Front tire wear

[Phu Cat]

Since trikes steer harder than single track bikes, does that translate to front tires that wearing faster? Our Electra Glide used to get around 20,000 miles to a front tire. Will the front tire wear be greater on the Tri Glide?

Phu Cat

[bullet 10]

About same on my Tri.

[Keystone]

20k on the first one. Looking like I will get about the same out of this one too.

[10rhrk]

Since trikes steer harder than single track bikes, does that translate to front tires that wearing faster? Our Electra Glide used to get around 20,000 miles to a front tire. Will the front tire wear be greater on the Tri Glide?

Phu Cat

Our experience has been the front tire on the Trike wears faster than two wheeler's. The reason being, you use the entire tread on a two wheeler. A Trike doesn't lean and wears the center only. Unless you live where the roads are straight. We do most of our riding in the twisties. My wife (TnTriker) only got 11K out of the Dunlop 402 tire on her 2010 FLHXXX. She has 7K on her new 2012 Triglide and it's wearing pretty fast in the center also. She might get 12K out of it. What are folks replacing the stock 402 with?

[FLTR2008TRIKE]

Our experience has been the front tire on the Trike wears faster than two wheeler's. The reason being, you use the entire tread on a two wheeler. A Trike doesn't lean and wears the center only. Unless you live where the roads are straight. We do most of our riding in the twisties. My wife (TnTriker) only got 11K out of the Dunlop 402 tire on her 2010 FLHXXX. She has 7K on her new 2012 Triglide and it's wearing pretty fast in the center also. She might get 12K out of it. What are folks replacing the stock 402 with?

Im running a rear Dunlop D402 MU85 in reverse direction. When this one wears out Im going to use a D402 MT90B rear tire. The 85 series is wider and has rubbed ever so slightly on the inside of my fender on a hard curve or turn.

The reason Im running the rear tire in reverse is because of how the layers of rubber are layed when the tire is being made. If you use a tire that has dual direction arrows it doesnt matter which way its mounted.

The D402 front tire is designed for the front of a 2 wheel bike. It has a crown in the shape of the tire like any motorcycle front tire to allow easier leaning compared to a flatter profile tire such as a rear tire. Additonally the rear tire for a motorcycle has more tread depth which will give you longer wear.

Using the rear tire in reverse will give you a larger contact patch with the road on the front, longer wear then a stock front tire on a trike. Im sure there are several Goldwing trike riders on Triketalk who are riding on the " Darkside " with a rear tire mounted on the front of the trike they ride

[10rhrk]

Im running a rear Dunlop D402 MU85 in reverse direction. When this one wears out Im going to use a D402 MT90B rear tire. The 85 series is wider and has rubbed ever so slightly on the inside of my fender on a hard curve or turn.

The reason Im running the rear tire in reverse is because of how the layers of rubber are layed when the tire is being made. If you use a tire that has dual direction arrows it doesnt matter which way its mounted.

The D402 front tire is designed for the front of a 2 wheel bike. It has a crown in the shape of the tire like any motorcycle front tire to allow easier leaning compared to a flatter profile tire such as a rear tire. Additonally the rear tire for a motorcycle has more tread depth which will give you longer wear.

Using the rear tire in reverse will give you a larger contact patch with the road on the front, longer wear then a stock front tire on a trike. Im sure there are several Goldwing trike riders on Triketalk who are riding on the " Darkside " with a rear tire mounted on the front of the trike they ride

I just checked Jake Wilson's website. The MT90B-16 is a front tire. I put an Elite 3 MT90B-16 on my wife's 2010 SG Trike after her stock D402 wore out. The Elite 3 was wearing good and looked like it would last much longer than the 402. Sadly we traded her Trike for a new Triglide and didn't get to fully test it. I might order an Elite 3 MT90B-16 for her front when I install her Chrome rims. Thanks for the info.

[FLTR2008TRIKE]

The MT90B is also for the rear as per Dunlops website. The MT90B rear has 9/32" tread new compared to the MT90B front which has 5/32" tread new. Dunlop TireD402

[10rhrk]

The MT90B is also for the rear as per Dunlops website. The MT90B rear has 9/32" tread new compared to the MT90B front which has 5/32" tread new. Dunlop TireD402

Thanks, I will check that out when I get ready to order her front tire. I just looked at Dunlops website you provided. Sure would like to use the MU85B-16 rear tire up front, It has 11/32 tread...wow!

[FLTR2008TRIKE]

I have the MU85 on my trike right now. When pushing the trike into a hard turn or curve the front tire flexes just enough to rub the inside of my front fender. It doesnt leave a mark on the tire but it does make a sound that can be un-settling until you know what it is.

That is why I suggest using the narrower MT90 tire over the MU85

[FLTR2008TRIKE]

If anyone is interested

I have been off and on looking for a rear tire that was the same size as the stock front tire Harley installed on trikes and older HD bikes, but the tire had to be uni-directional. I found this Firestone tire that fits the bill. Firestone | Products | Motorcycle Tires | Bridgestone Corporation

Heres the specs on the tire >>

130/90-16 16 VT01 R BW TL - 73H H 25.2 5.2 9 3.00 805 41

It has 9/32" tread depth and load capacity of 805lbs. The diameter of the tire is 25.2 inches with a 5.20" section width. Same as the stock front D402 Dunlop.

I also found two online merchants selling the tire >>

FIRESTONE VT-01 SPORT TOURING TIRE - Rear - Firestone Motorcycle Tires - 30-1008

Firestone VT-01 Sport Touring Tire - Chilhowee Motorcycle Leather

[mark mccallum]

i suggest you wear your pants backward as well as inside out.that will keep the wind off your thing mu jig and you can reverse it for better wear at a later date.all so, a size or two bigger to increase blood flow will help much of the time.

[10rhrk]

If anyone is interested

I have been off and on looking for a rear tire that was the same size as the stock front tire Harley installed on trikes and older HD bikes, but the tire had to be uni-directional. I found this Firestone tire that fits the bill. Firestone | Products | Motorcycle Tires | Bridgestone Corporation

Heres the specs on the tire >>

130/90-16 16 VT01 R BW TL - 73H H 25.2 5.2 9 3.00 805 41

It has 9/32" tread depth and load capacity of 805lbs. The diameter of the tire is 25.2 inches with a 5.20" section width. Same as the stock front D402 Dunlop.

I also found two online merchants selling the tire >>

FIRESTONE VT-01 SPORT TOURING TIRE - Rear - Firestone Motorcycle Tires - 30-1008

Firestone VT-01 Sport Touring Tire - Chilhowee Motorcycle Leather

Thanks for the info, Looks like a good tire to go with. not too expensive either. I'll keep this website.