Fixing Reverse Tire Rotation

Started by akmnstr, October 11, 2012, 10:00:26 AM

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akmnstr

I recently noticed that the front tire on my wife's bike is mounted so that it rotates in the wrong direction.  It has been that way for a few thousand miles and is beginning to show some wear.  I have a couple of concerns about this situation.  With the tread orientated in the wrong direction the tire won't shed water during wet riding.  If I pop off the tire and mount it correctly will there be a possible problem?  I had a bad experience with reversing radial tires on my truck about 30 years ago.  A friend had given me a set of steal belted radial tires that he had mounted on his van.  When I had them mounted on my truck, the direction of rotation on some of them was reversed.  Those that were reversed suffered a breakage of belts.  If a belt were to break were to happen on a moto tire it could cause a serious problem.  So, do I reverse the rotation on my wife's bike, live with it the way it is for a while, or get a new tire.  
"you may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas!!" Davey Crockett & AKmnstr

"An American monkey, after getting drunk on brandy, would never touch it again, and thus is much wiser than most men."
Charles Darwin

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MonsterHPD

I suppose this is the kind of question where no-one will step forward and say "Do it", but I can tell what my experience is: In the Duc club track day fraternity around here, everyone turns their track tires around to get a bit more life out of them. Goes for slick and threaded radial tires.
Threaded tires for rain probably should not be turned around as you note, due to water draining properties.

I discussed this with a Metzeler tire technician a few years ago, and even though they do not recommend it for liability reasons, at least their radial tires are (were...?) exactly the same in both directions except for one thing: The rubber belts that are wrapped arount the tire carcass are laid on with a slight overlap. This overlap is facing "backwards" as seen from the tires intended direction of rotation. Turning it arount puts this overlap the wrong way, slightly increasing the risk of rubber pieces beeing torn out of the in these areas. Even if this happens, though, the tire should be OK.

Not beeing a tire expert, I cant't recommend what you should do. I know what I would do, however.       
Monster 900-2002 (sold, alive and well in the UK), 749R / 1100 HYM combo for track days, wifes / my Monster Dark 800-2003 (not entirely "Dark" anymore and a personal favourite) , 50% of 900SSie -2000 track bike for rainy days-now with tuned ST2 motor and Microtec ECU. Also parked due to having been T-boned on track.

BastrdHK

What model bike/tire is it.  It might not have belts in it.  I am a michelin guy and I am running my front reversed because I told the guy mounting it the wrong direction of rotation.

No problems and I have done 2000mi+ on it.  None of the michelin sport tires have belts anyway.

M-ROCin' it!!!

akmnstr

The bike is a 2000 SV 650 and the tire is an Avon Storm.  The Storm is a dual compound tire that I purchased in the hopes of getting long mileage.  The tech info on the tire does not give much info on the belt.   
"you may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas!!" Davey Crockett & AKmnstr

"An American monkey, after getting drunk on brandy, would never touch it again, and thus is much wiser than most men."
Charles Darwin

"I don't know what people expect when they meet me. They seem to be afraid that I'm going to piss in the potted palm and slap them on the ass." Marlon Brando

Speeddog

I wouldn't worry about the water shedding.
If the groove pattern was very important for that, IMO there would be basic similarities across the tire brands.
There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the patterns.
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MonsterHPD

Quote from: Speeddog on October 12, 2012, 08:51:35 AM
I wouldn't worry about the water shedding.
If the groove pattern was very important for that, IMO there would be basic similarities across the tire brands.
There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the patterns.

Probably true, the patterns are probably as much down to design appearance as function. Sports tires don't have much pattern anyway ...

When I mentioned belts in my previous post I was not referring to carcass belts, but the rubber you ride on. Don't know how tires are made, I'm just referring to what the tire technician said.     
Monster 900-2002 (sold, alive and well in the UK), 749R / 1100 HYM combo for track days, wifes / my Monster Dark 800-2003 (not entirely "Dark" anymore and a personal favourite) , 50% of 900SSie -2000 track bike for rainy days-now with tuned ST2 motor and Microtec ECU. Also parked due to having been T-boned on track.

Triple J

I'd say flip it if you want. It's a common practice with race tires here...both slicks and DOTs, and all manufacturers. Sometimes they'll be rotated several times before the tire is worn out.

I don't see whay a street tire would be any different.