front tyre directional importance
- fatfreddy000
- Posts: 186
- Joined: Thu May 04, 2017 7:02 pm
front tyre directional importance
hi all,
did something bloody stupid yesterday.
spent the day working on the front end of the bike- new fork springs and oil, electrical tidy up and while the wheel was off took it in to replace the knackered tyre.
the old tyre was a pirelli sport with the V tread direction facing forwards (as on a rear tyre).
i took the tyre off with my levers and took it into a bike shop to fit the new one. As there was no sign of a directional arrow on the wheel (it should be near the hub stamped on one of the spokes no ?) i just told them which way i wanted the V's facing.
only once the wheel was on the bike did i see the directional arrow facing the wrong way, so on this tyre (pirelli diablo) the V's should face backwards (opposite to a rear tyre)- Doh!
after some reading it seems that some tyres face that way to aid waiter dispersal while braking, also some folk speak of the overlap in the top welt being directional- although many say this is nonsense..
i am now wondering how important it is that the tread is reversed- if there is no issue with the welt overlap then it would come down to water dispersal on wet roads- but why do some tyres front V type treads face one way and some the other? it makes me think its not that important- but of course i don't wanna take risks with something as crucial as the front tyre..
thoughts?
did something bloody stupid yesterday.
spent the day working on the front end of the bike- new fork springs and oil, electrical tidy up and while the wheel was off took it in to replace the knackered tyre.
the old tyre was a pirelli sport with the V tread direction facing forwards (as on a rear tyre).
i took the tyre off with my levers and took it into a bike shop to fit the new one. As there was no sign of a directional arrow on the wheel (it should be near the hub stamped on one of the spokes no ?) i just told them which way i wanted the V's facing.
only once the wheel was on the bike did i see the directional arrow facing the wrong way, so on this tyre (pirelli diablo) the V's should face backwards (opposite to a rear tyre)- Doh!
after some reading it seems that some tyres face that way to aid waiter dispersal while braking, also some folk speak of the overlap in the top welt being directional- although many say this is nonsense..
i am now wondering how important it is that the tread is reversed- if there is no issue with the welt overlap then it would come down to water dispersal on wet roads- but why do some tyres front V type treads face one way and some the other? it makes me think its not that important- but of course i don't wanna take risks with something as crucial as the front tyre..
thoughts?
“If all insects on Earth disappeared, within 50 years all life on Earth would end. If all human beings disappeared from the Earth, within 50 years all forms of life would flourish.” Biologist Jonas Salk
- lloydie
- Posts: 20920
- Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:16 pm
- Location: In the garage somewhere in Coventry
Re: front tyre directional importance
It's not just the tread it's how it's constructed .
Best to get it turned around
Best to get it turned around
Re: front tyre directional importance
+1
It may be that your whole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
VTR Firestorm and other bikes t-shirts
VTR Firestorm and other bikes t-shirts
- KermitLeFrog
- Posts: 1634
- Joined: Sat Apr 11, 2015 6:44 pm
- Location: Hexham
Re: front tyre directional importance
+2
It's not just the welt it's also the bias on the plys.
It's not just the welt it's also the bias on the plys.
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I squandered" (George Best, RIP)
Re: front tyre directional importance
just ride backwards ?????
sorry il get my coat
sorry il get my coat
the older i get,the faster i was
- fatfreddy000
- Posts: 186
- Joined: Thu May 04, 2017 7:02 pm
Re: front tyre directional importance
time to turn it round then..
any idea though why some front tyres have a forward facing V tread and some reverse V tread?
any idea though why some front tyres have a forward facing V tread and some reverse V tread?
“If all insects on Earth disappeared, within 50 years all life on Earth would end. If all human beings disappeared from the Earth, within 50 years all forms of life would flourish.” Biologist Jonas Salk
Re: front tyre directional importance
If you have the original brake discs fitted there's small direction arrows on them. the spoke pattern is the same as the rear in case you put the wheel in the wrong way round.
While where at it this might help too. When you put the spindle in tighten the nut to torque but don't tighten the pinch bolts on the left side, put calipers on and nip them up, slowly pull the brake to get pressure then put front end down and bounce up and down a few times. The left fork is floating, this will settle it into the right place. Now tighten the pinch bolts Evenly and torque the caliper bolts.. pop it back on the stand and check the wheel spins freely.
.
While where at it this might help too. When you put the spindle in tighten the nut to torque but don't tighten the pinch bolts on the left side, put calipers on and nip them up, slowly pull the brake to get pressure then put front end down and bounce up and down a few times. The left fork is floating, this will settle it into the right place. Now tighten the pinch bolts Evenly and torque the caliper bolts.. pop it back on the stand and check the wheel spins freely.
.
http://www.bidefordmotorcycles.co.uk
2014 CRMC Post classic Superbike champion.
2014 CRMC Post classic senior production champion. On a Suzuki Katana 1100
My bikes, Firestorm, Suzuki GSX-s1000 Katana, VFR800Fi. Projects, 1986 popup Katana, 3 XJ600’s
2014 CRMC Post classic Superbike champion.
2014 CRMC Post classic senior production champion. On a Suzuki Katana 1100
My bikes, Firestorm, Suzuki GSX-s1000 Katana, VFR800Fi. Projects, 1986 popup Katana, 3 XJ600’s
Re: front tyre directional importance
I can't say I've ever noticed that, although I've never really looked. One thing I will say however, the front tyre is being pushed, whereas the rear is being driven.fatfreddy000 wrote:time to turn it round then..
any idea though why some front tyres have a forward facing V tread and some reverse V tread?
I agree with the others, get yours changed around if it's facing the wrong way to be on the safe side, as I see you have decided
Chris.
- fatfreddy000
- Posts: 186
- Joined: Thu May 04, 2017 7:02 pm
Re: front tyre directional importance
yep, sometimes its a pain in the butt to get good advice!sirch345 wrote:I can't say I've ever noticed that, although I've never really looked. One thing I will say however, the front tyre is being pushed, whereas the rear is being driven.fatfreddy000 wrote:time to turn it round then..
any idea though why some front tyres have a forward facing V tread and some reverse V tread?
I agree with the others, get yours changed around if it's facing the wrong way to be on the safe side, as I see you have decided
Chris.
all i can say is that the pirelli sport demon on the front of my gpz750 is labeled as a front with directional arrow the right way and the V's facing forwards..
it does seem logical with the same wheel rotation as the rear that a forward rolling v would displace water rather than gather it but i guess under braking things get more complicated..
still, I'm perplexed by the opposing directions of a similar V tread pattern from the same manufacturer.
“If all insects on Earth disappeared, within 50 years all life on Earth would end. If all human beings disappeared from the Earth, within 50 years all forms of life would flourish.” Biologist Jonas Salk
Re: front tyre directional importance
Thing is, even if it gave you no trouble, if you had an accident and it was spotted, your insurance would try to refuse to pay out, saying that you'd deliberately made the bike dangerous.
Just swap the front and rear wheels round- oh, then the new front one would also be going backwards.
Best get it changed then.
Just swap the front and rear wheels round- oh, then the new front one would also be going backwards.
Best get it changed then.
It's not falling off, it's an upgrade opportunity.
Re: front tyre directional importance
fabiostar wrote:just ride backwards ?????
sorry il get my coat
SH#T HAPPENS!!!!!!!!