Darkside front.

[da prez]

  I searched and could not come up with a specific tire.  I need specifics for a front darkside on a 99 Interstate.  Also , is it mounted to run in reverse.

                                                 da prez

[Jess from VA]

I vaguely remember this being discussed some time ago.

There is (or used to be) a website where you could type in a tire size (like the Valk front 150/80-17), and compare tires of similar size.

I love my 205 60 Rears, but I wouldn't want a car tire on the front.

Although my soon to be new Metzler CruiseTec front will be around $300.  And if it's like the ME880 and ME888, will only last me 7-8000 miles.  

I found that website Ross.    https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc?tires=150-80r17-140-75r17

[da prez]

  It is for one of the bikes I work on.  I run Metz on mine.

                                                 da prez

[ridingron]

"I love my 205 60 Rears, but I wouldn't want a car tire on the front."

Front darkside usually refers to running a "rear" motorcycle tire on the front wheel.

[sandy]

Rear tires are under the most stress during acceleration. When mounting a rear tire on the front, the stress under braking. SOOOO, yes, mount it in reverse direction.

[Jess from VA]

"I love my 205 60 Rears, but I wouldn't want a car tire on the front."

Front darkside usually refers to running a "rear" motorcycle tire on the front wheel.

OK, now my recollection is refreshed.

Because I have never been able to get more than 7-8K on front tires (that I trust; with softer compounds), I long ago tried a rear tire on the front (reversed on the wheel, to avoid 'cord stacking' on braking).  The idea being that rear tires all have more tread depth than front tires, so should last longer.

I can't remember the make and model of the one I chose, but instead of a 150-80-17, it was a 140-70-17, and while it did have a nice deeper tread, I was never happy with the handling and grip in turns and corners, and I changed back to a normal OE size front tire long before I wore it out (experiment fail).  It wasn't terrible, but it made me nervous.  Having and riding 2 Interstates (one with a normal OE size front tire), the difference was significant to me.  But it may have been more a matter of the tire compound than the size difference that I didn't like so much.

And I'm not saying no rear on front will work, only that mine didn't to my satisfaction. 

The tire size comparison that shows up in the link I provided above is the rear on front I tried compared to an OE tire.  

[Jims99]

I used the Bridgestone BATTLAX BT46 on the front of my tourer, only put about 6-7 hundred miles on it but so far I like it. Handles great. Only issue is it throws off the speedometer a bit more than stock.

[Challenger]

Rear tires are under the most stress during acceleration. When mounting a rear tire on the front, the stress under braking. SOOOO, yes, mount it in reverse direction.

That makes sense too. I was told by a tire rep that grooves are designed to channel water away from center of tire. If reversed, it would cause hydroplaning.  I have no idea, Thats just what he said

[NewValker]

I tried one on my VTX, just like Jess said, had to get 1 size smaller.  Don’t remember the make, but I didn’t get anymore miles out of it than the Avons.
And I scraped bottom a couple of times on speed humps. My .02, not worth it, and yes, install reversed.

Craig