General Cycling Discussion - Tire On Backwards? How Would I Check?

Sorry for such a newbie question but here goes...

I read somewhere that someone bought a bike and the tire was on backwards. We bought a bike that was already put together...how do I check to make sure the tire is not on backwards? Also, when putting a tire on, how do I make sure I put it on correctly? (front tire).

Thanks!

Some tyres are directional. It will usually have something printed on the wall of the tyre indicating that it should roll in one direction. Check the walls of your tyre. If it doesn't show that it is directional then leave it. If it is on the wrong way just take it off and install the right way.

I don't think it matters which way you put the tire on unless it has some special asymmetric tread. Personally, I've never paid attention to the orientation of my tires.

I would only be concerned with this issue if I had a set of offroad tyres with a really special tread pattern that was designed to do something it's only able to do in one direction. In every other case, it doesn't matter.

If you are really picky, orient your tyres so that the label is aligned with the valve, facing the right-hand side.

This also helps if you get a puncture.... You can find the puncture in the tube, and then 'match' it to the spot on the tyre that the glass/thorn/etc. might have come through.

In all honesty though, you don't need to worry too much. I've never known a bike to be dangerous, just because the tyres were on the wrong way.

This is a rare thread...a newbie asked a newbie question (as he said himself) and no-one ridiculed him. Congrats to all!

. . .This also helps if you get a puncture.... You can find the puncture in the tube, and then 'match' it to the spot on the tyre that the glass/thorn/etc. might have come through. . . .



I've been using that method for several months, damian. Good tip.

For tire orientation, if the tire has any sort of Vee pattern, the Vees should be pointing towards the front when you look at the top of the tire, just like the tread on a farm tractor. It's probably meaningless on the front tire, and not very important on the rear, but that's how it should go.

If the tires are directional, then there is usually an arrow on the tire which indicates which way they should spin.

If the tires are directional, then there is usually an arrow on the tire which indicates which way they should spin.

The vast majority of tires with arrows have no reason to be mounted in one direction or the other.

If you are really picky, orient your tyres so that the label is aligned with the valve, facing the right-hand side.


Can you explain this please? Sounds useful but I am not sure what you mean when you write "orient your tyres so that the label is aligned with the valve, facing the right-hand side".

Can you explain this please? Sounds useful but I am not sure what you mean when you write "orient your tyres so that the label is aligned with the valve, facing the right-hand side".

check this image (googled image not mine)
http://www.xootr.com/xootr/swift/images/productshots/wheel-closeup800.jpg

The lable of the tire is in front of the valve it will help match the poncture in the tube with the tire so you can check for debrit in the tire.

Can you explain this please? Sounds useful but I am not sure what you mean when you write "orient your tyres so that the label is aligned with the valve, facing the right-hand side".


The purpose of aligning the label with the valve stem is for when you are fixing a flat and have the tire removed. Matcing the puncture area in the tube with the tire will help in finding the object (thorn, nail)that caused the flat quicker. Otherwise, you may need to search the entire suface of the tire to find the object.

The alternative is to notice what is close to the valve stem or mark the valve stem location as you take the tire off.

Also it looks cooler :P

Remember that if you have directional-tread, it actually aims in opposite directions depending upon whether it's on the front or rear wheel...