Rear on Front

talon · 12-11-2012, 08:15 AM

I added this post to a previous thread a week or so ago with no activity so I thought I'd try again. I did search through the old threads to try and find an answer first, but I either missed it or couldn't find it. So, here goes; I recently put the Michelin Commander II 180/65/16 on the rear on my 05 Nomad and am very happy so far. I want to go with the same brand of tire on front but they don't make them in the correct size for front. I don't want a narrower tire on front. The OEM size is 150/80/16. Michelin has a Commander II that size as a REAR tire. Is there an issue with putting a tire that is marked as a rear tire on the front? Need to know.

The service man said no one had ever asked and he would have to check that out himself because he was uncertain. He had seen some tires that could be mounted either way, but did not know if ANY tire could be done so. Any body ever tried this?

Thanks,
T

Bud2rat · 12-11-2012, 08:29 AM

Heath, yes the tire will mount on the front. When mounting the tire, have it mounted in the reverse thread pattern. Many have done this. Also, you should get more mileage from this tire, because it has a little more thread depth. Good luck.

**MAS Tequila** · 12-11-2012, 08:39 AM

I put the 130/90 on the front of mine. I like the handling much better. It seems to lean and turn quicker.

MT

Netnorske · 12-11-2012, 08:59 AM

Yes, you can put a rear tire on the front, but as mentioned, you need to simply reverse the tire rotation. Jared has been running rear tires on the front of his Nomad like that for a long time....

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**wolfmil042370** · 12-11-2012, 09:10 AM

Why do you have to reverse the tire rotation on the front?

cactusjack · 12-11-2012, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfmil042370

Why do you have to reverse the tire rotation on the front?

It has to do with the way it channels water on a wet road surface.

talon · 12-11-2012, 09:31 AM

Narrower tires seem to grade rutts in the road worse than the wider tires IMO. No offense to those that like skinny tires up front. But how much different is the 130/90/16 compared to the 150/80/16? I am not in any danger with the front tire yet. But I will need to change it out some time in the next 500-1000 miles. Now that the weather has actually gone below freezing for the first time this year though, I might have more time. LOL

VulcanE · 12-11-2012, 09:59 AM

There's quiet a few who do it, read over this thread, it's got some good info in it.
http://www.vulcanbagger.com/forums/s...metzeler+tires

**MAS Tequila** · 12-11-2012, 01:09 PM

It has more to do with the way the carcass is made. A rear is made for acceleration loads, where a front is made for braking loads.

The Metzler homepage used to have a good write up .

MT

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfmil042370

Why do you have to reverse the tire rotation on the front?

**MAS Tequila** · 12-11-2012, 01:12 PM

I've put about 4000 miles on this particular 130/90 with absolutely no rut problems. Including a 700+ highway ride down here to south FL.

The worst I've ever run up front, as far as ruts, was a 150/80 Dunlop.

I've run 150s and 160s rear and front on the front, I'm sold on the 130/90. It feels lighter and seems to turn quicker.

MT

Quote:

Originally Posted by talon

Narrower tires seem to grade rutts in the road worse than the wider tires IMO. No offense to those that like skinny tires up front. But how much different is the 130/90/16 compared to the 150/80/16? I am not in any danger with the front tire yet. But I will need to change it out some time in the next 500-1000 miles. Now that the weather has actually gone below freezing for the first time this year though, I might have more time. LOL

12-11-2012, 08:15 AM	#1
talon Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Van Buren, AR Posts: 462	Rear on Front I added this post to a previous thread a week or so ago with no activity so I thought I'd try again. I did search through the old threads to try and find an answer first, but I either missed it or couldn't find it. So, here goes; I recently put the Michelin Commander II 180/65/16 on the rear on my 05 Nomad and am very happy so far. I want to go with the same brand of tire on front but they don't make them in the correct size for front. I don't want a narrower tire on front. The OEM size is 150/80/16. Michelin has a Commander II that size as a REAR tire. Is there an issue with putting a tire that is marked as a rear tire on the front? Need to know. The service man said no one had ever asked and he would have to check that out himself because he was uncertain. He had seen some tires that could be mounted either way, but did not know if ANY tire could be done so. Any body ever tried this? Thanks, T __________________ Heath Cady aka "Talon" VBA #01416 2012 Vaquero SE Candy-Lime Green/Black aka "T'Kehla" 2005 Nomad 1600 Black/Silver aka "Mystique" (SOLD) 2006 Vulcan Classic aka "Lil'Wolf" (SOLD) "Life isn't a race; no one gets out alive. May as well slow down and enjoy the ride." Login or Register to Remove Ads
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12-11-2012, 08:29 AM	#2
Bud2rat Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: St. Pauls, NC Posts: 2,089	Heath, yes the tire will mount on the front. When mounting the tire, have it mounted in the reverse thread pattern. Many have done this. Also, you should get more mileage from this tire, because it has a little more thread depth. Good luck. __________________ Robert Torrey VBA# 02077 Vroc# 27672 1996 800A Customized (SOLD) 2001 1500 Nomad (The Mistress) 2013 Voyager 2014 SE Rally - Elkins, WV 2016 SE Rally - Helen, Ga
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12-11-2012, 08:39 AM	#3
MAS Tequila Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Psychiatric Ward FL Posts: 3,429	I put the 130/90 on the front of mine. I like the handling much better. It seems to lean and turn quicker. MT __________________ MT 2016 FLHP Psychiatric Ward FL VBA 936
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12-11-2012, 08:59 AM	#4
Netnorske Top Contributor Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Everett, Washington Posts: 5,709	Yes, you can put a rear tire on the front, but as mentioned, you need to simply reverse the tire rotation. Jared has been running rear tires on the front of his Nomad like that for a long time..... __________________ *Kris Olsen* VBA #0691 2017 HD Ultra Limited Low 2013 Victory Cross Country Tour 2012 1700 Vulcan Voyager 2008 1600 Vulcan Nomad 1997 Vulcan 800 Classic *"Growing old is mandatory,* *but growing up is optional"* Custer 2009\|Kalispell 2010\|Cortez 2010\|Crescent City 2011\|Kanab 2012\|Canmore 2012\|Estes Park 2013\|Orofino 2014\|Lake Tahoe 2015\|Red Lodge 2016 Last edited by Netnorske; 12-11-2012 at 09:15 AM.
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12-11-2012, 09:10 AM	#5
wolfmil042370 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 108	Why do you have to reverse the tire rotation on the front? __________________ Robert Miller VBA # 02007 VROC # 34707 1999 Vulcan Nomad 1500 Green/Green Vance & Hines Dual Bagger Login or Register to Remove Ads
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12-11-2012, 09:31 AM	#7
talon Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Van Buren, AR Posts: 462	Narrower tires seem to grade rutts in the road worse than the wider tires IMO. No offense to those that like skinny tires up front. But how much different is the 130/90/16 compared to the 150/80/16? I am not in any danger with the front tire yet. But I will need to change it out some time in the next 500-1000 miles. Now that the weather has actually gone below freezing for the first time this year though, I might have more time. LOL __________________ Heath Cady aka "Talon" VBA #01416 2012 Vaquero SE Candy-Lime Green/Black aka "T'Kehla" 2005 Nomad 1600 Black/Silver aka "Mystique" (SOLD) 2006 Vulcan Classic aka "Lil'Wolf" (SOLD) "Life isn't a race; no one gets out alive. May as well slow down and enjoy the ride."
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12-11-2012, 09:59 AM	#8
VulcanE Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cartersville, Georgia Posts: 4,838	There's quiet a few who do it, read over this thread, it's got some good info in it. http://www.vulcanbagger.com/forums/s...metzeler+tires __________________ Cliff "VulcanE" Evans 2005 Blue & Silver 1600 Nomad VBA # 320 VROC # 20381
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