Use an auto tire on the front wheel of a trike?

[FreeSwede]

My ride is a 1995 GL 1500 SE Roadsmith Trike. It is time for a new tire on the front wheel. I have heard that using an auto tire on the front wheel provides greater strength and increased mileage. I have also heard that some trikers put on a motorcycle REAR tire on the front but put it on backwards. I sure would appreciate getting some suggestions and recommendations on WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO REPLACE THE FRONT TIRE ON MY 1500 ROADSMITH TRIKE ?

[oldishwinger]

My ride is a 1995 GL 1500 SE Roadsmith Trike. It is time for a new tire on the front wheel. I have heard that using an auto tire on the front wheel provides greater strength and increased mileage. I have also heard that some trikers put on a motorcycle REAR tire on the front but put it on backwards. I sure would appreciate getting some suggestions and recommendations on WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO REPLACE THE FRONT TIRE ON MY 1500 ROADSMITH TRIKE ?

avon make a tire specific to the front wheel of a trike, definitely made to fit 1800 but not sure about 1500 but could be worth a look

[FreeSwede]

Thanks, Oldishwinger, for your response. I sure would appreciate it if you would put your comment on the site again, because I only got the very last part of one sentence, which was not enough to understand what you meant. Please let me have it again. Thanks !

[oldishwinger]

sorry about that not sure what happened, anyway I said that Avon make a front wheel tire, specifically for a trike, I know they are available for the 1800, but Im not sure for the 1500, but it could be worth a look.

good luck.

[terryt]

I have just had fitted a Avon cobra trike tyre on my 1500. not sure if you do notice any difference. but I didn't have any handling problems in the 1st place.

from what I can see is the tyre has a very slight flat profile.

[2manywings]

I've done many of these installations. The GL1800 and 1500 use the same size tire on the front. I've been using the Bridgestone BT-45 Battlax rear tire size 130/70-18 bias ply (Dennis Kirk $113.00). I know that guys are going to say that you should never run radial tires on the rear and bias on the front, but I'll assure you that GL1500 trike owners didn't run out and change their front tire to radial (as the 1500s only came new with bias tires), when they triked their 1500s. I've done many of these with no adverse effects. Being a rear motorcycle tire, they have considerably more thread depth which equates to more miles. The guys that are using this tire on the front as part of a "double darkside"(running car tires) move are getting upwards of 30,000 miles out of them if they're properly maintained and balanced. Michelin also offers a tire that they advertise a a trike front tire, but I don't know if it's anything more than a rear motorcycle tire. That's my $.02 worth!

[TwoTone Trike]

Running a Avon Cobra Trike tire on the front of my 99 1500 se. Can't say about longevity of the tire as I've only got about a 1000 miles on it so far. I do know that the ride is a lot smoother.

[chads920]

I just mounted my second Avon Trike tire on my 1500. I am happy with the handling, it is good with wet conditions and the feel is an improvement over other (rear) tire installs. I got good wear based upon the driving conditions I experienced. I will be starting on a 20,000 Km ride on the 27th July and I feel comfortable with this tire. I also replaced my rear tires with Canadian Tire SE3 - 205/70/15 (I believe they are made by Cooper ). A good rain tire with excellent tread pattern.

[FM-USA]

Car tires up front were used in the late 40s thru early 60s on HD's and Injuns. That's a lot of extra centrifugal weight to be turning with mere handlebars. That fad waned, thankfully.

Being a rear motorcycle tire, they have considerably more thread depth which equates to more miles. The guys that are using this tire on the front as part of a "double darkside"(running car tires) move are getting upwards of 30,000 miles out of them if they're properly maintained and balanced. Michelin also offers a tire that they advertise a a trike front tire, but I don't know if it's anything more than a rear motorcycle tire. That's my $.02 worth!

I use a rear 130/80-18 (stock is 130/70-18) up front. I'm hitting 35K to 39K mileage.

I'm going on my 3rd in a row Austone rear and getting 80K consistently.
Around 40K remove the rear & grease the splines. I've run into a minor issue, also at that 40K mark it COULD BE a good idea to reverse your high mileage car tires on the rear. Most of us 'throttle on' in the left had turns more than rights, this wears the left edge a bit faster. This balances that wear some.

[Ravyn]

A few years ago I had a 1993 gl1500 aspy. Had a lot of miles on that bike. Started out with stock tires.....phhtttttt !
Then had a radial on the rear and bias ply on the front, no problems at all. later I had a bias ply on the rear and a radial on the front. No problems with that either.
The last set was I used was two radials. They were Avon Venoms. This was the best set up of all. Handled very good.

What I have now on my side car rig is a Avon trike tire on the front. Very much smoother ride and it seems to steer easier. I have a Austone taxi tire on the rear. This seems to be a very good set up. The Avon trike is so much smoother on bumps then the Michlin Pilot Active I had on it.

[chads920]

Just got back from a ride across Canada and the USA put approximately 19000 Kilometres on my Avon trike tire and I'm very pleased with the handling and wearability.

[Ravyn]

Ok, I just got back from a month long 6,000 mile trip on my gl1500 side car rig.
I have a Avon trike tire on the front. It started out at 7/32nds of an inch and is now at 5/32nds. So as far as tire life goes this will be no better then a regular bike tire. There was a Michelin pilot active on it when I bought this rig and I don't know how many miles were on that tire but I put 10,000 miles on it before I left on my trip and it appeared to be about 3/4 of the way worn out. So I think the Michelin was wearing better but the Avon was smoother and the rig steered better.

On the rear I have a Austone Taxi Tire. I started out with 11/32 tread depth. After 6,000 miles it is down to 5/32nds tread depth so this is about half way worn out in only 6,000 miles. I am not to happy with the wear factor of this tire. It shows the same tread depth across the tire so it has been inflated properly. I got better mileage from a Dunlop E4.
Not sure how all you guys using this Taxi tire are claiming 30,000 miles from it cause it AIN'T gonna happen !!!!
I think when these tires are worn out I am going back to the Avon Venom radials which I have had really good luck with on my gl1800 and my previous gl1500.

[Ravyn]

My ride is a 1995 GL 1500 SE Roadsmith Trike. It is time for a new tire on the front wheel. I have heard that using an auto tire on the front wheel provides greater strength and increased mileage. I have also heard that some trikers put on a motorcycle REAR tire on the front but put it on backwards. I sure would appreciate getting some suggestions and recommendations on WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO REPLACE THE FRONT TIRE ON MY 1500 ROADSMITH TRIKE ?

When it comes to tire selection for a Trike or side car rig it's a whole different story.
Does your trike have the 6 degree raked triple trees or a leading link front end? Either one will make your trike easier to steer with the leading link a better option. What FM-USA has said is totally not true. Do a search for Trikes with leading link front ends and see what they are running for tires. You would be limited on tire selection for the front if you just have the raked triple trees. The Avon Trike tire would be a good choice.

[Ravyn]

Car tires up front were used in the late 40s thru early 60s on HD's and Injuns. That's a lot of extra centrifugal weight to be turning with mere handlebars. That fad waned, thankfully.

Being a rear motorcycle tire, they have considerably more thread depth which equates to more miles. The guys that are using this tire on the front as part of a "double darkside"(running car tires) move are getting upwards of 30,000 miles out of them if they're properly maintained and balanced. Michelin also offers a tire that they advertise a a trike front tire, but I don't know if it's anything more than a rear motorcycle tire. That's my $.02 worth!

I use a rear 130/80-18 (stock is 130/70-18) up front. I'm hitting 35K to 39K mileage.

I'm going on my 3rd in a row Austone rear and getting 80K consistently.
Around 40K remove the rear & grease the splines. I've run into a minor issue, also at that 40K mark it COULD BE a good idea to reverse your high mileage car tires on the rear. Most of us 'throttle on' in the left had turns more than rights, this wears the left edge a bit faster. This balances that wear some.

I don't believe you when you say you are getting 80,000 miles out of a Austone taxi tire. I have not seen anybody other then you claiming that kind of mileage !

[FM-USA]

Pulling a "Ripley's believe it or Not" huh.

Well...
I got My 91 at 51K miles. Installed 3 rear bike tires and averaged about 12K each. Rather expensive since I ride around 20K per year.

My first Austone I installed around
88,000+ miles on the odometer.
My second one I installed it at
168,100 miles.
I'm currently at 245,000 and still riding tho the wear bars are ALMOST touching pavement. I can easily ride it 3K to 4K miles more.
You can figure the mileage with basic math, it's real close to 80K per Austone.

I don't HOT DOG my Wing, I'm pretty much 90% backroad tootling rider, the rest expressway. So it's almost 100% EASY miles on my tires.

On that 'other Wing site' I may have documented the actual odometer when I changed the Austones, but no REAL interest at this time to prove anything.
ALL I can say is, "It is what it is"... believe it or not.

.

[Ravyn]

Pulling a "Ripley's believe it or Not" huh.

Well...
I got My 91 at 51K miles. Installed 3 rear bike tires and averaged about 12K each. Rather expensive since I ride around 20K per year.

My first Austone I installed around
88,000+ miles on the odometer.
My second one I installed it at
168,100 miles.
I'm currently at 245,000 and still riding tho the wear bars are ALMOST touching pavement. I can easily ride it 3K to 4K miles more.
You can figure the mileage with basic math, it's real close to 80K per Austone.

I don't HOT DOG my Wing, I'm pretty much 90% backroad tootling rider, the rest expressway. So it's almost 100% EASY miles on my tires.

On that 'other Wing site' I may have documented the actual odometer when I changed the Austones, but no REAL interest at this time to prove anything.
ALL I can say is, "It is what it is"... believe it or not.

.

YUP, I be pulling a Ripley If you really are getting that mileage that is fantastic. Not trying to start a war or anything and you certainly don't have to prove it. I ride between 20,000 and 30,000 miles a year just like you. That's one reason I went with the Austone but it ain't cuttin it for me. At 6000 miles it's damned near half way worn out.

[newday777]

EML out of England was offering a Leading Link front end for goldwing trikes that has a 14" car tire on it.
This one was on an 1800 I worked on a few years ago. The handling was vastly improved over the standard forks. It was coupled with a California Side Car Independent Rear Suspension trike kit. You could flick the trike around like melted butter.

[Ravyn]

EML out of England was offering a Leading Link front end for goldwing trikes that has a 14" car tire on it.
This one was on an 1800 I worked on a few years ago. The handling was vastly improved over the standard forks. It was coupled with a California Side Car Independent Rear Suspension trike kit. You could flick the trike around like melted butter.

I really like that EML leading link front end. If I could find one for my rig, a 1994 gl1500se with a CSC friendship 3 I would prolly spring for it.
I have been looking for awhile but to no avail.
I really do not like that flimsy looking leading link front end that DMC is producing.

[Big Blue UK]

EML out of England was offering a Leading Link front end for goldwing trikes that has a 14" car tire on it.

Should be standard on all Goldwing trike conversions, raking and Progressive springs are ok, but bleedin robbery for the money they charge.

[AntonioAntonio38]

EML out of England was offering a Leading Link front end for goldwing trikes that has a 14" car tire on it.
This one was on an 1800 I worked on a few years ago. The handling was vastly improved over the standard forks. It was coupled with a California Side Car Independent Rear Suspension trike kit. You could flick the trike around like melted butter.

Hellou, how is tire name and dimension? Thanks

[newday777]

EML out of England was offering a Leading Link front end for goldwing trikes that has a 14" car tire on it.
This one was on an 1800 I worked on a few years ago. The handling was vastly improved over the standard forks. It was coupled with a California Side Car Independent Rear Suspension trike kit. You could flick the trike around like melted butter.

Hellou, how is tire name and dimension? Thanks

I don't remember that now. It's been 8 years since I worked on it and he died crashing the trike a couple years later.
Look it up through EML out of the UK

[The Original Eggman]

I put a car tire on my girlfriends trike. She has a Honda CTX700DCT and the only car tire that fits hr front rim is the doughnut spare. No complaints yet.

[FM-USA]

I put a car tire on my girlfriends trike. She has a Honda CTX700DCT and the only car tire that fits hr front rim is the doughnut spare. No complaints yet.

NO
Wrong tread style and rubber compound.

[Rambozo]

Avon makes a purpose built trike front tire.

[GLRT]

All my trikes use only automotive tires front and rear. Super soft ride. Its nice