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[matap]

Question....I've seen some mods where some people refer to mounting  a rear tire on the front wheel as going 'Double Darkside' and this is done to accomplish having a wider front tire, but with that said they typically mount that tire in the reverse direction to compensate for the breaking strength aspect of the tire.  My question for those with some knowledge on it, does every rear to front tire need to be mounted in reverse or can mouting it in the forward direction be just fine?  I think since a rear tire provides some breaking power and goes forward on a rear that mounting it on the front tire forward should be fine as well.

What's your input?

I have an 03 Shadow that I'm customizing and want to go with a wide front tire.  actually I want to put a 180 on the rear and a 180 on the front if at all possible. 

[Isorg]

my opinion on it is....

if you are going to mount a rear on the front for going "double dark", don't reverse the tire.  Those treads were designed for a certain rotation mainly to help in the removal of water from between the road and your tire.  Water is pushed to the outside of the tire. 

If you reverse the tire, water is pushed into the center of the tire adding more water between your tire and the road.

 

[matap]

Hadn't thought about that but very true. 

[TheWatcher]

Paul,

You might want to try the Dark Side Forum:

http://mcdarksiders.forumotion.com/

See ya neighbor.

 

[SteveS]

Back in April 1980 on my 1979 Goldwing less than 3000 miles on it , I had the front tire blow out while on Interstste

85 . The dealer put the most popular tire for goldwings , at the time , I DID NOT like the side wall flex in the tire.

So we went with a Dunlop K-81 Rear tire on the front , and back then there was an arrow cast in the side wall of

the tire with instructions for mounting on the Front and for using on the rear , and yes when using on the front

it is to be mounted oppisite the rear.  

There is something about the way the tire cords ( belts ) are are wraped around the tire , rear tires are made for

taking  accelreation , and when mounted on the front must be reversed to be able to handle the breaking forces.

[Krazy-J]

my opinion on it is....

if you are going to mount a rear on the front for going "double dark", don't reverse the tire.  Those treads were designed for a certain rotation mainly to help in the removal of water from between the road and your tire.  Water is pushed to the outside of the tire. 

If you reverse the tire, water is pushed into the center of the tire adding more water between your tire and the road.

 

I agree.  I am doing the same thing and I was also going to reverse the direction of the tread pattern.  However, when I actually had it in hand and could see it in front of me, . . . reversing the spin of the tire would actually draw water into the center of the tire and not away. 

[xcaliber]

alot of Wingers go double darkside. They use a rear tire from a sport bike and mount it in reverse. Why, I don't know. Could check it out

[Ironhorse1800]

Hey there. Thought I would quit lurking in the shadows and give shout. I am running double-dark and have been for some time.

On my Wing I ran my first Battleax BT-45 in reverse rotation and it performed well for 24,000 miles, but showed some cupping in the last 4-5,000 miles.

The second one I put on in regular rotation - with the arrow. It is now at 21,000 miles and looking like it might make 30,000. However, I also have  been running it with 2 more psi than the first and improved front suspension just before the tire swap.

Find a pair of ME880 for a Goldwing, front and back. Look at the tread design and you will see that they are identical, just reversed tread pattern between the two. Thoughts are this: Rear is supposed to shed water and hold best under power. The front tire is supposed to shed water and hold best under braking. So, some spin that rear tire around and run it reverse rotation.

In the above 45,000 miles I grabbed a handful of brake more than a few times and rode a few twisted roads in the rain while pulling a 600 lb trailer. Forward or reverse I never had that tire try to get out from under me. IMHO, you can go either way. With the right tire it will work great.

Battleax BT-45 on the front  Michelin Primacy Alpin PA3 Run Flat on the back. Plain-Jane Wally World on the trailer.

[xcaliber]

  Ironhorse, There ya go Paul, 

[matap]

Some good info.  I know for a fact that this bike might be hitting some rainy weather, but not entirely likely.  It's going to be a fair to great weather rider, b/c it has no bags and never will since I don't have any room for rain gear.  I really want a large tire up front so I think I'll get that rear tire and mount in in reverse on the front wheel. 

[Drewboy22]

Hey there. Thought I would quit lurking in the shadows and give shout. I am running double-dark and have been for some time.

On my Wing I ran my first Battleax BT-45 in reverse rotation and it performed well for 24,000 miles, but showed some cupping in the last 4-5,000 miles.

The second one I put on in regular rotation - with the arrow. It is now at 21,000 miles and looking like it might make 30,000. However, I also have  been running it with 2 more psi than the first and improved front suspension just before the tire swap.

Find a pair of ME880 for a Goldwing, front and back. Look at the tread design and you will see that they are identical, just reversed tread pattern between the two. Thoughts are this: Rear is supposed to shed water and hold best under power. The front tire is supposed to shed water and hold best under braking. So, some spin that rear tire around and run it reverse rotation.

In the above 45,000 miles I grabbed a handful of brake more than a few times and rode a few twisted roads in the rain while pulling a 600 lb trailer. Forward or reverse I never had that tire try to get out from under me. IMHO, you can go either way. With the right tire it will work great.

Battleax BT-45 on the front  Michelin Primacy Alpin PA3 Run Flat on the back. Plain-Jane Wally World on the trailer.

Good info there, Hoss.  Welcome back from the Shadows!!

[Lucky]

Been missing you Ironhorse....glad to see you are doing good