Tire rotating wrong direction
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 3
From: Long Island, NY
Hey skooba are ya kidding? The dealer should be happy to make good on the error for no charge! They should be happy that there was no accident caused by the mismounting that they would be liable for. And by the way the tech/dealer should inspect every job when finished before releasing to the cust
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Fort Stockton TX
Thanks for all the great replies. I don’t have the option of going to the dealer because he is 100 miles away (the closest one), and I am ridding this weekend. I don’t think the wheel is directional but the valve stem is on the left side now. The tire does not show any odd wear but I do have a spare, I might just stick it on.
Thanks again. Always great info here.
Thanks again. Always great info here.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,198
Likes: 3,087
From: NW AR
What's written on the tire near the arrow? It's usally "Direction for Front Tire Rotation" and an arrow or something like that. Or does it say "rear tire"? I can't remember what mine say. You are supposed to mount the rear tire in the opposite direction to the front tire rotational direction. The valve stem on my bike is on the left for the front tire and on the right for the rear tire. However, if your front tire is truely backwards at this point, I'd leave it alone. If you didn't notice anything in the first 6K miles, I'd say that the next 6K miles won't bother you either and by then it will be time for a new one anyway.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 886
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
I wouldn't recommend running it backwards any more than you have to. And surely not another 6000 miles, to me that's just bad advice.
Make the dealer aware of their mistake whether they fix it or not. Than take corrective action yourself to fix an unsafe condition.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs
ask at any dealership or shop if they will pop it off and flip it. Mine was the wrong way when I bought it and I never noticed it till I was having some warranty work done at a different dealership and they told me it was wrong and that they fixed it. I have had dealings with three dealerships here in colorado and have never had a problem.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 378
Likes: 0
I wanted to say 2 things.
Tires originally had arrows on them because they were finished with an "overlap". The arrow made sure the top of the overlap went "rear-facing" at the top of the tire, instead of "front-facing" (or slamming into the road as the wheel turned). This was to keep the rubber from pulling away at the overlap and peeling off the tire and slamming into you, the bike, etc.
The MAIN reason for the tire arrow NOW is is so that when you remove the tire after RIDING for 6000 miles (and creating a wear pattern), you won't put it on BACKWARDS... and cause rough handling or damage by trying to overcome the wear pattern.
And lastly, as everyone said... some manufacturers claim their pattern goes through water BEST in one direction only.
That being said, take it back to the dealer, and ask them what they are going to do... and remind them that they are lucky that your WIDOW is here ASKING what they are going to do about installing your tire backwards!!!!
Tires originally had arrows on them because they were finished with an "overlap". The arrow made sure the top of the overlap went "rear-facing" at the top of the tire, instead of "front-facing" (or slamming into the road as the wheel turned). This was to keep the rubber from pulling away at the overlap and peeling off the tire and slamming into you, the bike, etc.
The MAIN reason for the tire arrow NOW is is so that when you remove the tire after RIDING for 6000 miles (and creating a wear pattern), you won't put it on BACKWARDS... and cause rough handling or damage by trying to overcome the wear pattern.
And lastly, as everyone said... some manufacturers claim their pattern goes through water BEST in one direction only.
That being said, take it back to the dealer, and ask them what they are going to do... and remind them that they are lucky that your WIDOW is here ASKING what they are going to do about installing your tire backwards!!!!
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 782
Likes: 0
From: Central Oregon
At least your dealer put the tires on the right wheels. My dealer put the front on the back wheel, back on the front...now that's frickin stupid.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,287
Likes: 3
From: murfreesboro tn.
did they mount the tire wrong or install the wheel backwards? if its just the install rite it and go on. if its the tire mount then return it but be aware 6k before seeing it will be hard to get them to own up!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
You are supposed to mount the rear tire in the opposite direction to the front tire rotational direction.
The valve stem on my bike is on the left for the front tire and on the right for the rear tire.
However, if your front tire is truely backwards at this point, I'd leave it alone. If you didn't notice anything in the first 6K miles, I'd say that the next 6K miles won't bother you either and by then it will be time for a new one anyway.
The valve stem on my bike is on the left for the front tire and on the right for the rear tire.
However, if your front tire is truely backwards at this point, I'd leave it alone. If you didn't notice anything in the first 6K miles, I'd say that the next 6K miles won't bother you either and by then it will be time for a new one anyway.
saying to leave it alone cause he hadn't noticed anything in the first 6k miles is bad advice. you can drive for 1000 miles at 110 mph in a pouring rain with no problem, but that 1001 mile can be a real bitch! it needs to be fixed, and fixed right. my safety, is worth that much. if you don't think yours is, well, thats your prerogative. not to mention that 12k is hardly broken in on a front tire. im just about due to replace mine and its at 25k.