Front Conti Road Attack

I just recently had a set of Conti Road Attacks installed, and the tech noticed the arrows on the sidewall are different that the arrows within the tread. See the first photo...

Since we weren't sure the tread arrows were even meant to depict direction, we both agreed the sidewall arrow should take precedence, even though the front tire tread direction would be opposite from the rear.

I've heard that Continental changed the front direction for better tread wear, but I would still like to see how others have their front tire mounted. Can those who have Conti Road Attacks take a look and see if their front tire is mounted the same as mine? See the second photo...

[image: Posted Image]

[image: Posted Image]

Not sure, but that is pretty screwy. I'd be scratching my head if I was mounting it as well.

That is reverse to how my Conti Road Attack looks for the front wheel mount. My Conti side wall direction arrows point forward, same direction as my rim mounted reflective RAD. My Conti tires were purchased in May, 2007 and the front tire is clearly marked "Made in Germany".

Just installed my conti's last week and went through the same thing, Conti states that you should mount according to the sidewall arrow, and all future tires will be made for install in the opposite direction so that it matches the rear.

backwards. The sidewall points to the front as you are reading the word "front" the correct way up. The arrow in the tread indicates direction. Plus, the tread just looks backwards.

Here's a quote from Continental's site regarding mounting: "Riders should be aware that all relevant and legally required information regarding speed rating and direction of rotation is moulded into the side-wall of the tyre, not the tread, so be sure your tyre is fitted in accordance with the directional arrow on the sidewall regardless of which way the pattern runs."

Crap :o , I used the tread arrows for mounting and my front has been backwards for approx. 1,500 miles.

Any thoughts as to potential structural damage? Or just remount the tire correctly and continue use?

This is so confusing...

I went to the garage and rotated the front tire so the word "front" is at the bottom of the tire and right-side up, and when "front" is now readable the arrow points to the rear which indicates the correct rotation even though the tread pattern is opposite from the rear.

Continental also says on their web site...

"The orientation of the ContiRoad Attack front has recently been revised. Conti Germany responded to feed-back from the UK and other markets about maximising the already incredible durability of the original front tread pattern. After the launch of the ContiSport Attack test riders commented on the fact that the reversed tread direction gave much more uniform wear across the tyres section and so the ContiRoad Attack front pattern was switched in late October 2006 to take advantage of this better wear characteristic. Some confusion exists because some European plants outside of Germany have a tread mould with small arrows at the edge of the tread near the sidewall, these arrows should be ignored. These moulds are being replaced. ContiRoad attack customers may be offered the same tyre with apparently two different directions of rotation. The tread pattern on both tyres is fine. Riders should be aware that all relevant and legally required information regarding speed rating and direction of rotation is moulded into the side-wall of the tyre, not the tread, so be sure your tyre is fitted in accordance with the directional arrow on the sidewall regardless of which way the pattern runs.

I'm still unsure about all of this, and will probably call Continental tomorrow morning.

Here are a couple more pics of my installed Road Attacks.

Left side of bike looking at bottom of rear tire:
[image: Posted Image]

Left side of bike looking at bottom of front tire:
[image: Posted Image]

Rear view of rear tire:
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[image: View Post]geezerx, on Jun 26 2007, 08:36 PM, said:

Here's a quote from Continental's site regarding mounting: "Riders should be aware that all relevant and legally required information regarding speed rating and direction of rotation is moulded into the side-wall of the tyre, not the tread, so be sure your tyre is fitted in accordance with the directional arrow on the sidewall regardless of which way the pattern runs."

Crap :o , I used the tread arrows for mounting and my front has been backwards for approx. 1,500 miles.

Any thoughts as to potential structural damage? Or just remount the tire correctly and continue use?
I would leave it, from what I have read there is no difference between the old and new tire, just the direction of the mounting arrow

I don't think that it cuases(d) any damage, but I think you better traction the other way.

[image: View Post]radar, on Jun 26 2007, 06:07 PM, said:

Just installed my conti's last week and went through the same thing, Conti states that you should mount according to the sidewall arrow, and all future tires will be made for install in the opposite direction so that it matches the rear.


So radar...does your front tire look like mine? What about the sidewall arrows? Does yours look like mine?

[image: View Post]NVR2L8, on Jun 26 2007, 09:55 PM, said:

[image: View Post]radar, on Jun 26 2007, 06:07 PM, said:

Just installed my conti's last week and went through the same thing, Conti states that you should mount according to the sidewall arrow, and all future tires will be made for install in the opposite direction so that it matches the rear.


So radar...does your front tire look like mine? What about the sidewall arrows? Does yours look like mine?

Yup, we have the tire with the mold f-up, they have since changed to new molds with the arrow the opposite way. I have mounted according to the side arrow, but if you went the other way I really wouldn't worry about it.

I have these on my R6 and my rear matches yours but the front is reversed and both my tread and side arrows point in the same direction on both tires. Basically I can read Road Attack correctly (not upside down) on the tread of both tires. But, like the website says, it doesn't really matter. Just keep your tire pressure up and enjoy the ride. :thumbsup:

[image: View Post]radar, on Jun 26 2007, 11:21 PM, said:

[image: View Post]geezerx, on Jun 26 2007, 08:36 PM, said:

Here's a quote from Continental's site regarding mounting: "Riders should be aware that all relevant and legally required information regarding speed rating and direction of rotation is moulded into the side-wall of the tyre, not the tread, so be sure your tyre is fitted in accordance with the directional arrow on the sidewall regardless of which way the pattern runs."

Crap :o , I used the tread arrows for mounting and my front has been backwards for approx. 1,500 miles.

Any thoughts as to potential structural damage? Or just remount the tire correctly and continue use?
I would leave it, from what I have read there is no difference between the old and new tire, just the direction of the mounting arrow


I hope it's that easy. My concern is that the design of the tire carcass might dictate that it rotate in only one direction and that direction would be indicated by the sidewall arrow. Haven't been able to find info on this, yet.

My front tire is mounted with the arrows on the treat oriented to rim rotation direction but with the sidewall arrow indicating that the tire is rotating backwards.

I had mine put on a month ago by the dealer and this is what mine look like:

http://www.vfrdiscus...showtopic=33522

[image: View Post]hustond, on Jun 27 2007, 06:51 AM, said:

I had mine put on a month ago by the dealer and this is what mine look like:

http://www.vfrdiscus...showtopic=33522

Either you have a tire from the new molds or your dealer did the same thing as NVR2L8, I can't see the sidewall arrow in your pic.

I believe my front is mounted correctly, since the sidewall arrows face the same direction as the arrows on the rim. I also feel a little better since Conti's web site says to ignore the arrows at the edge of the tread. The web site also says the front pattern was changed/reversed for better wear characteristics, so if I translate that statement correctly, then I have to assume that the tread pattern of all future front Road Attacks will be reversed when compared to the rear tire pattern. I'm still going to call Conti USA and talk to them about it though...I want a tech expert to tell me that it's correct for the front/rear tread patterns to be opposite.

Here is the link to Continental where they discuss the tread direction (left side of the page): http://www.conti-tyr...road-attack.php

[image: View Post]radar, on Jun 26 2007, 10:00 PM, said:

[image: View Post]NVR2L8, on Jun 26 2007, 09:55 PM, said:

[image: View Post]radar, on Jun 26 2007, 06:07 PM, said:

Just installed my conti's last week and went through the same thing, Conti states that you should mount according to the sidewall arrow, and all future tires will be made for install in the opposite direction so that it matches the rear.


So radar...does your front tire look like mine? What about the sidewall arrows? Does yours look like mine?

Yup, we have the tire with the mold f-up, they have since changed to new molds with the arrow the opposite way. I have mounted according to the side arrow, but if you went the other way I really wouldn't worry about it.



Hey Radar where did you pick up your conti's? Did you get your rotors yet? Do you deal with Custom Cycle?
David :salesman:

[image: View Post]combine pilot, on Jun 27 2007, 08:31 AM, said:

[image: View Post]radar, on Jun 26 2007, 10:00 PM, said:

[image: View Post]NVR2L8, on Jun 26 2007, 09:55 PM, said:

[image: View Post]radar, on Jun 26 2007, 06:07 PM, said:

Just installed my conti's last week and went through the same thing, Conti states that you should mount according to the sidewall arrow, and all future tires will be made for install in the opposite direction so that it matches the rear.


So radar...does your front tire look like mine? What about the sidewall arrows? Does yours look like mine?

Yup, we have the tire with the mold f-up, they have since changed to new molds with the arrow the opposite way. I have mounted according to the side arrow, but if you went the other way I really wouldn't worry about it.



Hey Radar where did you pick up your conti's? Did you get your rotors yet? Do you deal with Custom Cycle?
David :salesman:

PM sent

I called Continental USA in New Jersey this morning� In general, the person I spoke to basically told me the same information that have posted on their web site. That the tread pattern was recently reversed for better wear characteristics, and that the sidewall arrow should always used for proper rotation direction when mounting the tire. The small arrows in the tread have been eliminated from current moulds although there are still tires out there from older production runs, so if you have a front with the arrows like mine, then they should be ignored.

I also asked about tire performance when running with the tread backwards. I was told that directional rotation of a Road Attack has nothing to do with the tread pattern, and that traction, handling, and wet/dry adhesion is not affected when running the tread backwards. They were unsure if Continental Germany might also reverse the rear tire tread pattern.

Anyway, even though my front tire looks like it was installed backwards... :blink: ...in the photos I posted you can see they are right since the sidewall arrows are pointing in the correct direction of rotation.

[image: View Post]NVR2L8, on Jun 27 2007, 12:58 PM, said:

I also asked about tire performance when running with the tread backwards. I was told that directional rotation of a Road Attack has nothing to do with the tread pattern, and that traction, handling, and wet/dry adhesion is not affected when running the tread backwards. They were unsure if Continental Germany might also reverse the rear tire tread pattern.
Dunlop did a similar thing with the D207/D208. A lot of racers were flipping the D207 front tires and said it was better with them in reverse direction. Next thing you know, the D208's came out with a reverse direction tread pattern compared to the D207's.

If anyone besides me has the front Road Attack rotating in contradiction to the sidewall directional indicator, please note the following from Continental Tire NA Inc. :

"... please mount your front tire to match the rotational arrows on the sidewall as soon as possible. Running the front tire in the opposite direction will not compromise the carcass, however it must be run in correct rotation to guard against the carcass separating at the seam during extreme braking forces (i.e. slim possibility, however possible). "

[image: View Post]NVR2L8, on Jun 26 2007, 08:46 PM, said:

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I had the same thing happen to me on the first tire change with my '07 VFR. And then I reasearched it for a few hours to determine what the relationships were with traction, tire footprints, speed, etc. And this is what I found.

All Motorcycle Tires are mounted with opposing tread patterns - whereas it appears the front tire has the treads backwards - indicating a possibility for hydroplaning. However, Hydroplaning has more to do with the force required in unseating the tire from the pavement, more then channeling the water outward. Hydroplaning is more more relative to speed, then the tread engineering. Water will move out of the channels regardless of tread direction (or it is so insignificant that other conditions take priority in engineering the tire for safety).

Most people believe that the reverse treads on front tires serves a purpose, not in the upright condition, but in the lean conditions - as channeling the water may be engineered more effectively in reverse tread direction by sending the water from the leaning side of the the tire - which is approaching the water more-so then the lifting and opposite side of the tire - therefore ejecting the water through the channel and out the opposite side, or in a lower pressure area. This is belief.

If you want to understand tread patterns better - make a small square window with your fingertips - like an old-fashioned 35mm camera's viewing window - and scan along the tire's middle contact section. This is what the road sees. There is really very little water channeling like you'd think. It's just small partial channels of tire tread every 3 to 5 degrees of rotation.

Overall, Hydroplaning will occur and tread pattern only makes small improvements. The large improvements are vehicle speed, water depth and tire rotational forces (as locking your brakes only lifts the tire off the pavement and onto a plane of water - water which is built up in front of the tire, increasing pressure and basically lifting the tire because the tire is not rotating and working the water around it, but forcing it in front and lifting the tire upwards - That is my understanding.)

One of the main things you will notice if you ever hydroplane, is the rear wheel will be the first to go, or be the only one alltogether to lose traction. This is because the rear wheel carries a good bit more weight then the front tire (on most Motorcycles). The rear wheel also has accelerating forces against it in terms of torque or tire-turning force. It only takes a small amount of disruption in the rear wheel's meshing with the pavement to have the wheel break lose - usually moving faster, and losing traction with the pavement. The front wheel does not have this turning force behind it, rather it simply leans a bit more the the rear one. If you were to run into standing water, the jolt you feel is the pressure of the water fighting the weight of the motorcycle and payload driving the tire down. It only takes so much pressure to lift the vehicle upward. The one thing a motorcycle has going for it is the naturally curved tire surface and the greater amount of pressure applied to a the smaller motorcycle tire footprint in comparison to a car. This keeps a motorcycle well planted in most wet weather alone.

:excl: Just note, however, that Hydroplaning is entirely speed dependant.

Also, in regards to water channeling treads. These are seen as the "V" looking treads, and are for the most part, more advertisement hype then anything. And it is moreso a topic of concern on sports cars because of their wider tires being less than capable of shedding water. Their rear-wheel torque, flat leading edge tire footprints, and inability to divert water around their larger tire footprints, which make them perfect candidates for wet-tread attention. The fact of the matter is - they are damned in the rain no matter what! More vehicles in todays world have flatter, wider, lower profile rims, and because so - there is so much more attention on wet-weather ability. It's a direct relationship. It used to be tire footprints were oval - moreso long/oval then wide/square-shaped. And the tires shape was almost oval as well if you looked at a crossection of one - with a curvature lifting near the edges of the tire. You can see this on older cars or cars with smaller rims. This is why wet-weather treads were never an issue till these recent years (I feel moreso now too, because people travel much faster in the rain today then they ever did in the past).

:excl: So just be aware of the need to slow down and reduce your lean angles in the rain. And know that a motorcycle that loses traction in a turn will fall.

I hope this helps.

This thread is 2 years old? :blink: