Rear Michelin Commander on front?

[tbmmbt]

Went to the store to have a new 130/90-16 installed on the front rim of my 1600 Nomad. After the tire was changed out from old to new, rolled the tire to put in the back of the truck and noticed the one they had installed on my rim said “rear” on the sidewall. Only one they had. Thought I had read on the forum that a rear tire can be installed on the front only when the direction is reversed upon installation onto the rim. Correct? The guy said he would take the tire off and turn it around if that is what I wanted so I said sure turn it around. I haven’t put the rim and tire back on the bike but I thought I would come here to make sure everything is OK. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[mick56]

https://us.v-cdn.net/5017260/uploads...4hd47e5ku5.jpg

[Scoot13]

I have read the same about installing the front tire backwards.

[Jllm02199]

Rear tires have the belts laid in different than front tires. Rear tires are made to stand up to acceleration. Front tires are more for braking.

[tbmmbt]

So does it mean I should use it on the front backwards install on rim or not at all???

[Tortuga]

I'm not a tire engineer, but it seems to me there must be a reason manufacturers designate tires as for the front and for the rear. I know people put every kind of tire there is on bikes and live to tell about it, but why tempt fate when you can easily buy that size tire as designed for the front. I wish there was a tire specialist here to discuss this, not just "civilians" who venture opinions. I mean no offense to anyone, but want to hear from a schooled expert.

[gmartin]

I see no reason to doubt the tire manufacturer about this.

For liability reasons alone, putting a tire marked rear on the front is begging for trouble. Doubt any installer I know would even do that.

[Jllm02199]

I wouldn’t put a rear tire on the front.

[recumbentbob]

Originally Posted by tbmmbt

So does it mean I should use it on the front backwards install on rim or not at all???

If you Use it on the front mount it backwards. The reason people use a rear on the front is to get longer wear, but with all the newer tires wearing longer than they used to I see no reason to do it.

When people run a car tire on the rear it's called the dark side running a car tire rear and a rear tire on the front is Double Dark side.

[tbmmbt]

I know about the tires lasting longer as the one that was on there had 20 k on it with a little tread left but I was going to Montgomery, AL and the dealer in Huntsville told me they had a front 130/90-16 on their shelf so I took my rim off and dropped by and they installed the tire on my rim. Didn’t have any tire locally. When I went back in there to show them the “rear” on the tire they looked but there wasn’t a front tire anywhere so that is why they turned the tire around and reinstalled. When looking at the old tire looking the correct direction and the rear tire in the backwards direction, the tread pattern looks the same so I assume it should handle the water dispersion the same. Now I was wanting to know if both tires which when installed looking the same should the handling characteristics be the same or is there something in the tire makeup that will change the handing to a point that there will be a difference in the way it handles. I am 400 miles away from the dealer so taking it back would be a pain.

[MAS Tequila]

Stop over thinking this and ride.

I put many thousands of miles on backwards facing rear tires mounted on the front without any issues.

There was a time when Metzlers site said to run it backwards with all of the technical reasons.

[tbmmbt]

Hi Mas. Yes I am probably over thinking it. Have heard of many using rear tires on the front backwards but just wanted reassuring from some who have been there done that with no repercussions.

[rick6375]

I have a Shinko 777HD rear mounted backwards on my 2012 Voyager, along with a Yokohama Avid Envigor car tire on the rear. The Shinko now has 13,000 miles on it, and honestly, the only difference I noticed was that it seems to dive into a turn easier after replacing the front Shinko that was on there. I have 12,900 miles with this tire and looks to be only 1/2 worn, nearly double what I've ever gotten before with a normal front tire.

[Jllm02199]

I have 22,000 on my Michelin commander II’s. Probably get another 5,000 out of them.
Still very smooth. Dyna beads.

[mick56]

Originally Posted by Jllm02199

I have 22,000 on my Michelin commander II’s. Probably get another 5,000 out of them.
Still very smooth. Dyna beads.

That is incredible. I cant even get the 5,000 out of a back one.