Rear Tire on Front

[Warlock]

I'm not that far down the road yet.  I don't need a front tire right now so I'm still in the research phase.  One thing I don't know is the width of the front wheel.  I don't want to install a tire that is designed for a wider wheel because the sides will bulge even more than normal.  I checked out the tire MarkT recommended and I like the specs; however, I don't like the white letters. 

Marty

Her's you a nice selection on the 130/90/17
http://www.americanmototire.com/catalog/index.php?manufacturers_id=221&osCsid=826adef5e7748a86b4289ab8ce7f5337
David

[X Ring]

Thanks David.  What are your thoughts on the subject?

Marty

[Warlock]

Thanks David.  What are your thoughts on the subject?

Marty

I was looking at the spitfire tire. It's blackwall also. It will be a while before I need a front tire. I have heard of several running a back tire on the front. If it works and grabs good looks like a good combo for my car tires. If you get one I'll watch for you opinion on it.
David

[Warlock]

Thanks David.  What are your thoughts on the subject?

Marty

Plus I think it will help correct our speedometers some too.
David

[daytona]

Any idea of the thread depth....9/32?

I see they don't say anywhere on their site! I measure in between 10 & 11 /32's center groove.

[MarkT]

If you didn't already notice this, size nomenclature like 130/90-17 is used for radials, whereas the MT90HB-17 style nomenclature is used for bias ply tires.  There's been discussion of this here before - some of our experts say bias is better for cruisers.  I note they last longer, give a softer ride (you use a bit less pressure) are more responsive in controlling a cruiser, have more & deeper tread with more aggressive void/rubber ratio - and last and maybe least - Harleys use bias tires exclusively on all of their cruisers (last time I checked).  Not to say HD is expert on motorcycles (at least not re: reliability and engineering) but they do know how to build cruisers that handle well.  I'd put a bias on the back too, if I could find one in a size I can live with.  But haven't seen one yet - I plan to look again before my next back tire purchase.

[Warlock]

If you didn't already notice this, size nomenclature like 130/90-17 is used for radials, whereas the MT90HB-17 style nomenclature is used for bias ply tires.  There's been discussion of this here before - some of our experts say bias is better for cruisers.  I note they last longer, give a softer ride (you use a bit less pressure) are more responsive in controlling a cruiser, have more & deeper tread with more aggressive void/rubber ratio - and last and maybe least - Harleys use bias tires exclusively on all of their cruisers (last time I checked).  Not to say HD is expert on motorcycles (at least not re: reliability and engineering) but they do know how to build cruisers that handle well.  I'd put a bias on the back too, if I could find one in a size I can live with.  But haven't seen one yet - I plan to look again before my next back tire purchase.

I've noticed the HD tires seem to last longer. The Spitfire tire I'm looking at is a bias ply tire. So it should be ok in the 130/90/17
David

[vanagon40]

I have the Dunlop K491 Elite II MT90HB17 mounted on the front and a 205/60HR-16 General Altimax HP mounted on the rear.  I rode 1300 miles with the rear car tire and OEM front tire before changing to the K491.  When I changed I immediately noticed that the counter steer from the car tire was eliminated.  However, I also noticed instability at speeds over about 85 MPH.  I think that at least two other riders with similar combinations had the same results.  I also know others who had no high speed problems.

I attribute both changes to the fact that the MT90HB17 (I believe the same dimensions as a 130/90-17) is narrower than the OEM tire, but I am by no means a tire expert.

I simple throw this out as something that I experienced.  I neither recommend nor discourage my combination or any other combination.

[X Ring]

If you didn't already notice this, size nomenclature like 130/90-17 is used for radials, whereas the MT90HB-17 style nomenclature is used for bias ply tires.  

All the tires I listed in my post yesterday are bias ply.  I didn't find a radial in that size.

Marty

[John U.]

After searching high and low for a Dunlop 491 Elite II  MT90B17, I struck out. Ron Ayers web site will allow you to order it but then you get an E-mail saying not available, either the black wall or the raised white letter version.
If anyone knows of a supplier for either of these tires....?

[Ricky-D]

Thanks David for posting that link to the AMT site. Just can't seem to get enough information about tires. Information is spotty and comparisons are difficult at best. Even among manufacturers there are dimensional differences when comparing like size tires.

Regarding that AMT site you will notice most all tires are listed as (R) for radial and (B) for biased ply, in the description somewhere.

It looks like you found the best available tire size to match up with the stock Dunlop front on the Valkyrie. It is somewhere around 1/4" smaller in diameter and close to 3/4" narrower in tire width.

Actually Dunlop's for the Valkyrie run a little larger than standard I have found and Metzlers run a little smaller that standard.

To finish, I don't think the "radial versus bias argument" makes much difference when mounting them on a motorcycle and additionally the conjecture regarding mixing the radial with the bias on either front or rear makes much sense either.

***

[Warlock]

Just about every tire for the Valkyrie is 5/32. The rear tire 130/90/17 is 9/32. A lot more meat. Like yourself I find the E-3 taller, but I don't like the tire. I like the Bridgestone a lot better. It has a more aggressive profile.  I have a Cobra on one bike and the Bridgestone on the other. I still like the Bridgestone over the Cobra. Thinking very serious about the Bridgestone 130/90/17 rear tire on the front. The only thing I have noticed is the load rating difference. The rear tire carries almost 80 lbs less load rating. I really don't know what safety factor they carry. Most time there is a 7 % safety factor. Loaded down I have no ideal how must weight is on my front tire. Would love to know.
David

[John U.]

Just about every tire for the Valkyrie is 5/32. The rear tire 130/90/17 is 9/32. A lot more meat. Like yourself I find the E-3 taller, but I don't like the tire. I like the Bridgestone a lot better. It has a more aggressive profile.  I have a Cobra on one bike and the Bridgestone on the other. I still like the Bridgestone over the Cobra. Thinking very serious about the Bridgestone 130/90/17 rear tire on the front. The only thing I have noticed is the load rating difference. The rear tire carries almost 80 lbs less load rating. I really don't know what safety factor they carry. Most time there is a 7 % safety factor. Loaded down I have no ideal how must weight is on my front tire. Would love to know.
David

Just as a guess, I'd say not more than 45% of the total weight of bike and rider. Of course that's at a steady speed. Under hard braking the front tire would take most of the load.
I read about a method of weighing a wheel's load. Jack the bike up, place a bathroom scale and a brick or something the same height,or a bit less than the scale. Set them a couple of feet apart under the front wheel. Place a board like a 2x8 on the scale and brick. If the front wheel is in the middle of the board the weight will be twice what the scale reads. This just reduces the weight to what the scale can measure. I'm sure it's not perfect but will give a good idea without an expensive setup.

[fudgie]

So why run it backwards? Plain english for I'm from Indiana. 

[X Ring]

The belts and tread are not butt connected.  They are connected at a steep angle.  The connection on the front tire causes braking forces to push the ends together while the connection on the rear tire causes acceleration forces to push them together.  If you put a rear tire on the front and run it the direction the arrow points, the braking forces will start pulling the connection apart and lead to premature tire failure. 

Marty

[Ricky-D]

So why run it backwards? Plain english for I'm from Indiana. 

Just as Marty explains it.

FlaJim supplied the link for the poop in reply #21. It's the angelfire link.

[Hoser]

Here is a rear tire for the front in the correct size. hoser It's a Shenko
712 REAR
STREET / CRUISER TIRE
The 712 Rear was designed for mileage and performance—without the high price tag. A staggered, positive ration tread pattern ignores highway rain and provides excellent wet weather adhesion. Other features include:

•H rated (130 mph)
•Tubeless, 4 ply nylon carcass
•Lateral grooves increase inline stability
•DOT approved
Size Retail Price
 
140/90-15 80.95
130/90-16 71.95
130/90-17 76.95
150/70-17 84.95 Xxx this one
110/90-18 58.95

This rear tire is the correct width for the front hoser

[X Ring]

Here is a rear tire for the front in the correct size. hoser It's a Shenko
712 REAR
STREET / CRUISER TIRE
The 712 Rear was designed for mileage and performance—without the high price tag. A staggered, positive ration tread pattern ignores highway rain and provides excellent wet weather adhesion. Other features include:

•H rated (130 mph)
•Tubeless, 4 ply nylon carcass
•Lateral grooves increase inline stability
•DOT approved
Size Retail Price
 
140/90-15 80.95
130/90-16 71.95
130/90-17 76.95
150/70-17 84.95 Xxx this one
110/90-18 58.95

This rear tire is the correct width for the front hoser

But it's almost 1.25" shorter and will cause the speedo to be off by 4-5 more mph.  You also have to look at height.

Marty

[Warlock]

Here is a rear tire for the front in the correct size. hoser It's a Shenko
712 REAR
STREET / CRUISER TIRE
The 712 Rear was designed for mileage and performance—without the high price tag. A staggered, positive ration tread pattern ignores highway rain and provides excellent wet weather adhesion. Other features include:

•H rated (130 mph)
•Tubeless, 4 ply nylon carcass
•Lateral grooves increase inline stability
•DOT approved
Size Retail Price
 
140/90-15 80.95
130/90-16 71.95
130/90-17 76.95
150/70-17 84.95 Xxx this one
110/90-18 58.95

This rear tire is the correct width for the front hoser

But it's almost 1.25" shorter and will cause the speedo to be off by 4-5 more mph.  You also have to look at height.

Marty

I was hoping the 130/90/17 would help the speedo error but hey what the heck, that's why I have a gps for. I like the 9/32 thread depth instead of the 5/32 thread depth of the stock tire.
David

[Hoser]

Here is a rear tire for the front in the correct size. hoser It's a Shenko
712 REAR
STREET / CRUISER TIRE
The 712 Rear was designed for mileage and performance—without the high price tag. A staggered, positive ration tread pattern ignores highway rain and provides excellent wet weather adhesion. Other features include:

•H rated (130 mph)
•Tubeless, 4 ply nylon carcass
•Lateral grooves increase inline stability
•DOT approved
Size Retail Price
 
140/90-15 80.95
130/90-16 71.95
130/90-17 76.95
150/70-17 84.95 Xxx this one
110/90-18 58.95

This rear tire is the correct width for the front hoser

But it's almost 1.25" shorter and will cause the speedo to be off by 4-5 more mph.  You also have to look at height.

Marty

where did you get that info?  Seems like a lot for the difference between a 70 series and an 80 series. I'd have to see them side by side to believe it. Here is a bridgestone that will fit   http://www.bikebandit.com/bridgestone-battlax-bt45-motorcycle-tire hoser