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Post by zogworts on Mar 11, 2015 13:31:21 GMT -5
When it comes to tires can you use a rear on the front of the scooter? I was looking at either the Michelin Power Pure SC or the Pirelli Diablo's for my scoot. I have a xy260t so I am looking for something that has a good speed rating. I use the bike as a commuter when the weather is good. Almost every site that I have looked at only has them listed as rear tire but both my front and rear are 130/60 13. Would I be able to purchase two "rear" tires and have one mounted up front. How would that change the handling characteristics of the scoot?
Any help on this would be great. Also has anyone used these tires or have a better suggestion?
Thanks
ZOG
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Post by ramblinman on Mar 11, 2015 15:18:45 GMT -5
i have the same size tires on my scoot and ran into this problem recently. i ended up ordering 2 Shinko's 130/60-13.
i would either get a different tire or a slightly different size (as long as you're certain it will fit)
i wouldn't put a tire on the front that was designed for the rear.
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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 13, 2015 0:05:08 GMT -5
My scoot (a Kymco Grandvista 250) uses a 140/70/12 rear, and a 120/70/12 front. I have a Michelin Power Pure on the rear, and a Shinko on the front... The reason is purely cosmetic. I wanted whitewalls and NOBODY makes a P-rated whitewall 140/70/12. But Shinko DOES make a P-rated 120 (and 130/70/12 whitewall).
I painted the whitewall on the Michelin. Both tires handle to perfection after 1,200 miles on them. I'm certain the Shinkos are the same tires, whether in their "rear" 130, or "front" 120/70/12. I'm not sure about the Michelin, but I am sure BOTH tires handle great, and are "P" rated (92mph).
My dealer, knowing my reason for mixing brands, researched them with manufacturers and chose the Michelin Power Pure to match up with the Shinko at their recommendation, and because the Power Pure has a nice "edge" to the sidewall for painting... LOL!
So long as the sizes are right, I can't see a problem with two "rears"... Maybe on a 200 mph crotch-rocket specialized front and rear tires might be needed, but at  mph or less on the freeway, on a 250-300 cc scooter I wouldn't worry much.
For the record, the aging old GrandVista tops out just over 80 on the level, with no wind. She'll run 65 to 70 up and down hills and as smooth as one could want. In town, she's as nimble as a Chinese 150, and it's worth noting the P-rated tires are far superior to J-rated tires, even at slow speeds. They're just better all around.
Several riders here have also found certain 12 and 13" AUTOMOBILE tires work great, particularly on the rear.
At least, I can highly recommend BOTH the Shinko AND Michelin Power Pure tires... All on the same scoot!
Here is a side-view of mine. The two tires are as different as can be. The Shinko having a vintage-style street tread, the Power Pure being almost a grooved "slick" but together, they work beautifully! Smooth, no shake, no shimmy, they grip well (the Shinko grips slightly better on wet, the Michelin grips slightly better on dry) and they both skid straight and true if I lock the brakes.
I think you'd be happy with either tire at both ends. Please be sure to have them balanced. My dealer did a great job and my aging "Minnie Mouse" runs as smooth and comfortable at 70 mph as my old Harley baggers of the seventies.
Ride safe!
Leo in Texas
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Post by Jarlaxle on Mar 14, 2015 10:14:33 GMT -5
This is pretty common, running a "rear" tire in front...though everyone I know doing this (mostly Goldwings) reverses the tire on the front. (Note that many tires designed for either wheel are SUPPOSED to be reversed in front.)
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Post by hillbillybob on Mar 14, 2015 15:29:42 GMT -5
I think you'll be just fine with the Michelin....found this link giving available sizes for the Pure Power. Notice that the 130/60 13, is in both the list of front tires sizes, as well as the list of rear ones. link |
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Post by zogworts on Mar 14, 2015 16:30:34 GMT -5
Thanks for the responses everyone. I ended up going with these Pirelli SL 26 since they were designated for both front and rear. So quick question for you Jarlaxle . How would I know if the front one of these should be reversed? |
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Post by Jarlaxle on Mar 15, 2015 7:35:49 GMT -5
If so, they will have TWO arrows on the tire, usually marked "FRONT" and "REAR". (And the reviews seem to indicate that yes, Pirelli recommends they SHOULD be reversed in front.)
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Post by 1parrot2 on Apr 25, 2015 11:24:56 GMT -5
I always heard, that is a bad idea, to switch tires. Front for rear. In fact, my tires have a specific size so one can't enter change them. The back is a 120/ 10 and the front is a 110/ 12. When I buy the tires, they say front tire only or rear tire only. The grooves in the tires, make them act differently if put on the wrong tire. May cause a accident. So I would not change the tire, from what the manufacturer suggests. |
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Post by 1parrot2 on Apr 25, 2015 11:43:35 GMT -5
Also if you get into an accident, your insurer might not cover the accident.
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Post by dmartin95 on Apr 25, 2015 11:56:40 GMT -5
i have the same size tires on my scoot and ran into this problem recently. i ended up ordering 2 Shinko's 130/60-13. i would either get a different tire or a slightly different size (as long as you're certain it will fit) i wouldn't put a tire on the front that was designed for the rear. I 100% agree with ramblinman... I would not run a tire designed for the rear, on the front... And visa~versa.... |
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Post by keikara on Apr 25, 2015 12:49:12 GMT -5
I have a rear tire on the front of my scooter, had 130/60/13 and I went to 130/70/13 and am using the Michelin City Grip, have the tire installed the way the arrow points, have noticed I have better grip and maneuverability with these tires on than I did with the original tires and they were going bald after only about 2500 miles. Like oldchopperguy stated unless you are on an actual motorcycle going faster than these scooters can go I don't see any issues running a rear on the front.
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Post by scooter on Apr 25, 2015 15:52:04 GMT -5
I would guess running a rear on the front is okay, but running a front on the rear might be bad because the rear tire takes a lot of weight and is the pusher, so I'm guessing it's a stronger tire than ones made for the front. Unless it's all about the tread pattern or tire profile. Some people say to mount the tire backwards if you put it on the front because the back one is made to push and the front one is designed to brake. I have no idea. The more I think about it, the more I agree with Martin.
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Post by dmartin95 on Apr 25, 2015 23:38:02 GMT -5
The more I think about it, the more I agree with Martin. I read a really nice write up on the subject hosted by motorcyclesuperstore.com, however I just spent the last 15 minutes and can not find the link to save my life... Anyhow, to summarize, it was an in depth write up on this subject with the Article taking to the position that it can put a rider into a very dangerous situation where traction is concerned. A lot of people disregard manufacturer warning and instructions.... For example: Scoots call for 91 or higher Octane, but yet you will always find Joe Blow saying the manufacturer don't know what they're talking and 87 grade is just fine "because they do it all the time".... If a scoot manufacturer calls for 10w40, again, you will find Joe Blow telling people Oil weight don't matter and you could run chain saw bar oil if ya wanted... I've seen people actually recommend fish tank hose as a substitute for fuel lines... They said "It would be cool, it's clear"....  It's these kind of trivial things that people make complicated... My approach is this.... If the manufacturer calls for X, operate the device per X's instructions. The manufacturer is the one who actually makes the stuff and might just happen to be "experts" in the area... So why people disregard a manufacturers intended purposes or disregard warnings is a mystery to me.... But hey, to each their own and for all I know, all these alternative may actually be right... I just prefer listening to the manufacturer. |
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Post by novaraptor on Apr 27, 2015 9:07:47 GMT -5
My mc-79-250 uses 130/60-13s front and rear. I don't know about reversing the direction on the front. AFAIK, the arrow on the tire indicating rotation direction is there for two reasons, one, it indicates the orientation of the tread for grip and water displacement, and two, it indicates direction of the interior belt construction for direction of stress (though that may only apply to bias ply tires). I hadn't heard that the front should be reversed, and see no reason why that would apply..Just my couple o' cents worth..
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Post by Jarlaxle on May 9, 2015 8:23:32 GMT -5
I have never seen a dual-position tire that WASN'T intended to be reversed in front.
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mph or less on the freeway, on a 250-300 cc scooter I wouldn't worry much.
