Tires on backwards - advice please!!
03-04-08, 01:32 PM
#1
Contrapuntal
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Tires on backwards - advice please!!
Goofy newbie question - I changed a flat the other morning, and I just noticed that there's a little arrow embossed on the tire that says "rotation -->"
Of course, I put the tire on so that it reads "<-- noitator" when the tire is rolling forwards. IOW it appears I put the tire on the rim backwards. Is this a problem I must fix:
1. NOW! BEFORE RIDING ANOTHER BLOCK OR OMG YOU WILL DIE DIE DIE!!
2. later tonight, after getting home, but before tomorrow's commute
3. over the weekend
4. only if I'm feeling all OCD and "<-- noitator" bothers me
It's a touring bike with Specialized tires - v. light tread. Handling has sometimes seemed a little wonky going fast but it's been windy.
Of course, I put the tire on so that it reads "<-- noitator" when the tire is rolling forwards. IOW it appears I put the tire on the rim backwards. Is this a problem I must fix:
1. NOW! BEFORE RIDING ANOTHER BLOCK OR OMG YOU WILL DIE DIE DIE!!
2. later tonight, after getting home, but before tomorrow's commute
3. over the weekend
4. only if I'm feeling all OCD and "<-- noitator" bothers me
It's a touring bike with Specialized tires - v. light tread. Handling has sometimes seemed a little wonky going fast but it's been windy.
03-04-08, 01:35 PM
#2
RacingBear
I would go with option 4. People will argue this to death, but I think for the most part it doesn't really matter.
03-04-08, 01:43 PM
#3
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03-04-08, 01:56 PM
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You Must Change It Now! Lest Fire And Brimstone Consume Thee!
03-04-08, 01:56 PM
#6
RacingBear
03-04-08, 02:08 PM
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Just flip it over next time you get a flat. If you never get another flat, then it is worth never flipping.
03-04-08, 02:11 PM
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If a tire is meant to rotate in a particular direction, I would make sure that it is. Just change the tire around.
03-04-08, 02:11 PM
#9
aka: Mike J.
I'd go with number 2 since you posted. If you hadn't posted I'd go with number 3, but then I wouldn't have known about it so that rules out number 3. But then you did take the time to type in rotation backwards, so that puts you into category number 1 
. If you hadn't posted and hadn't noticed then I'd pick number 4. If it were me and my bike I'd just do number 2 and not post about it.
. If you hadn't posted and hadn't noticed then I'd pick number 4. If it were me and my bike I'd just do number 2 and not post about it.
03-04-08, 02:16 PM
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That tire is going to be constantly fighting you the whole ride, trying to roll in the opposite direction. Probably scrubs at least 5mph off your avg speed.
03-04-08, 02:16 PM
#11
J E R S E Y S B E S T
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I wouldn't bother, unless its a mountain bike with an aggressive tread.
Change it next flat, if you can remember ( I don't )
Change it next flat, if you can remember ( I don't )
03-04-08, 02:51 PM
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Is it a front tire or a rear tire? If it's a front you can just take the wheel off the bike, flip it around and you're done. If after doing that, it bugs you to have the QR on the "wrong" side, you can flip that to the other side just by taking it apart, and putting it back together from the other side, leaving the wheel on the bike.
Of course me, being the way I am, I wouldn't be happy until I flipped the tire on the rim. With the label on the tire being lined up with the valve stem.
Of course me, being the way I am, I wouldn't be happy until I flipped the tire on the rim. With the label on the tire being lined up with the valve stem.
Last edited by CommuterRun; 03-04-08 at 03:08 PM.
03-04-08, 02:55 PM
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The solution is obvious. Ride backwards. You will have to work on your drivetrain a bit or make it a fixed gear but that is the obvious solution.
03-04-08, 03:10 PM
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If it is the front tire just pop a wheelie and ride home like that. If you are going to have to go with data's solution or what nick burns said will happen.
03-04-08, 03:11 PM
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Like directional automotive radials of old, the direction of your tire rotation is essential to the integrety of the tire. Running it in the opposite direction from intended, you risk tread disintegration at cruising speeds, and the entire tread cap is likely to peel.
Wear competition downhiller knee/shinguards to protect yourself from the inevitable tire shrapnel.
Post pictures of yourself in said protective gear so we can be assured of your safety.
*crosses fingers* Oh please let this work.
Wear competition downhiller knee/shinguards to protect yourself from the inevitable tire shrapnel.
Post pictures of yourself in said protective gear so we can be assured of your safety.
*crosses fingers* Oh please let this work.
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03-04-08, 03:24 PM
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Pedaled too far.
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03-04-08, 03:25 PM
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03-04-08, 04:04 PM
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only if it was a snow or echelon treaded tyre. If it was some semi slick or slick you won't even notice.
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Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
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03-04-08, 05:20 PM
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[QUOTE=CommuterRun;6278815]Is it a front tire or a rear tire? If it's a front you can just take the wheel off the bike, flip it around and you're done. If after doing that, it bugs you to have the QR on the "wrong" side, you can flip that to the other side just by taking it apart, and putting it back together from the other side, leaving the wheel on the bike.
But then the hub print reads backwards, that would bug me
But then the hub print reads backwards, that would bug me
03-04-08, 05:28 PM
#21
always rides with luggage
Your bike might catch fire. Remount the tire IMMEDIATELY!!!
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--Ben
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03-04-08, 08:58 PM
#22
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It is, except in the case of mountain bike tires, mostly a cosmetic issue.
And the whole "grooves in a tire to push out the water" thing only works on cars where the leading edge of the tire runs perpendicular to the direction of travel, and the contact patch is (essentially) a rectangle. At high speeds this causes hydroplaning because (if there are no grooves in the tire) the water has nowhere to go.
A bike tire has an ovoid contact patch and, as such, doesn't suffer from hydroplaning except at very high speeds. And no tread will save you if you hit water slicked road paint.
If you care about appearances, and/or looking professional I'd say align your tire labels with your valve hole on your rim and on the drive side of the wheel. But, that won't really affect performance.
And the whole "grooves in a tire to push out the water" thing only works on cars where the leading edge of the tire runs perpendicular to the direction of travel, and the contact patch is (essentially) a rectangle. At high speeds this causes hydroplaning because (if there are no grooves in the tire) the water has nowhere to go.
A bike tire has an ovoid contact patch and, as such, doesn't suffer from hydroplaning except at very high speeds. And no tread will save you if you hit water slicked road paint.
If you care about appearances, and/or looking professional I'd say align your tire labels with your valve hole on your rim and on the drive side of the wheel. But, that won't really affect performance.
03-04-08, 09:03 PM
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03-04-08, 09:06 PM
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03-04-08, 09:16 PM
#25
Call me The Breeze
It won't make a difference. Of course, if you've already read this far you could've changed it back by now.