Need tire pro help

[Mike G in SC]

Hey, any tire pros,

A Harley friend (Heritage) has asked me a question. I'm guessing she has HD Dunlop 404. She rides local and even did SC to CA last year, so she rides!

Your input might help her.

 

I've had so many problems with my front tire. Riding back and forth to work I heard a lot of road noise. New tire, this must be usual! After looking at the tire I noticed the rotation was going the wrong way. So now I need to know whether I should leave the tire as it is or do I have SOMEONE fix the issue. My main question is will the tire seperate like a car tire if you rotate it wrong? This is my front tire and I'm a bit WORRIED. I don't want to be going 80 mph and have a blow out. Thanks EVERYONE. Deb

Thanks in advance, Mike G in SC

[MiCarl]

It shouldn't hurt it to turn it around. The problem with changing rotation direction on passenger car tires is specific to radials. Way back in the old days when cars had bias ply tires (which the D404 is) we rotated them side to side too.

 

I'd take it back to the clowns that put it on backwards and throw a hissy fit.

[TearlessTom]

Short answer from my understanding is YES IT CAN SEPERATE.

 

From what I have read the reason for the directional tread on bike tires is this.

 

The front tire's belts or plys are weaved in such a way as they will tighten up rather than separate when under heavy breaking as this is the only time the front tire is stressed.

 

The rear tire is just the opposite, it is stressed under hard acceleration so it is wrapped opposite of the front.

 

That is why some people will run a rear tire on the front but mount it backwards.

 

I'm sure that is clear as mud now. But I tried

 

Personally I would replace the tire, we only have two tire and one life too much to risk for a what if in my opinion.

[TearlessTom]

Okay, now you have two opinions one of each. Its your call...lol

[Mike G in SC]

Yeah, those are two real different answers.

I might wait for at least a 3rd one,,, LOL .

 

I think I need to verify the tire type and how many miles she has.

 

Thanks,,, Mike G

[MiCarl]

They're both the same. I could have worded mine more clearly:

 

I agree with Tearless Tom. It should be turned so it rotates the correct direction. His reason for doing so is correct.

 

I thought the question was whether it would separate if it was run the correct direction after a period of running backward.

 

I would take it back and have them make it right.

[flb_78]

The tire's fine. If it has dual rotors, just turn the tire and wheel around. If it's single rotor, it'll have to be flipped on the wheel.

 

Read the owner's manuals in your car. Flipping the direction of a tire won't cause it to magically explode. There are no arrows on non-directional automobile tires. Usually, the front tires are rotated straight back and the rear tires are rotated side to side and to the front.

 

The directional tread on a tire has nothing to do with how it's wrapped. The tread pattern is to disperse water properly.

 

Squidley even posted a picture once of a motorcycle tire that had arrows in both directions depending on if it was mounted on the front or the back.

[Mike G in SC]

Thanks all,

I just talked to a Dupont tech (chemist) friend who was a Michelin tire Mfg guy.

 

He confirmed what is said above, that the tire should be fine as it is bias. The arrow is for tread. He was more concerned that the shop does not damage the bead when removing it. I told her to make them let her see the tire before they remount.

 

She would still be more comfortable with new, as it is the front. We'll see where that goes. The irony is she took her HD to a local metric (multi-brand) shop to get this done wrong.

 

Oh, the tire is a Dunlop 402 with 1200 miles. She got 49K miles on her last 402 front,, really. The bike has single rotor on the front.

 

Thanks again, Mike G.