[Burnerboy]

If that's an Avon trike tire on it, then your fine, mine looks the same way and it's only a season old......... Avon tire's are made to be flat in the middle....

Ronnie