I'm with Baffler1 on this. I've owned 4 businesses over my lifetime and every time I made a mistake I made it right. The dealer made the error. Never mind pro ratings or hard feelings. The dealer should do whatever it takes to correct the problem that they created.

 

You can't just flip the wheel. I just went through that where a dealer mounted the tire correctly, but put the wheel on backwards. It caused a high speed wobble at 60 to 70mph and was also unstable below that speed.

The wheel goes on so that the valve stem points out to the right, opposite the lean of the kick stand.

It is easy to make a mistake and put it on incorrectly as it will fit, and also at one point HD (in 07) started mounting disc rotors with L marked on them on the right side of the bike, and disc rotors marked R on the left side of the bike, to decrease brake noise.

Take it back to your dealer and tell him to wake up the mechanic that did this, so he doesn't do it again.

 

I wouldnt flip the wheel either for reasons as stated AND the possibility that the wheel hub width on each side of the wheel may be different (meaning spacing between the forks) AND that could throw everything off including you. Riding the tire backwards is dumb if you ask me, any length of time is going to create another wear pattern, so when you did flip it back you will have more problems, then you will eventually be buying another tire in a few thousand miles. That is if you dont crash, winter is here real quick. I hope you get my point.

 

Ride backwards?

 

I cannot believe most everyone is just flaming the dealer for mounting the tire backwards. S*&t happens, everyone makes mistakes. There is not one single person on this forum that hasn't made a mistake. But when one rides his own bike for 6000 miles before realizing it was mounted backwards, well that doesn't say to much for properly checking out your equipment before you ride.
(every time, not just once in a while)
Just because you spend alot of money with your dealership does not exhonorate you of the responsibility for the mechanical integrity of your own bike.
You not only put yourself at risk, but every other person on the road.
Should the dealer make it right for you after 6000 miles? I personaly think they should, but it should be pro-rated because YOU chose to ruin the tire by riding it for 6000 miles. If I were the dealer, I'd say we would pay 50% because we mounted it wrong, and you would pay 50% for riding it 6000 miles before checking your tires. shame on both of us!
just my .02

 

If the Valve is on theleft side, they mounted the tire correctly, then the wheel incorrectly. Valve stem should be pointed to RIGHT side, so when the bike is on the jiffy-stand it points out at you and is easy to access.

Reverse the wheel.

PS Wheel on wrong cause funny wobbles at speed too. (or at least mine did!)

 

You might luck out and your speedo will start erasing the milage.

 

Well, on MY BIKE, the front valve is on the left. Now on you guys with the new-fangled disposable bikes, maybe YOUR valve stems are on the right (for the front).

Grass Roots Motorsports had an article on directional car tires some time back. They mounted them backwards and tested them thoroughly, including in the wet. Bottom line was that there was virtually no difference in traction and lap times. Mounting the correct way provided a very slight advantage, especially in the wet, but that's only when pushing the tire at 10/10ths on a race track.

Taking it to the dealer that did the tire and pointing it out and asking them what they want to do about it is certainly a good idea, but after a third to half the tire life is already used up without him even noticing, how bad can it be here? I merely suggested what _I_ would do. Do what you want.

 

I agree on some, but not on all of this. Your delaer or any mechanic for that matter, IS RESPONSIBLE for doing a job RIGHT. NO IF"S AND"S OR BUT"S about it. If they screw up and the customer gets hurt or killed because of their doing a job incorrectly, THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE. Yes, the owner should have noticed that his tire was wrong before 6k miles were on them. But that does NOT relieve the dealer of responsabilty of them doing a POOR JOB!

 

The valve stems on the front and rear wheel on my 08 are dead center pointing straight up twords the axle.
(Laced Chrome Profile & pain in the a$$ to check too)
I really guess it all depends on what type of wheeles you have