CBRWorld.net

So I'm replacing my worn out D208s with the new BT016s. I had them mounted today and when I got home I noticed that the rear was put on backward. Well, that got me investigating and I found out that the rear was indeed mounted backwards (the arrow on the tire is pointing the wrong way). The curious thing is that I thought the front was mounted backwards too, but it looks like the tread patterns are opposite. Check out the stock Gix (which comes OEM w/BT016s):

http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/146_0806_2008_suzuki_gsx_r600/photo_08.html

I don't know how else to describe it except that the pattern is pointing opposite of forward roll. Does that make sense?

Then if you look at the rear, the tread pattern is pointing in the direction of forward roll:

http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/146_0806_2008_suzuki_gsx_r600/photo_07.html

I can't find any info on the useless Bridgestone site. Anyone have these tires and/or have an opinion?

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Mawfaki #24/8

Yeah, I get what you mean.  It does look strange on the front.  The only thing I can think of is that may be we're stuck on thinking in terms of car flat tires.  It makes sense that rolling forward the grooves should be channeling the water out of the tire center.  However car tires are always flat and their foot print looks perpendicular to the direction of motion.  Bike tires are rounded and our print actually looks parallel to vector of motion.  Especially the front tire being so narrow and rounded may be it doesnt need the channeling. 

You're probably right. I have the shop fix the rear tire and now I've got everything back together. Next is the break-in. I've heard really good things about these tires so when I actually get some meaningful time on them I'll write a mini-review.

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Mawfaki #24/8