tire rotation

[dbofinger]

What would happen if a front tire was installed on the rim so it rotated in reverse of the arrow that shows rotation?

[gonenorth]

I believe the biggest risk is tread not being set up for best traction, particularly in wet conditions.

[FSG]

the layers within the carcass could come apart under braking

with the back wheel the tire rotation is all about handling the acceleration forces

with the front wheel the tire rotation is all about handling the braking forces

if you have a reverse mounted tire on the front do yourself a favor and rotate the tire so that it is correct

[glens]

Had a bike with a 16" front wheel decades ago and didn't want to replace the front with stock.  Got a set of Pirellis using a rear tire mounted backwards on the front. Worked extremely well for my charging around the Rockies for over 10k miles.

I'd imagine the purpose-made front tires are laid up like's been mentioned in this thread.  To withstand braking forces.  Since they have a directional arrow and all that...

[FSG]

Yes years ago before tire sizes and technology changed we'd mount a front tire on the rear with the arrow reversed and rear tire on the front   with the arrow reversed, BUT NEVER with the arrow in the right direction when the tire was used in the wrong location.

[koko3052]

 

[BUBBIE]

On MY American Elites, the front tire is Reversed by the  manufacturer... (my understanding) Finding that they were getting Low Mileage with the front tires, they Reversed the Tire Pattern on the Front to Do the Unthinkable; Drawing IN the V like I show it here "V" as on the bike rotating forward...

Most would use the V opposite as described above "^".... Pushing water Out Away;  Not drawing it toward the center of the tire...

I first thought (many sets Back) that the front was put on Wrong. (Backwards) But NO... That reversing of the tread Got over Double the mileage and Then Some..

My model year 2009 and (said) later years, called:  the new second-generation American Elite tires with Multi-Tread are the ones I use...

I have had very good mileage off these tires on my 09 King... Usually well over 20,000 miles from the front tire and close to 20,000 from that Big 180 tire on the rear....

I have read here on HTT, many others getting the Good mileage from them Too...

All this  Above is said in MY Language and Understanding, not the tire manufacturers... 

signed....BUBBIE

NOT suggesting to Turn any of Your front tires around... I'm sure "American Elite tires" were Engineered to do that reversing pattern, coming with the Directional arrow from Factory, showing Proper Rotation Direction Use...

[BUBBIE]

Went out this Early Morning (for me).....

Took a Picture from the front looking Back Through my 09 King... Tire shows Pattern used like said; "V" Drawing opposite of thinking Should Be Direction...

signed....BUBBIE

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[calgary56]

That's NOT lower the number on your odometer !!

[Phu Cat]

A number of trike riders friends have been using Dunlop Elite 3 rears on the front running backward with good results as that is the same force as a rear tire puts on a tire under acceleration.  I'm getting what looks like pretty good mileage out of it so far, with about 6,000 miles.  The thing is, a trike tire doesn't 'turn' the same way a two wheeler does.  A trike front wheel kind of "skuffs" around a turn due to not being able to pivot on a single back tire like a two wheeler can, a front tire on a trike will wear out quicker.  This becomes very clear under rapid acceleration in a turn!

PC

[rbabos]

Reason for arrow is for the tread design it channels water outward under either braking or accel loads. Second reason is tread splice. This is the area where when it's wrapped around the ends are tapered. The tapers are aligned to not peel it off from the same loads. Anyone who has a larger belt sander can relate. If you put the belt on in the wrong arrow direction, it can get ugly when it yanks the joint apart. Not sure a new tire would have cord issues if put on backwards from the start but swapping a used tire in reverse, there could be. That would apply to all tires in general.
Ron