Can you put a tyre on the wrong way round?

Originally Posted by Stenno

Take the photo below from a fellow org'er...

Now when I look at the front tyre, the cuts in the tread to me suggest that when the tyre moves forward in wet conditions, any surface water will be channeled towards the centre patch, which surely isn't going to help

I have no idea what the answer is to your query on the tread patten, but I've just been out to the garage and can confirm it is on the right way round.

But if you look at the rear tyre, the 'V' in the tread pattern runs the other way

My Bike - From every angle...(clicky)

Just been out to the garage a second time and that one's on the right way round too. I'm sure I'd have noticed when cleaning the wheels if they were the wrong way.

Go figure

[Geodude]

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

But if you look at the rear tyre, the 'V' in the tread pattern runs the other way

My Bike - From every angle...(clicky)

Just been out to the garage a second time and that one's on the right way round too. I'm sure I'd have noticed when cleaning the wheels if they were the wrong way.

Go figure

Yep mine are the same, front pattern one way rear pattern t'other way. As you say go figure

[Shawthing]

Yep my Bridgestones are the same.

I believe the reason for the front having this 'reverse' tread are to reduce chance of aquaplaning when going vertically through standing water:
1) As long as there is a way for the water to get out it will happily go either way ( being a reasonably incompressable fluid).
2) The 'reverse' tread pushes the water out at the sides, to the rear of the tyre rather than infront of it, reducing the amount of water infront of the front tyre (bow wave).

Don't try and ask why the rear is different! (though it may be something to do with accelerating traction as opposed to the front's Braking traction requirement )

Originally Posted by Fallout

My pilot powers have the same tread direction. It confused me too Stenno, such that I triple checked to make sure they were on correctly. With car tyres, the threads always channel the water to the outside, as we'd expect. My guess is with bike tyres, a much smaller area is in contact with the road, so only a small portion of the tread has effect. When you lean the bike over, only one set of grooves are in contact and the water will be channelled to the middle of the tyre, but that is the OUTSIDE of the turn, which is where you'd want it to be I suppose.

All speculation but makes sense when you think about it.

What he says. I was very confused the first set of tyres I got that had this style of tread. It is so that water is dispersed better when cornering as that's when you'll need better grip.

When my mate Danny was running the ZX10R in racing we would take his race tyres (road legal Metzeler Racetecs) and turn them round so he could get a day's track instruction out of them before binning them. However... if it was the slightest bit damp out there he wouldn't use them because they became lethal in the wet.

My mechanic has spotted a few tyres that have been fitted incorrectly by the factory on new bikes. We've had two like that in the past 6 months.

[Messie]

Do I need to go and check mine ?

[Shawthing]

Avon seem to be taking the credit for this . Something they call IFG:

http://www.avon-tyres.co.uk/motorcyc...hnical-symbols

The front and rear do look to be opposite as afore mentioned because the rear is usually driving and front braking/being pushed. Obviously rear is under braking sometimes but front is more important and always being pushed. I've turned rears on dry races and trackdays but never dared do a front. Not noticed any difference to be honest and at supercorsa prices it would break my heart to chuck em cos of right hand wear(99% of tracks run clockwise hence more right handers if you didn't realise)

Originally Posted by Shawthing

Avon seem to be taking the credit for this . Something they call IFG:

http://www.avon-tyres.co.uk/motorcyc...hnical-symbols

Originally Posted by Avon's Website

resists 'stepped-wear'

Well if it resists stepped wear on Avon tyres, then Michelin haven't quite got it right. The PR3 on the front of mine is stepped like buggery.