Front vs. rear tires

[dynaglide]

What's the difference between the two?  What make a rear tire different from a front, and why can't you put a front tire on the rear?  Is it the load rating?  Something else...? 

[Jeffd]

load rating is one thing and most have different tread design/depth and front tire is designed for strengh under forward rotation load and rear for strength under accelleration load.  It might all be a load of crap but that is how I see it.

[MrClean]

Rear motorcycle tires are responsible for certain bike functions, such as: Power The rear tire has a flatter profile, to provide the majority of the acceleration and stability for your bike, and wouldn't handle as well if put on the front.
Weight The rear tire carries the majority of the weight of the bike, calling for special design elements to keep you upright & safe at all times.
Lean Since the rear tire does not turn, it is subject to the lean of the motorcycle. This requires a sturdier tire with a flatter profile to accommodate this requirement.

Front motorcycle tires have specific characteristics, as well as limitations, including: Braking The front tire provides up to 80% of the braking power for your motorcycle. It's shaped to provide this, rather than acceleration like the rear tire
Turning The most obvious function of the front tire is turning right & left. A front tire is more triangular shaped for better handling. You would notice this if you were to try to put a rear tire on the front, as they aren't shaped for turning and you'd have a hard time turning your bike properly.
Tread Because the front tire's main purpose is braking, the tread isn't going to be as thick. This would become very obvious if you were to run a front tire on the rear of your motorcycle. You would notice that the tread would wear down very quickly due to the thinner tread on a front-specific tire.

[dynaglide]

thanks 

[koko3052]

I was told when inquiring about 250 & up. that it was because of belt orientation (sort of ). The torque being applied in one direction on the rear & in the opposite direction on the front, due to braking. Consensus was to reverse rotation of front tire if using the same as for a rear.

[Admiral Akbar]

Rear motorcycle tires are responsible for certain bike functions, such as: Power The rear tire has a flatter profile, to provide the majority of the acceleration and stability for your bike, and wouldn't handle as well if put on the front.
Weight The rear tire carries the majority of the weight of the bike, calling for special design elements to keep you upright & safe at all times.
Lean Since the rear tire does not turn, it is subject to the lean of the motorcycle. This requires a sturdier tire with a flatter profile to accommodate this requirement.

Front motorcycle tires have specific characteristics, as well as limitations, including: Braking The front tire provides up to 80% of the braking power for your motorcycle. It's shaped to provide this, rather than acceleration like the rear tire
Turning The most obvious function of the front tire is turning right & left. A front tire is more triangular shaped for better handling. You would notice this if you were to try to put a rear tire on the front, as they aren't shaped for turning and you'd have a hard time turning your bike properly.
Tread Because the front tire's main purpose is braking, the tread isn't going to be as thick. This would become very obvious if you were to run a front tire on the rear of your motorcycle. You would notice that the tread would wear down very quickly due to the thinner tread on a front-specific tire.

Max

[04 SE Deuce]

I believe the casings, tread, and profile are designed for the different demands, loads, grip, and characteristics desired in front and rear applications. 

Here is one example where Avon list the AM26 Roadrider tire as available in front, rear or universal.   http://www.avonmoto.com/products/street-bias/roadrider
 

FWIW,   Rick

[88b]

The front is also designed to move water out of the path of the rear.

[PC_Hater]

What's the difference between the two?  What make a rear tire different from a front, and why can't you put a front tire on the rear?  Is it the load rating?  Something else...? 

You know, that is actually a very interesting question.
If the front tyre is ribbed - as it was in the days of our youth then fitting a front tyre on the rear was a very definite NoNo.
(tell my why a ribbed rear is bad. It certainly sounds bad, but why?)
But in this day and age?
Load rating is one possibility. But an FL front on the rear of a Sportster becomes, well, possible. (mount it backwards!)
It is acceptable to run rear tyres on the front, just remember to mount them backwards. Avon used to say this was for "aggressive riders only" - that would be all of us here then, with a special mention for me! (yes I have done it, and pushed things to the ragged edge too)
Universal tyres are a different kettle of fish designed to do what they do. They tend to work best on 'middling' bikes. Not too heavy and not too powerful. Your BSA would be happy, your Sportster _should_ be OK, your FL would let you know its displeasure at high speed or high load or high temperature.

[ThumperDeuce]

http://www.motorcycletiresmaniac.com/front-vs-rear-motorcycle-tires.html

[PC_Hater]

http://www.motorcycletiresmaniac.com/front-vs-rear-motorcycle-tires.html

Read it. Unimpressed.
That is all just lawyer-speak and would mean that Universal tyres would not be made. But they are, and I have done many thousands of miles on them. (Avon tyres have kept me alive for 40 years in rain and snow and - in foreign lands - heat, given a really good reason I use other tyres, Bridgestone on my Sportster for example, but mainly, Avon)

[ThumperDeuce]

I usually figure the difference is about $50.

[chopper]

I have run "rear" tires on the front and vice versa. Obviously its not optimum, and I wouldn't do it as a habit, but I'm not afraid of it either.
Some years back I was putting together a Shovel Superglide. I pulled off the narrow forks and went with a wide glide front. I needed a 16 incher for the front and had an old WELL WORN rear tire on hand. Almost no tread and worn flat like a semi tire. I put it on for a shake down cruise, and ended up running it for a couple months...
I'm still here...   lol

[nibroc]

a few yrs ago i had rapid city hd install a 402 on the front of my flstc during sturgis week--after 2 1/2 hrs and 3 beers i paid for the tire and they put a rear 402 on the front of my bike--i did complain and service mgr said he would swap it out--i politely told him i didn't have time for him to "Potty mouth"k with it anymore and had to be on my way to the west coast--i even rode it back to ky with no problems and swaped it when i got back home

[GaryD]

It is common practice to install the rear tire on the front, in reverse direction, on a Tri Glide.

The added thickness almost doubles the milage for a front wheel.  And reversing it keeps the splice in the correct rotation.

[Tynker]

thanks 

That being said, I have been running a Shinko REAR tire, on the front of my bikes for several years. I have it mounted backwards rotation. I have to say I cannot tell any difference in the handling. I get 25 to 30 thousand miles out of them. The rear tires always have more tread, than front tires. They do that so they will both wear out about the same time.