Running a front tire backwards - Why?

[Nico]

I just ordered the Dunlop D404 Tire - Rear - 130/90-17, for my front tire after reading the generally good reviews/comments about it.

I also noted that a number of VRCC members mentioned that they run this tire "REVERSED" from the specified running direction.

Why would you want to/need to do this?

Can you explain the pros/cons of running this tire either way?

Thanks,

Nico

[Jess from VA]

The principle (maybe only) reason is to prevent cord stacking on hard/emergency braking.... on the rear, it is built for proper cord compression on braking, on the front it has to be reversed to get the same design feature.  I am informed they will shed water just fine reversed.  And we know 80% of braking is front brakes and tires.

I am at about 8K on an Avon AMC Roadrider 130 rear on the front, reversed, and it has been good, and is going to outlast my previous Metzler steel belt fronts (but it does not handle or stick as well in hard leaning riding, easy riding and you can tell no difference... which has nothing to do with the reversal, it's just not as good a tire).

If I do it again, it will be with the Dunny 404.

[ptgb]

Here ya go putz:


http://cyrilhuzeblog.com/2009/08/23/tires-directional-arrows-explained-by-avon-tyres/

Same as Jess's answer, just more in-depth.

[old2soon]

I have that same tire mounted to my I/S turning in the proper direction and it's all hunky dory.  And I do like the way it handles in the twistys.  Drug my boots and my pegs a few times and the tire NEVER complained-unlike ex wives!!  RIDE SAFE.

[vanagon40]

Here is an explanation by Gryphon Rider:

The main reason why the direction of a motorcycle tire is specified is because of the way the tire is constructed.  Where the belts overlap there is a potential weakness.  The accelerating or braking forces will either be trying to separate the lap joint, or push it together.  Because the dominant force on a rear tire is acceleration rather than braking, the tire is oriented so the lap joints are pushed together.  The same tire on the front wheel should be mounted backwards because the force on the tire is all braking and no acceleration, and by changing the direction we continue to push the joint together.  How much of a concern this really is is [sic] open for us to debate or for a motorcycle tire engineer to settle.

With directional tread patterns and rain, if the tire's contact patch is not moving faster or slower than the road surface (i.e. the tire is not sliding due to acceleration or braking forces), the direction of the "V" has no bearing on how well it evacuates water.  Water is simply squished out from under the tread blocks and into the nearest groove with capacity to take it.  When the back tire is slipping due to acceleration, the "V" should point towards the back of the bike at the road surface.  It acts the same as a tractor tire slipping in mud, directing the fluid towards either side of the tire, rather than scooping it towards the centre of the tire.  When the front tire is slipping due to braking forces, the "V" should point towards the front of the bike at the road surface.  It acts like a "V"-shaped snow plow, pushing the fluid towards the sides, rather than scooping it towards the middle.

The directional tread pattern and rain dispersal explanation makes sense to me.  I do note that on the OEM and front replacement tires I have used on Valkyrie, the “V” is reversed front to rear.  For both of the above above reasons, when someone says he is running a rear tire on the front in the “correct” or “proper” direction, I always wonder how “correct” the statement is.

When I mounted the rear tire on the front, I mounted it reversed from the direction of the arrow.

EDIT:  I would add, I have never heard a valid or legitimate explanation or argument for mounting a rear tire in the direction of the arrow when used as a front tire.

[Regis]

10K miles on a rear on front in proper rotation . Do whatever suits ya

[98valk]

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,12541.40.html

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,975.msg13576.html#msg13

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,36508.0.html

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,24802.0.html

I run my conti-go in reverse. this put the rain grooves in the same direction as the front metzler I took off. most manufacturers recommend reverse rotation of their rear tires on the front, including conti.

[MarkT]

I put my Dunlop K491 rear - predecessor to the 404 - on the front with "normal" rotation.  After 21,000 miles I remounted it reversed, so I could wear down the other side of the tire before I replace it.  I want to see how far it will go if I milk it for maximum mileage.  I already have the replacement on hand, but there's at least a couple thousand miles to go I'm guessing.  At about 24,000 now.  Not concerned about the cord overlap issue.  I don't brake hard generally.  The tire is close to twice the mileage I've got from proper "front" tires.

[vanagon40]

Here is what my rear K491 (mounted as a front tire) looked like after just over 20,000 miles.  A lot of Interstate and straight roads.  I replaced it only because it was over 10 years old (over 4 years old when installed).  But it was $87.50 to my door.  I think I got my money's worth.

Sorry for continuing the thread hijack.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Here is what my rear K491 (mounted as a front tire) looked like after just over 20,000 miles.  A lot of Interstate and straight roads.  I replaced it only because it was over 10 years old (over 4 years old when installed).  But it was $87.50 to my door.  I think I got my money's worth.

Sorry for continuing the thread hijack.

Damn it looks like you could of got another 20,000! I`m envious of you guys getting all these miles out of tires, 13,000 is tops for me on a front.

[PhredValk]

I'm on my second D404 rear up front. The first went 23K miles, normal rotation cause I'm more concerned about shedding water in the rain than splice separation, which I've never heard of happening, and kept at 40-42 PSI. It would have lasted longer, I'm sure, but I had a 6K mile trip coming up. I love this tire in the rain, and no wobble even up to 110+MPH.
This is the D404 at about 17K miles...

Fred.

[cma1]

i have no idea why one would run a front tire backwards. we do it on trikes, but we run a rear tire on the front to get the deeper tread and therefore more life. we run them backwards because the tread is situated to work with the brakes, front tire tread runs opposite the back because 75% of the stoping power is on the front tire, and the tread runs opposite because 100% of the traction is on the rear tire.

[saab9k]

On a trike, we run front tire in reverse, the added weight. Reason is braking.

[Chiefy]

Go with what Avon Tyres said in the link near the top of the thread. 

[Chiefy]

On a trike, we run front tire in reverse, the added weight. Reason is braking.

On a trike, a rear tire on front is run backwards also so that it doesn't throw water off to the left and right to cause your rear tires to hydroplane.