Conti Road Attacks

[REAPER]

Well, I'm off of 'em now. I put a new set of RA's on my FJR Friday and guess what?
I noticed the front tire tread was backwards. I check the directional arrow and it pointed forward.   I placed the old, front road attack next to the new, (defective) front road attack with the tread patterns pointing the same direction and the "directional arrows" on the sides of the tires were pointing in different directions. So the directional arrow and the tire tread were contradicting each other.  
Very Poor quality control.  
I've remounted the front tire so that the tread pattern is correct and will use it up on the Colorado trip, and I already have a set of Avon Storms ready to go on when I get back.  
I am sick of changing tires for now.
So, it's on to Avons Storms.

[kevin_stevens]

Well, I'm off of 'em now. I put a new set of RA's on my FJR Friday and guess what?
I noticed the front tire tread was backwards. I check the directional arrow and it pointed forward.   I placed the old, front road attack next to the new, (defective) front road attack with the tread patterns pointing the same direction and the "directional arrows" on the sides of the tires were pointing in different directions. So the directional arrow and the tire tread were contradicting each other.  
Very Poor quality control.  
I've remounted the front tire so that the tread pattern is correct and will use it up on the Colorado trip, and I already have a set of Avon Storms ready to go on when I get back.  
I am sick of changing tires for now.
So, it's on to Avons Storms.

Well... There have been many threads on this issue; apparently Continental reversed the tread direction intentionally to mitigate a cupping problem.

So - hate to tell you, but it was mounted correctly the first time; the sidewall marking is what you're supposed to follow, not the tread marking.  It isn't a quality control issue in that the tread was installed incorrectly on your particular tire.  I would agree that there's a design issue and if they want the tire to spin that way they should change the molds.

KeS

[Lawn Dart]

Actually, Conti's design on having the "reversed tread" is quite intentional and has something to do with the way the tire clears water.  Avon has made comments about this reversed tread as well - IIRC they used that same concept of a reversed tread on the front tire of the new Storms.

Anyway, yes, to confirm KS - the reversed tread is quite intentional and there for a reason.

[MK96xj]

I questioned Conti on this when i got my tires. Do a search for my thread on this to see their response.

I have never had an issue with the front for cupping and or wet traction with the reverse direction.

Here is the link:

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,3588.0.html

[BlueRidgeKat]

Well... There have been many threads on this issue; apparently Continental reversed the tread direction intentionally to mitigate a cupping problem.

I wonder if it would have helped the headshake on the ZZR from the day I put them on till the day they went in the trash as well ?

I'll never have another set.

Running Bridgestone BT021's now and its smooth as silk at any speed, just as it was with the Dunlops that were on it before the Conti Road flops.

[kevin_stevens]

I questioned Conti on this when i got my tires. Do a search for my thread on this to see their response.

I have never had an issue with the front for cupping and or wet traction with the reverse direction.

Here is the link:

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,3588.0.html

I do think that, however Continental spins this, it isn't really a very professional approach.  For those who don't aren't familiar, the tread on these tires actually has several small specific directional mounting arrows molded in, and they do now directly conflict with the similar arrows on the sidewall.  It's not just a matter of the overall tread pattern looking backwards.

KeS

[whoaru99]

Tires should be mounted according to the sidewall arrows, not according to tread patterns.

Just had a set put on and they were put on according to the sidewall arrows - and yes, the tread on the front is opposite of that on the back.

I have to admit, I did think about it for a while, but then decided that I didn't know if the tread pattern arrow-looking things actually meant something or were merely decorative. So, I went with the no-mistake-about-it arrows on the sidewall.

BTW, I have 800 or 900 miles on a new pair of RA and like them so far. They're only my 2nd set of tires though...