The only stupid question is... Harley Wheels & Harley Tire Issues Discuss The only stupid question is... in the Harley Tech & Harley How-to forums; the question not asked. Here is my question: What is the difference between a front tire and rear tire? Besides the obvious fact one is up front and the other ...

[unfknblvbl]

the question not asked. Here is my question: What is the difference between a front tire and rear tire?

Besides the obvious fact one is up front and the other is on the back. Now that we got that out of the way...

Is it really going to make a difference if I put a tire on the front that is rear specific or vice versa. There is no comparison, but I put the same size tires on my cage and they're not front or rear specific.

Lets look at the Avon Speedmaster AMK II. It specific for a rear, but is there any type of safety issue if you were to put it up front?

[Tbone]

That's a dang good question. If the rims are (obviously) the same size. What could be the difference except for maybe a different tread pattern designed for straight away grip on the rear and tracking on the front.
While you experts are answering this question or using your contacts in the industry (Buzz, Chris) to get the answers, consider my question, also.
My Low Rider came with a 19 inch Dunlop D401 on the front and a 17 inch Dunlop K591 on the back. Dunlop makes a bias ply 19 inch K591. Why wouldn't the K591 be on both the front and the rear?
Did HD have an abundant supply of 19" D401's to get rid of? When I replace the front, can I put the exact same size 19" K591 on to match the rear K591?
Inquiring minds want to know.

[frisco-rigid]

Quite awhile back you would find tires with an Arrow on one side that pointed the direction for a rear application..
Turn that tire around and there was an arrow pointing in the opposit direction for a front app..
I swapped them around many times over the years and didn't have nor expect any trouble..

A few years ago I read an article that pointed to that same old fact but reminded everyone that on placement specific tires that was no longer an option..
It gave a reason,,,, something about the winding of the plys or construction of the tread or some such thing that made a tire safe and efficient only in the app it was meant for..

I never experimented with that cuz I saw no reason to, but, I wouldnt hesitate to get home with a tire in the wrong app if that was all that was available..

Hey, someone will google it, finds that article or one similar and post it..

[unfknblvbl]

Originally Posted by Tbone

That's a dang good question. If the rims are (obviously) the same size. What could be the difference except for maybe a different tread pattern designed for straight away grip on the rear and tracking on the front.
While you experts are answering this question or using your contacts in the industry (Buzz, Chris) to get the answers, consider my question, also.
My Low Rider came with a 19 inch Dunlop D401 on the front and a 17 inch Dunlop K591 on the back. Dunlop makes a bias ply 19 inch K591. Why wouldn't the K591 be on both the front and the rear?
Did HD have an abundant supply of 19" D401's to get rid of? When I replace the front, can I put the exact same size 19" K591 on to match the rear K591?
Inquiring minds want to know.

I was hoping Buzz or Chris would jump in here or their tech guy from the mag to explain some of this. In all honesty I don't see you couldn't put a matching front on your bike. The read pattern on the 401 and 591 are almost the same as well, but again better for the experts to answer.

Originally Posted by frisco-rigid

Quite awhile back you would find tires with an Arrow on one side that pointed the direction for a rear application..
Turn that tire around and there was an arrow pointing in the opposit direction for a front app..
I swapped them around many times over the years and didn't have nor expect any trouble..

A few years ago I read an article that pointed to that same old fact but reminded everyone that on placement specific tires that was no longer an option..
It gave a reason,,,, something about the winding of the plys or construction of the tread or some such thing that made a tire safe and efficient only in the app it was meant for..

I never experimented with that cuz I saw no reason to, but, I wouldnt hesitate to get home with a tire in the wrong app if that was all that was available..

Hey, someone will google it, finds that article or one similar and post it..

frisco- I've read the same thing about the winding of the ply's for cars, but not motorcycles. I'm sure it's out there. I know on most Z Rated tires it is almost imperative that you follow the rotational arrows because of the way the ply is wound.

Originally Posted by SteelRider

Everybody knows that a front tire lasts twice as long as a rear tire.
That is the difference.

Dang it Steel, you got us there and it is quite true. LOL!

Maybe a front tire has additional plies to avoid blow outs than a rear does. I think I'd rather the rear go on me than the front.

[evoKENevo]

I'm no tire "expert"..but I do know that in addition to tires being the median between your rims and the road...the rear tire gets pulled in one direction while accellerating and the other from braking with little twist from turning/steering other than from the lean...whereas your front tire only gets pulled in one direction from braking-and gets a bit more twist from turning/steering. The little (?) of which in "mymind" explains why front & rears are wound & treaded etc differently............

[unfknblvbl]

Originally Posted by evoKENevo

I'm no tire "expert"..but I do know that in addition to tires being the median between your rims and the road...the rear tire gets pulled in one direction while accellerating and the other from braking with little twist from turning/steering other than from the lean...whereas your front tire only gets pulled in one direction from braking-and gets a bit more twist from turning/steering. The little (?) of which in "mymind" explains why front & rears are wound & treaded etc differently............

evo- all input is welcome, whether an expert or not. The above makes sense to me as well.

Where I'm going with this is I'm in the planning process of a bobber build and I want to run a 5.00 x 16 up front and in the rear. The Avon Speedmaster AMK II has that classic old school feel to it. On their website and just about every website you see that tire on that note that it is a rear specific tire, but Avon does not (from what I can find and honestly haven't looked that hard) make a matching tire in the same size for the front. If you look at the Zero Engineering bikes it looks like they run that exact tire up front and in the rear. That's why I brought up the question. I'm sure I'll get it sorted out.

:RON WHITE VOICE: He was a tire guy, THEY sent him to tire...........college.

[evoKENevo]

Well..why did'nt you just SAAAAAAAY so... ???

UFB:
Check out Continental K-112 tires.
They make a 5.00 x 16 M/C 69H TT tire that seems to be just what you're looking for

Classic tread design..and if they're like the 3.50 x 16 tires (as I expect) they're for front OR rear use...depending on how they're mounted directionally.

Yeah and,unless somethings changed over the years (as I doubt) those suckers "hold the road" etc...trust me !!!!

[unfknblvbl]

The details! Ma, the DETAILS!

My bad evo, I'll be sure and send an invitation next time

Thanks for the information on the tires. I'll pull them up here in a minute.

[Sprung]

This is a quote from the Metzeler web site. Can't say that it applies to other brands-
Rear tires can be mounted at front wheels?

When producing tires, the top cap is heated with an angle bump on the carcass. To prevent the detachment of the assembled edges the tire has to be mounted(concerning the main stress: acceleration force at the rear wheel or brake force at the front wheel) corresponding to the respective declaration.
Therefore the declaration of the driving directionat the tires sidewall is a very important safety regard and has to be noticed absolute. It is not allowed to mount front tires at rear wheels.
In case you intend to mount a rear tire on a front wheel it has to be assembled contrary to the driving direction declaration(direction of the arrow at the tires sidewall). Please observe the standards in your country. In any doubts we kindly ask you to consult your dealer.

Some of those things have allready been touched on by the members here. Don't know if their construction techniques apply to other manufactures. It may not mean a flyin' flock to Dunlop or Avon.

[unfknblvbl]

Thanks for that bit of information, Sprung.

Yo Evo, I found what I was looking for. The Continental's weren't quite what I was looking for. Then, all of the sudden it reached up and slapped me in the face. If I'm looking for that vintage/retro look why not search for vintage/retro motorcycle tires. When I did that the one of the first things that came up was actually going to the Coker Tire website. Yep, they have exactly what I was looking for.