rear tire getting harder to find....

[Lemieuxfan]

I see many sellers for the Michelin Road 6.
Not cheap, but you WILL get what you paid for! Tis ZR or W speed rated as well.

why run it backwards?

 

[Journeyman]

It has to do with the way the tires are spliced together (overlap). The rear is setup for acceleration forces, whereas the front is designed for braking forces. I found a more reliable explanation (than me ;-) below.

@1olbull is the first I know of to promote this tire and there are a lot of other fans. I tried it once. Loved the very deep tread, but personally found the shape (more U shaped across the tire- flatter in the center) required a lot more input to get the bike to roll over in turns. Once there though it held a line really well.

Tires Directional Arrows Explained By Avon Tyres​

​

Published by Cyril Huze August 23rd, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Wheels.​

Before we can talk about directional arrows you must first understand a bit about tread patterns.​

There are many different tread patterns but there is one main reason to have any tread and that​

is to disperse water. (dust, dirt)​

A tread pattern can be designed to disperse more water by making it rotate in only one direction.​

Thus, the need for directional arrows. The arrow tells you which way to mount a tire for maximum​

water dispersal. Another, less apparent reason for directional arrows is the tread splice.​

What is a tread splice? When a tire is manufactured the tread portion of the tire starts out as​

a long flat strip. This strip is wrapped around the tire and the two ends are cut on an angle​

so one end overlaps the other rather than having square cut ends.​

This overlapping point or splice offers a bigger surface area to bond together, rather than the​

small surface area provided by square cut ends. (Imagine gluing your fingertips together, as​

opposed to gluing along the entire length of your fingers laid on top of each other. Like an​

angled splice, the overlapping fingers result in a much stronger bond).​

To further ensure the strength of this bond along the tread splice the directional arrow will show​

you which way to mount the tire so that when the rider is “on the gas”; the acceleration force on​

the rear tire is pressing the splice together, rather than peeling it back.​

As for braking, 80 % of the braking should take place in the front on most bikes. Therefore, the​

front tread splice is run in the opposite direction than that of the rear, so when the rider is on​

the brakes, he’s not peeling the tread splice back.​

If you are using a tire that has a directional arrow for rear rotation only and for some reason you​

want to put it on the front, make sure it is rotating in the opposite direction so you don’t​

aggravate the tread splice.​

Avon Tyres.​

 

[Lemieuxfan]

It has to do with the way the tires are spliced together (overlap). The rear is setup for acceleration forces, whereas the front is designed for braking forces. I found a more reliable explanation (than me ;-) below.

@1olbull is the first I know of to promote this tire and there are a lot of other fans. I tried it once. Loved the very deep tread, but personally found the shape (more U shaped across the tire- flatter in the center) required a lot more input to get the bike to roll over in turns. Once there though it held a line really well.

Tires Directional Arrows Explained By Avon Tyres​

​

Published by Cyril Huze August 23rd, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Wheels.​

Before we can talk about directional arrows you must first understand a bit about tread patterns.​

There are many different tread patterns but there is one main reason to have any tread and that​

is to disperse water. (dust, dirt)​

A tread pattern can be designed to disperse more water by making it rotate in only one direction.​

Thus, the need for directional arrows. The arrow tells you which way to mount a tire for maximum​

water dispersal. Another, less apparent reason for directional arrows is the tread splice.​

What is a tread splice? When a tire is manufactured the tread portion of the tire starts out as​

a long flat strip. This strip is wrapped around the tire and the two ends are cut on an angle​

so one end overlaps the other rather than having square cut ends.​

This overlapping point or splice offers a bigger surface area to bond together, rather than the​

small surface area provided by square cut ends. (Imagine gluing your fingertips together, as​

opposed to gluing along the entire length of your fingers laid on top of each other. Like an​

angled splice, the overlapping fingers result in a much stronger bond).​

To further ensure the strength of this bond along the tread splice the directional arrow will show​

you which way to mount the tire so that when the rider is “on the gas”; the acceleration force on​

the rear tire is pressing the splice together, rather than peeling it back.​

As for braking, 80 % of the braking should take place in the front on most bikes. Therefore, the​

front tread splice is run in the opposite direction than that of the rear, so when the rider is on​

the brakes, he’s not peeling the tread splice back.​

If you are using a tire that has a directional arrow for rear rotation only and for some reason you​

want to put it on the front, make sure it is rotating in the opposite direction so you don’t​

aggravate the tread splice.​

Avon Tyres.​

thanks for that write up very detailed but I am going to respectfully pass on this option

 

[Devildawg]

Has anybody used the cruisetec tires

I am curious about this as well. Anyone?

 

[Dewy]

Has anybody used the cruisetec tires

Very good on my gl1800 front, at least as good as Avon Cobra Chrome which I have used for 15 years now.