tire questions

[Big Rick]

I am thinking about running dark side on my Interstate and see some riders use a rear cycle tire ran backwards on the front....my questions are these
 1- why?
 2- can you run the rear on the front and still run a cycle tire on the rear ? ...like the look of a fatter front tire
 3- how does it affect handling with either a car tire or a cycle tire ?
 4- what would be the best rear tire to run on the front?
  thanks in advance for any reply
    Big Rick

[gordonv]

I don't know it all, or even done it myself, but here is what I can add.

 1- why?
The rear tire has a longer life expectancy when mounted "properly" (most of the time, backwards) on the front.

 2- can you run the rear on the front and still run a cycle tire on the rear ? ...like the look of a fatter front tire
Yes

 3- how does it affect handling with either a car tire or a cycle tire ?
Haven't hear any issues. I would look at it for myself.

[Big Rick]

and one more question....
 will the rear tire fit on the front rim or do you get a wider rim??

[hukmut]

I have done both tires. Front is a rear turned around. There are those who can explain better the "why",
it works.
The rear tire, (after much research) is the Austone Taxi tire. I like it. No complaints. Expect it to last a
l  o  n  g  time. 42 psi. No mods to fender. Excellent in the rain. Mounted both tires myself. No issues. I used soapy water to lube tire and rim. Used regular flat tire tools. Did not even mark up the wheels.
You can do it! To break the old beads loose, I used a couple of 2x4s and my neighbors car to lever them loose.    
              -\

Short piece under the long piece, short piece on the tire close to the rim. Long piece under the car, on top of the short piece. Push down, and pop.

Oh, and BTW: ALWAYS replace the valve stems with good quality metal ones.

Good luck and ride safe!

[98valk]

I have done both tires. Front is a rear turned around. There are those who can explain better the "why",
it works.
The rear tire, (after much research) is the Austone Taxi tire. I like it. No complaints. Expect it to last a
l  o  n  g  time. 42 psi. No mods to fender. Excellent in the rain. Mounted both tires myself. No issues. I used soapy water to lube tire and rim. Used regular flat tire tools. Did not even mark up the wheels.
You can do it! To break the old beads loose, I used a couple of 2x4s and my neighbors car to lever them loose.    
              -\

Short piece under the long piece, short piece on the tire close to the rim. Long piece under the car, on top of the short piece. Push down, and pop.

Oh, and BTW: ALWAYS replace the valve stems with good quality metal ones.

Good luck and ride safe!

don't use soapy water on aluminum rims
http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/Blogs/Richard/An-Easy-Way-To-Ruin-Your-Tires.aspx

[98valk]

I am thinking about running dark side on my Interstate and see some riders use a rear cycle tire ran backwards on the front....my questions are these
 1- why?
 2- can you run the rear on the front and still run a cycle tire on the rear ? ...like the look of a fatter front tire
 3- how does it affect handling with either a car tire or a cycle tire ?
 4- what would be the best rear tire to run on the front?
  thanks in advance for any reply
    Big Rick

I use the Contigo on front, can be had for $100 and I presently have 19k miles on one.
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,68801.0.html
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,78555.0.html

[RDKLL]

I have a rear on the front 170/60-17 Battleax...in the proper rotation and 205/55-16 Proxes R1R on the rear

[Hook#3287]

will the rear tire fit on the front rim or do you get a wider rim??

The front OEM rim will accept the Dunlop D404 rear tire.  I mounted several of them, always in the reverse orientation.

They handle as well as any of the other many brands I've used over the last 17 years.

At present I'm running a D404 and Austone Taxi Tire CT on the bike I use for 2 up.  I've got about 20K on it and it still looks as good as when I put it on. (the Austone)
I'm lucky enough to have more than one Valk, my others have a D404 rear on the front & M/T on the rears.  There is definitely a different feel between the Austone and the M/T, but it's not a bad difference.  The Austone is a great tire and it handles well.  So is the D404 rear up front.

[gordonv]

The rear MC tire on the front is a front tire size, but a rear tire. Basically the rears last about 10K miles, the fronts last 20K. Put the rear made tire, in a front tire size, on the front, now you get a better longer lasting MC tire for the same price on the front.

IF the tire has a Rotational arrow for mounting in the proper direction, then you reverse the rear tire when mounting on the from. No arrow, then it doesn't matter.

[Fazer]

OK--my front is a 150/80R17. 
The rear is a 180/70R16. 

I don't see how the rear will fit on the front.  Do I look for a 180/70 (rear tire) in 17" diameter? 

Dunlop has a 404 at 130/90 in 17".

[vanagon40]

OK--my front is a 150/80R17. 
The rear is a 180/70R16. 

I don't see how the rear will fit on the front.  Do I look for a 180/70 (rear tire) in 17" diameter? 

Dunlop has a 404 at 130/90 in 17".

No, you do not look for a 180/70 for the front. You want a 150/80-17. But those are either difficult or impossible to find. The 130/90-17 is almost the same diameter as the 150/80-17 (26.2" vs 26.4") and little more narrow (5.1" vs. 5.9"). I believe that is what most people use on the Valkyrie (it is what I used).

[The emperor has no clothes]

OK--my front is a 150/80R17. 
The rear is a 180/70R16. 

I don't see how the rear will fit on the front.  Do I look for a 180/70 (rear tire) in 17" diameter? 

Dunlop has a 404 at 130/90 in 17".

No, you do not look for a 180/70 for the front. You want a 150/80-17. But those are either difficult or impossible to find. The 130/90-17 is almost the same diameter as the 150/80-17 (26.2" vs 26.4") and little more narrow (5.1" vs. 5.9"). I believe that is what most people use on the Valkyrie (it is what I used).

I'm using a 150/70/17 Michelin Pilot Activ

[MarkT]

Batlax BT-45 130/90-17 mounted reversed, balanced with Ride-On, on Deerslayer and Jade. The narrow tire delivers a lighter steering feel. Start out with 11/32 tread depth instead of 6/32 and generally last over 20k miles. Been running this tire for several copies, and also on the Wing in the right size.  Previously a Dunlop K491 IIRC, the predecessor to the 404. I got as much as 27,000 by reversing the tire after the left side was worn down, to wear the other side. That tire had 1/32 more depth than the 404 but it's discontinued.  Tread pattern was the same.  You reverse the tire because rear tires are set up with the cord overlaps, to support acceleration stress. Front tires, braking stress.  The theory is, you want the overlaps to be pushed together instead of pulled apart by the average stress.  I've never heard of them delaminating from this, but why not do it, makes sense.  The alignment of the tread pattern vis-a-vis rotation is really insignificant on bike tires. I'm thinking that matters only on some car tires for water evacuation.  Bike tires won't hydroplane because of the rounded shape - pierces puddles like the prow of a boat.  I once hit over a foot of water, 50 yards long at 65 with no effect except I got drenched. I thought it was an inch deep.

On ply design - you can run a bias ply in front w/o regard to ply configuration in the rear.  You can run a few pounds less pressure for a slightly softer ride.  Some report they like the handling response better than radials. Generally they last a bit longer as well.  There's reasons that cruiser tires are favored in bias ply - opposite the issue with cars. Especially with HD. (Not to say Harley holds the blue ribbon for best engineering.)  The Dunlop K491 was bias, I think the 404 is IIRC, and the Batlax BT45 is.

I've gone to the Austone on the rear (after going through all the bike tire brands and several different darkside tires) - handling is very good, life double+ that of an Avon, costs less and has better traction especially in the wet.  Not to mention it's greater diameter lowers RPMs such that 85mph is about 3500rpm.  That means great mileage even when burning up the slab.  I tried lower pressures at first and got some wallowing and bump steer.  After I dialed it up to 43# it was like a different tire - WAY better.  Fortunately I have 444 shocks set right which swallows the bumps.

BTW I have worn many hats in my lifetime which has come in handy, having  expertise in varied areas means I can often call on that when needed rather than paying someone else.  One of those hats was a tire consultant / sales mostly for the truck industry.  Have perhaps more knowledge in this area than the average bear from my work and studies there.  In this case I am speaking from that in addition to my personal experience mentioned (and not) above.

[vanagon40]

Yep, I had a Dunlop K491 Elite II (rear tire mounted on the front) for over 20,000 miles. I replaced it because it was 10 years old (5 years old when I mounted it). Paid $87.50 to my door for the tire, so I did get my money's worth from the tire. Still had lots of tread left when I took it off.



While I agree with MarkT that the "narrow tire delivers a lighter steering feel," I also fount that it was slightly unstable at speeds over 85-90 MPH. Because I ride at speed less than that over 99.9% of the time, it was not a significant factor for me. [My personal opinion is that the rear car tire, combined with the more narrow front tire, contributed to the instability, but I am not interested in discussing the downside of car tires.]

[Earl43P]

I like the Michelin Pilot Activ (rear) tire on the front.
Mine is 130/90-17 and it is mounted reverse of the arrow BECAUSE

I compared the tread siping direction to the E3 that was previously on it. If mounted with the arrow, the front siping will channel water inward rather than outward. I never bought into the belts/braking forces theory.

I had the same tire on my 93 (130/70-18, stock size) and just replaced it after 36,000 miles. <That is not a misprint. It wasn't down to tread wear bars but was cupping/feathering and roared in turns. I put the same size/model tire back on it. The rear has an ATT and was done for at 34,000.

This picture shows the siping matched, reverse from the arrow.


My Valk is about to get an ATT on the rear after two different car tires.

My advice is to skip any other car tire and go straight to the Austone, do not pass Go, do not collect $200. YMMV.

[Big Rick]

I want to thank you all for your responses , I have gained a lot of knowledge from you all.....