Front tire on backward oh no

Good evening, all.  As usual, I've got a question.

Of course, there's a buildup to the question:  A couple of weeks ago, I got new tires.  I wasn't quite bold enough to swap them myself, so I took them to a small shop for the replacement process.  I remember that we specifically checked -- a couple of times -- to make sure we put the front wheel back on in the correct orientation.

I took about a hundred-mile ride today, and went walking with the dog when I got back.  Afterward, we were both winded and flopped on the garage floor.  At that point, I noticed the arrows molded into the tire were pointing the "wrong" way.  Crap!  I've checked the wheel again, and found that it is installed correctly.

So.  It boils down to this: I've got about 250 miles on the new tire... backward.  How big a deal is this?
Certainly I'm making a plan to get it corrected, but I wonder the implications of having run it backward for so long.

Bad?  Really, realy bad?  Or no big thing?

Prolly not going to ruin the tire, but I'd flip it soon... Especially if you're doing any wet weather driving.

Look for zip tie tire mounting instructions here or on YouTube.

My buudy had a pilot power on backwards got the life of the tire, it worked fine.

I would think it wouldnt work well in the rain.

I would switch it asap.

OMG, you have certainly ruined that tire.  I wouldn't risk your life on it.  Please send it to me ASAP and I'll dispose of it properly for you!!
















:goofy:

What Dutch said.

But send it to me instead.

just go backwards.

Just make sure your reverse lights are working or Timmy will have to give you a ticket.

All depends on what type of rider you are. If dont push the limits it will be fine but find a new shop to change your tires !!!!!

You did not say what brand or model of tire you are using.

I seem to recall that a few years back, one of the Contintental models had arrows molded in that pointed one way on the tread, and arrows pointing in the opposite direction on the sidewall.

Found it - here http://www.motorcycl...k-tire-question

To sum up, look closely at your tires to see if there is a set of arrows that DO point in the direction of the rotation.  It may be that the shop did mount them correctly (or, at least, that they thought that they were mounting them correctly).

Good luck,

Ron

[image: View Post]vthoky, on 29 April 2012 - 08:53 PM, said:

I remember that we specifically checked -- a couple of times -- to make sure we put the front wheel back on in the correct orientation.
....
I took about a hundred-mile ride today, and went walking with the dog when I got back. Afterward, we were both winded and flopped on the garage floor.  At that point, I noticed the arrows molded into the tire were pointing the "wrong" way.  Crap!
As you and the mechanic, that installed the tire, double checked before installing the tire, are you sure it is installed the wrong way around and it is not just the arrow on the tire is now at the bottom and pointing backwards? Does the dog agree on it being installed backwards?

Thanks for the heads-up on those reverse lights... I'll call the dog and have her check those while I'm at work today.   :tongue:

The tires are Pilot Road 2; the bike is an '07, non-ABS.

I snapped a quick pic on the way through the garage this morning, just to make sure I was thinking correctly.  This pic is taken from the right-hand side of the bike.

I've been in touch with "my guy."  We'll get that tire removed and turned around shortly.  It's supposed to rain here today, so I'm caging it for the day anyway....

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Just curious, does the big arrow on the side of the tire go in the same direction of the little arrow in the tread? I thought I heard Michelin had some going the opposite of each other at one time........although my memory isn't exactly what it used to be. :laugh:

If I'm interpreting your question correctly, wera, they're opposite.
The "arrow" formed by the tread design goes opposite the arrow molded on the sidewall.
I'm not with the bike right now (and the silly dog won't answer the phone) so I'm saying this based on a closer look at the pic above.  I'll have to take a better look when I get home.

I mount tires for a few guys who do track days.

They ask me to mount the tires backwards then after half a day on the track, they have them swapped.

Never heard of any issues.
The tread pattern is usually for rain and water displacement, not dry or normal road conditions.

The treads on the Pilot Road 2 are in opposite directions for the front and rear tire. When I installed them the first time I had to look at them and do a double-take - it looked wrong. Good thing they put the little arrows on the side of the tire so you can confirm directionality.

The sipes will be running the wrong way to clear the tire and help with braking. Easily fixed though....

Your tire is backwards. Check the wheel arrow and the rotation arrow on the tire - should be same direction.

Looking at the picture the arrow on the wheel(spoke) shows the wheel is mounted correctly(and IIRC there is only one way to mount the wheel).

The arrow on the tyre is going the opposit direction(incorrectly). Just to get that part said.

[image: View Post]vthoky, on 30 April 2012 - 11:46 AM, said:

If I'm interpreting your question correctly, wera, they're opposite.
The "arrow" formed by the tread design goes opposite the arrow molded on the sidewall.
I'm not with the bike right now (and the silly dog won't answer the phone) so I'm saying this based on a closer look at the pic above.  I'll have to take a better look when I get home.

Yes, take a closer look. The arrow on the side of the tire should be in the same direction as the little arrow on the tread. At some point, I thought Michelin had them screwed up and had them opposite of each other.

It is backwards. Just look at the arrows.

The track guys must do what us MXer's do. When a rear tire looses it's square edge we can turn it around and it's a hew edge for better grip.

IIRC most michelins have the frt. going oppisite the rear. The frt. clears a path for the rear. Of course all the tread is for is water displacement.

[image: View Post]wera803, on 30 April 2012 - 02:27 PM, said:

[image: View Post]vthoky, on 30 April 2012 - 11:46 AM, said:

If I'm interpreting your question correctly, wera, they're opposite.
The "arrow" formed by the tread design goes opposite the arrow molded on the sidewall.
I'm not with the bike right now (and the silly dog won't answer the phone) so I'm saying this based on a closer look at the pic above.  I'll have to take a better look when I get home.

Yes, take a closer look. The arrow on the side of the tire should be in the same direction as the little arrow on the tread. At some point, I though Michelin had them screwed up and had them opposite of each other.
I just went and looked at my tyre and I can't find any arrow on the side of the rubber tyre "Other than the arrow on thread part of the tyre), and can't recall ever seeing more than the tread arrow on any of them.(PR2's)

If there is an arrow on the SIDE-WALL of the tyre, then go with that. However, be aware that some tyres are for either front or rear fitment and that if that is the case they will have an arrow on each side, facing opposite directions. These should clearly be marked for wheel rotation Front or Rear fitment.

[image: View Post]wera803, on 30 April 2012 - 02:27 PM, said:

At some point, I though Michelin had them screwed up and had them opposite of each other.
As mentioned by ron_al, that was Continental:
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I'm on the "it's ok" side but I had a set mounted right before I headed out for about 3k miles and didn't notice until my furthest point from home. I just rode it out that way and received a new free set upon my return. Whoops! Notice the rear tread pattern (photo taken in Wisconsin, just a few miles from home in Colorado) --------->

[image: index.php?app=gallery&module=images&section=img_ctrl&img=520] 100_2127_0012_012.jpg Album: the mailman's gallery Uploaded 21 Jan 2011 - 21:11

[image: View Post]Monk, on 30 April 2012 - 12:28 PM, said:

Looking at the picture the arrow on the wheel(spoke) shows the wheel is mounted correctly(and IIRC there is only one way to mount the wheel).

The arrow on the tyre is going the opposit direction(incorrectly). Just to get that part said.

Yup, there is only one way to mount the front wheel. The rotors won't line up with the calipers if it goes on reversed. Besides, as long as the marking on the wheel is correct, then the wheel is on properly. If you try to flip the wheel around, the arrow will be pointing backwards.

After I saw this thread I had a brain fart and went and double checked my front wheel as I just mounted new tires, but everything is fine. :tongue:

[image: View Post]adg44, on 03 May 2012 - 11:20 AM, said:

[image: View Post]Monk, on 30 April 2012 - 12:28 PM, said:

Looking at the picture the arrow on the wheel(spoke) shows the wheel is mounted correctly(and IIRC there is only one way to mount the wheel).

The arrow on the tyre is going the opposit direction(incorrectly). Just to get that part said.

Yup, there is only one way to mount the front wheel. The rotors won't line up with the calipers if it goes on reversed. Besides, as long as the marking on the wheel is correct, then the wheel is on properly. If you try to flip the wheel around, the arrow will be pointing backwards.

After I saw this thread I had a brain fart and went and double checked my front wheel as I just mounted new tires, but everything is fine. :tongue:
When I take my wheel/tyre in to be mounted, I tape a piece of paper to the wheel with an arrow (magic-markered)to make it easy to see.
Of course I'm just following my "O"perational "C"ommand "D"irectives.......... :laughing6-hehe:

As it was said, the only thing that they have directions for is because the tread pattern is supposed to disperse water better in that direction.

If you don't do any wet riding no point in worrying about it.  If you do, it's your call.  I'm not sure how much I believe about the marketting about tread patterns and water dispersal.

I "used" to think this might make a Lota' Difference...."but"....Folks with Trikes mount Sport Bike Rear Tires on the Front of Gold Wings in Reverse Order to get more mileage out of em', than mounted straight up. I got 4500 miles out of a Rear Tire on a PCX Scooter...my Honda Shop accidentally mounted the Replacement backwards.....it's still on there with 6000+ miles on it, and still has wear left. It has made absolutely no difference in the rain whatsoever. My Trike has had a Michelin Pilot Activ Rear mounted on the Front of it correctly, and reversed.....the reversed got more mileage, and even on that "Heavy Beast", couldn't tell any rain dispersing difference..........These examples have been very disrupting to what I have always believed about "Tire Mounting Importance"..... :blink: :unsure:

[image: View Post]adg44, on 03 May 2012 - 11:20 AM, said:

After I saw this thread I had a brain fart and went and double checked my front wheel as I just mounted new tires, but everything is fine. :tongue:
:+1: Even though I was absolutely sure they were right, it was driving me crazy and I had to take a look.

All's well today, friends, and thank you for your input.
My "guy" came over to work this morning, picked up my bike, took it to his shop, flipped the tire around and balanced the assembly, and brought it back.  The only other thing I could have asked for might have been for him to fill the tank!  (Actually, I felt a little bad about him picking it up with so little fuel.)

Glad this is an All's well that ends well. I have had the same info regarding directional indicators = water dispersal. The heavy hitter track guys use up a set, one side, on certain tracks(Willow Springs, big track for instance) then flip them to add life for other venues. Here in SoCal, generally, wet riding is rare.

 n1tmtu37, on 09 May 2012 - 06:30 AM, said:

The pattern didn't look like it was correct for dispersing water off to the sides.  
The tread has not much to do with water dispersing like it does on car tyres. There are a number of tires that don't even have tread in the center of the profile and are still street legal.
[image: Posted Image]
Diablo Strada.

It's funny that this topic popped up.  I recently had a new PR2 sneaker put on the front and afterwards I sat there, looking at it and something just looked wrong.  The pattern didn't look like it was correct for dispersing water off to the sides.  That's when I got down and checked and sure enough, the arrow for the wheel and tire were going the correct way.
By the way.  This tire only has an arrow on the chicken strip, not the side wall.  (I'll look again when it stops raining but that's all I could find)
I'm still questioning the tread pattern but hey... what do I know.  I ain't no expert