Author Topic: Tyre fitment  (Read 184 times)

Offline Yetanotherbike

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Tyre fitment
« on: October 11, 2026, 12:38:14 PM »
Can I ask for some advice please good people.

I wanted to replace the tyres on my CBF500. Couldn't find any tyre depots on the island (Anglesey) that supply and fit bike tyres . I called a local motorcycle dealer, who said he doesn't supply tyres but he will fit tyres to loose wheels if I supply them at £22 per wheel . Ordered a pair of Bridgestone Battlax from Black Circles and took them to the shop on Monday for fitment.
He said they'd be ready at the end of the week. Went to collect the wheels on Saturday and noticed one of the wheel spacers was missing. He started arguing the toss but eventually conceded it was missing and agreed to get another one. That was annoying because that's another week I will be without my bike, which means another week commuting in the car.
Unloaded the wheels from the car when I got home and I noticed that the direction of rotation arrow of the tyre on both wheels appears to be pointing the wrong way.
Before I go back and to the shop and give them a piece of my mind, can I just double check that I am right as this always helps during an argument!
Picture with the sprocket which is mounted on the nearside like most are (But not all) turns anti clockwise when viewed from the near side.
Picture showing the front disc is viewed from the offside as the disc is mounted on the offside of the bike and the wheel rotates clockwise.
I'd be grateful if anyone can confirm my suspicions. Many thanks


Honda CB400F2 (yellow)
Triumph Daytona 995i
Honda CBF500
180 Laverda Jota
Laverda 750 Formula S
Kawasaki 900 Z1A
Morini 3 1/2 Sport
BSA C15
MV Agusta 125 1959 (project)
Honda CB400/4 F2 (project)
Saab 900 Turbo
Saab 96v4 Rally replica
Audi 100 Coupe S

Offline McCabe-Thiele (Ted)

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Re: Tyre fitment
« Reply #1 on: October 11, 2026, 01:56:35 PM »
I do know that on my 400 the rear tyre (Dunlop) is marked with a rotation arrow for rear fitting , when viewed from the left side follows the anti-clockwise rotation of the wheel.

My front tyre however is effectively reversed for front fitting, to maximise the grip for braking as opposed to accelarating on the rear tyre. There is a marking on the right side showing an arrow for front fitting

iIt could be that some tyre brands  are constructed differently.

That rear tyre is definitely wrong.

« Last Edit: October 11, 2026, 02:13:41 PM by McCabe-Thiele (Ted) »
Honda CB400NA Superdream (current money puddle)
Honda CB500 K1 (second money pit)
https://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,28541.0.html
Honda CB400 four super sport (first money pit)
Link to my full restoration http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,23291.0.html
This is a neat 500 restoration in the USA.
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,151576.msg1731556.html#msg1731556

Offline Skoti

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Re: Tyre fitment
« Reply #2 on: October 11, 2026, 02:10:28 PM »
Can I ask for some advice please good people.

I wanted to replace the tyres on my CBF500. Couldn't find any tyre depots on the island (Anglesey) that supply and fit bike tyres . I called a local motorcycle dealer, who said he doesn't supply tyres but he will fit tyres to loose wheels if I supply them at £22 per wheel . Ordered a pair of Bridgestone Battlax from Black Circles and took them to the shop on Monday for fitment.
He said they'd be ready at the end of the week. Went to collect the wheels on Saturday and noticed one of the wheel spacers was missing. He started arguing the toss but eventually conceded it was missing and agreed to get another one. That was annoying because that's another week I will be without my bike, which means another week commuting in the car.
Unloaded the wheels from the car when I got home and I noticed that the direction of rotation arrow of the tyre on both wheels appears to be pointing the wrong way.
Before I go back and to the shop and give them a piece of my mind, can I just double check that I am right as this always helps during an argument!
Picture with the sprocket which is mounted on the nearside like most are (But not all) turns anti clockwise when viewed from the near side.
Picture showing the front disc is viewed from the offside as the disc is mounted on the offside of the bike and the wheel rotates clockwise.
I'd be grateful if anyone can confirm my suspicions. Many thanks

Had it not been for the photos you included in the posting, your experience would have seemed unbelievable.

Are there any proper motorcycle dealers in Anglesey?


« Last Edit: October 11, 2026, 02:29:53 PM by Skoti »
Skoti


Motorcycling is Life, anything B4 or after is just waiting...

1976 Honda CB750F1

Offline taysidedragon

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Re: Tyre fitment
« Reply #3 on: October 11, 2026, 05:36:29 PM »
Both are definitely wrong. My Triumph front tyre was fitted the wrong way round when I bought it.
Gareth

1977 CB400F
1965 T100SS

Offline McCabe-Thiele (Ted)

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Re: Tyre fitment
« Reply #4 on: October 11, 2026, 06:26:56 PM »
C.W.C  fitted my 400 front tyre the wrong way round.
To their credit they collected my front wheel, returned it a few days later, all f.o.c.
Honda CB400NA Superdream (current money puddle)
Honda CB500 K1 (second money pit)
https://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,28541.0.html
Honda CB400 four super sport (first money pit)
Link to my full restoration http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,23291.0.html
This is a neat 500 restoration in the USA.
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,151576.msg1731556.html#msg1731556

Offline Yetanotherbike

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Re: Tyre fitment
« Reply #5 on: October 11, 2026, 06:45:06 PM »
Thank you very much gentlemen for you opinions, it's very much appreciated.  After my experience of the so called motorcycle dealer so far I will ask for my money back and the cost of the wheel spacer that they lost and go elsewhere. Sadly I have zero confidence or trust in them. I would like to keep it local but It's no hardship going to the mainland, but it just means more time and mileage.
Honda CB400F2 (yellow)
Triumph Daytona 995i
Honda CBF500
180 Laverda Jota
Laverda 750 Formula S
Kawasaki 900 Z1A
Morini 3 1/2 Sport
BSA C15
MV Agusta 125 1959 (project)
Honda CB400/4 F2 (project)
Saab 900 Turbo
Saab 96v4 Rally replica
Audi 100 Coupe S

Offline Yetanotherbike

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Re: Tyre fitment
« Reply #6 on: Today at 01:19:04 PM »
I returned the wheels to the shop this morning. I was half expecting an argument, but to be fair he was very apologetic and offered to have them remedied straight away. But I declined as I have lost confidence in them, and since tyres are the only things between me and the road I need to be 100% they will be fitted correctly. I drove to Bangor and left them with a tyre depot there.
Honda CB400F2 (yellow)
Triumph Daytona 995i
Honda CBF500
180 Laverda Jota
Laverda 750 Formula S
Kawasaki 900 Z1A
Morini 3 1/2 Sport
BSA C15
MV Agusta 125 1959 (project)
Honda CB400/4 F2 (project)
Saab 900 Turbo
Saab 96v4 Rally replica
Audi 100 Coupe S

Offline Ken4004

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Re: Tyre fitment
« Reply #7 on: Today at 01:53:11 PM »
I do know that on my 400 the rear tyre (Dunlop) is marked with a rotation arrow for rear fitting , when viewed from the left side follows the anti-clockwise rotation of the wheel.

My front tyre however is effectively reversed for front fitting, to maximise the grip for braking as opposed to accelarating on the rear tyre. There is a marking on the right side showing an arrow for front fitting

iIt could be that some tyre brands  are constructed differently.

My front Tyre again Dunlop was also fitted the wrong way around, to be honest I never really checked it when it was fitted to the wheel but some months later when I finally fitted it to the bike I noticed the arrows on both sides of the tyre for front and rear fitting which I have never come across before but after being initially confused I did my research and discovered the front and rear fitting instructions.
Anyway I was thinking how much difference could it make but the nagging doubt in my head made me take them to another tyre fitter and get it changed to the correct way around.
I am fairly sure that in the dry you probably couldn’t tell the difference but in the wet that would be a different story because as I understand it tread pattern being the wrong way around would effect the tyres ability to disperse surface water.

Another lesson learned I suppose !

That rear tyre is definitely wrong.