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Tires mounted the wrong way

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by macnifico, Jan 24, 2009.

  1. macnifico

    macnifico Member

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    Hi!
    I can't use the '81 Yamaha Seca until I have all the paper work done.
    But I was looking at it today, and noticed that the tires (Challenger by Kendo) have the indicating arrow pointing the wrong way.
    Both tires have the arrow pointing backwards.
    Is there a problem with this? I suppose that they won't work as well as they should, but... Is it dangerous?
    I only ride it occasionally, Should I take it to a mechanic so the tires face the right way?



    REAR TIRE
    [​IMG]


    REAR TIRE 2
    [​IMG]


    FRONT TIRE
    [​IMG]



    Saludos desde Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico!
    macnifico
     
  2. Robert

    Robert Active Member

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    As I understand it, reversing the tire rotation from it's designed direction leads to squirrely handling, not a safe condition. I'd get those tires switched back before something unpleasant happens.
     
  3. MiCarl

    MiCarl Active Member

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    According to our Avon rep, the arrow has to do with the direction the belts lap. If I recall correctly they directional arrows set the tires up so that acceleration tends to tighten the rear belt and braking tends to tighten the front belt. In this case it would make sense to switch them.

    I saw at least one manufacturer web site that stated that changing the direction the tire was originally run at was bad. The arrow was simply to ensure that if it was re-mounted it wouldn't be reversed. In this case it would be best to leave them alone.

    How's that for an answer?

    If it were me I'd go easy on them until I got them replaced. Odds are they're old anyhow.
     
  4. wizard

    wizard Active Member

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    Hi amigo, read the section 'removal & fitting of tyres' it is not the least bit ambiguous. TYRES Wiz.
     
  5. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    It's not just the belts it's the tread pattern, the "V's" are pointing the wrong way... The tires don't look all that worn, if you plan to continue to ride on them I would most definitely have them mounted correctly as soon as possible.
     
  6. schooter

    schooter Active Member

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    the PO didn't know whether he was coming or going
     
  7. macnifico

    macnifico Member

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    Thank you all for your replies!
    Both tires look like they have at least a half life ahead of them, but AFAIK, the motorcycle was left in the open for a few YEARS. So the sun, the rain, etc. maybe affected the rubber compound of the tire.
    Does anyone uses this tire brand? Challenger by Kenda? Are they any good?
    Should I buy them?
    Thanks again! I'll put them right ASAP!
    Saludos desde Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico!
    macnifico
    .
    ..
    ...
     
  8. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    If you plan to replace the tires you can do a lot better than the Kendas. I would recommend Dunlop or Avon myself, I believe Yamaha fitted Bridgestones originally.
     
  9. bill

    bill Active Member

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    If they sat out for a couple years you really should replace them.
     
  10. schooter

    schooter Active Member

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    im going to ride on the wild side and not replace mine!!! they have good tread.... inspected them for cracks... none my tires are weird though, i thought the front was on backwards, cuz the v's are opposite, but the arrowis right... probably some poor chinese brand, forge the name...
     
  11. rotax74

    rotax74 Member

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    my friend has a buell firebolt and had harley davidson put on a rear tire. 3 weeks down the road his tire was showing threads right down the middle. looked at the tire and the arrow was backwards. took it back to harley and they had to replace a 200 dollar tire for putting it on backwards.
     
  12. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    What on the Max or this Honda project? You weren't riding highway speeds on the Maxim if it has its original tires were you?
     
  13. macnifico

    macnifico Member

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    Once again, thank you all for your input.
    I will buy new tires but that is the 3rd thing in my to-do list.

    1st - Make the motorcycle legal, new license plates, etc.
    There has been a gitch in this, because the mexican federal goverment raised the import taxes by 300% and in some cases 400% this January 1st. That makes prohibitively expensive to buy a used car or motorcycle in the USA.
    Apart from that, they use their own list, so they do not tax you what you paid, but what they think you should have paid, considerably more.
    Maybe I'll just slap the scooter license plate on the Yamaha... :x

    2nd - Rebuild the front fork suspension.

    3rd - Buy new tires. (Bridgestone, Kendas? Something not too expensive, mainly for city and highway use).



    Saludos desde Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico!
    macnifico
     
  14. macnifico

    macnifico Member

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    After further checking, I saw a "477" on the rear tire.
    If not mistaken, that would be the 47th week of 2007, November 2007.
    Right? So the tires are not THAT old. :D
    So the PO changed the tires, but put them backwards... :?
    Saludos desde Reynosa.
    macnifico
     
  15. schooter

    schooter Active Member

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    no on my honda... pretty sure im not riding origional tires on my maxim... not sure tho...
    the rear tire on my honda still has the thin plastic going down the middle of the tire... just need some air
     

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