Tire Question

spectra

XS400 Junkie
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Ok all my other tires go the same direction........well just got a set of Kenda 657 Cruisers and well they are opposite of one another......is this normal to people ? In the picture the directional arrows on the tires are going the same direction. There is a front right and back left tire in the pic.

Maybe I am just being weird but figured I would ask.

Thanks!
IMG_5735.jpg
 
Are those both rear tires? One looks like a different tire. What are the manufacture dates? I always go by the arrow on the tire.
 
For racing, we can put the sprocket on both sides of the rim, we just flip the rear tire since we only turn left most tracks. They’re directional but it doesn’t matter because we don’t ride in the rain.
 
Are those both rear tires? One looks like a different tire. What are the manufacture dates? I always go by the arrow on the tire.

Nope the tire on the left is marked rear its a 120/90 16 one on the right is marked front and is 100/90 18 as for dates cant find any. The front tire does have the center marks that the rear does not. They are both the same Kenda tire or at least marked the same. Who knows I bought them from Bike Bandit and well they dont have any technical support what so ever.......
 
As far as your pictur, flip the rear around and you’re all good. That’s the way that style of tire is designed to run. Right now in your picture, the tire on the left is backwards.
 
As far as your pictur, flip the rear around and you’re all good. That’s the way that style of tire is designed to run. Right now in your picture, the tire on the left is backwards.

That is why I posted.......those are almost the same as the Shinkos and well after seeing that I questioned it.......I wonder if somewhere the QC messed up? these were made in Taiwan after all.......I have a call into Kenda but probably wont hear back.
 
The Heidenau K34s on my bike don't have any directional arrow on them. It took me a few days to decide what direction to mount them lol. I Looked at other bikes with the same tires installed to get an idea, mainly vintage BMWs.

I always thought that if you ran tires backwards, you would risk wrecking the internal weaving and thus making the tire more prone to failure.
 
All the kenda tires I have has a directional mark and a date code in them. This one is marked 4715 Which means 47th week of 2015. 90/90-18 would be the stock size tire for our bikes. Keep that in mind as your speedo will be a little off.
 

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All the kenda tires I have has a directional mark and a date code in them. This one is marked 4715 Which means 47th week of 2015. 90/90-18 would be the stock size tire for our bikes. Keep that in mind as your speedo will be a little off.

Thanks and no speedo on this bike so no worries there........

But I received a answer got a call from Kenda today and well the tires are correct......they just reversed some of the patterns on certain tires after feedback from riders and R&D I guess.......anyway I am not going crazy yet ;) lady said she gets the same question a lot.........
 
This is a race bike then?

Yeah right :D no its just a little 400 cafe that I just run around on here and there.......yeah no speedo may be illegal but will see how it goes. I have a tach on there and can swap it out if need be.

This one is what it is the 130 on the rear rubbed the chain ever so slightly so had to go down to the 120.....

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Something as small as going from a 110 to a 120 is a massive change in handling and essentially how easy it is to push the bike down and drag a peg. If I wasn’t racing my xs400s, I’d get the factory sizes. Now I have 4” rear and 3.5” front and it’s not fun unless I’m in the dirt and sideways
 
For racing, we can put the sprocket on both sides of the rim, we just flip the rear tire since we only turn left most tracks. They’re directional but it doesn’t matter because we don’t ride in the rain.
Please, why would you put the sprockets on both sides? What is the reasoning?
 
Please, why would you put the sprockets on both sides? What is the reasoning?

Do you read?

We CAN put it on both sides. Means the disc can be on either side too. One side of the tire wears, we flip to the other side (tires are expensive and only can be bought at track)

It’s called quick change hub
 
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