After I mounted my Continental Road Attack I noticed something...

[Rocklee]

I even 'gulp" went to the dealership afterwards to have them check my mounting work and the shop lead mech with thirty-five years experience said he had never encountered the reversed tread relative to arrow direction. He stated that arrow is what he would follow even if the tread is the reverse of the rear tire. I am steamed.

[powert]

Originally posted by Bob Hancock
This is strange. Both side and tread arrows on my tires point forward, as does the pointy part of the tread when viewed from the top.
PS...go here and look at which way the pointy ends point. This pic tells me they're supposed to both point the same way. Am I right?
http://www.conti-online.com/generator/www/de/en/continental/motorcycle/themes/motorcycletires/sport/sportattack/contisportattack_en.html

The pic you reference is the SportAttack but if you look at the RoadAttack picture they are pointing in different directions. Here is a pic.

QUOTE]Originally posted by Rocklee
Got mine from Competition Accessories. Powert seems to have the same issue as mine but I'm not sure whether his front tire would roll in the reverse pattern flow in comparison to the rear tire tread flow. [/QUOTE]

My front is in a reverse pattern compared to the rear. I believe I purchased mine from Tire Express.

[Rocklee]

Good work Powert. Bob, do you have RoadAttacks or SportAttacks?

[Bob Hancock]

I have Road Attacks! So maybe mine are backwards. But the side arrows, and the tread arrows for that matter, all agree. Something's not right. Well.....I've got nearly 1000 miles on the set, and they seem to handle and wear fine, so I'll probably just use 'em up. But.....this is the last set. Just too wierd for this ole man.
PS....why would the Road Attacks and Sport Attacks have the same general tread pattern, but swap them around for the front?

[Rocklee]

Sorry Bob, but maybe your tire is mounted correctly as well. Maybe this is a case of ongoing development and research of which we are a part. One thing is evident ...a sure way for a tire company to expand their tire line-up is to switch the direction of the previous tread design...."If your real quiet maybe they won't notice".

[powert]

I posted the following on the Continental Motorcycle website.

I am inquiring about the tread orientation for a 120/70-17 ContiRoadAttack. I recently mounted the front and rear. My question centers around the front tread pattern/tread pattern arrow and the sidewall directional arrow. With the sidewall arrow oriented properly the tread pattern and arrow are pointed to the rear in relationship to the rear tire. Here is a picture of my front tire. http://f-22raptor.smugmug.com/photos/122933030-M.jpg
Is the tire orientation correct as it is mounted or does it need to be changed?

[Bob Hancock]

Originally posted by powert
I posted the following on the Continental Motorcycle website.
BIG SNIP

Please let us know what they say.

[Skippy]

The R1200R comes factory fitted with road attacks and they are fitted with the thread pointing forward. I also have them on my R1200R and they are fitted like in this picture. Don't totaly agree with the shop mech though cause I've seen numorous tires with the thread pointing backwards at the front(like metzeller mez33).

[powert]

Originally posted by Bob Hancock
Please let us know what they say.

I will pass on any correspondence.

[powert]

Originally posted by powert
I will pass on any correspondence.

Drum roll please....

Hi Troy!
Thanks for purchasing a set of Road Attacks for your bike! Please follow the rotational arrows printed on the sidewall of the tire for correct rotation. The tread design has nothing to do with the rotational direction of the tire.

Thanks again and safe riding!
Best Regards,
Greg Reich
Continental Tire North America, Inc.
Sales Manager/Motorcycle Tires
P.O. Box #105
39 E. Main St.
Suite #117
New Albany, OH 43054
Tel: 614-855-6960
Fax: 614-855-6961
E-Mail: greg.reich@conti-na.com
Website: www.conti-moto.com

And there you have the response from the North American Sales Manager.

[Skippy]

Well I think that's realy realy weird so the thread design has nothing to do with handling, the way water is being guided away from the tire etc. etc. just there for cosmetics and they don't seam to care witch way it's around for cosmetic purposes. I wouldn't go along with this explanation if most road attacks have threads the other way around(if not all at the shop) they should take it back. I also don't get from his response that he understands that there are road attacks out there with different thread patterns directions compared to the direction arrow he just seams to be saying don't look at the thread but at the direction arrow and you can't go wrong(unless they f'ed up in the factory that is).

[powert]

I agree that he did not really address the question that I asked.

[Bob Hancock]

If you decide to reattack, you might refer to this thread....let the guy read what we've been saying/asking about.

[Skippy]

Yes I was thinking the same thing Bob. It can never be good if your customers are confused and some by this confusion are even thinking of getting other tires in the future if I read correctly because the different directions in tire thread makes them think there's some sort of quality control Issue. I do think the Road Attacks on my R1200R drive realy nicely though but must admit that this issue also disturbs me a bit.

[Rocklee]

It is certainly news to me if tire tread design or directional orientation does not matter on street going motorcycles! If this is the case street motorcycle tire design has set-back 70 or more years! I do not believe any of this to be the case. In short..he had to have misunderstood the question.

[powert]

I just sent another email to Greg Reich.

Greg,

I appreciate your rapid response. I have always went by the sidewall directional arrow but I am requesting a little clarification on this. It appears that there are others that have the same question particularly within this forum thread. The bulk of discussion centers around the differences that individuals have noted on their Road Attacks. Apparently there are some with the same size front tire that have a different orientation concerning the sidewall directional arrow and the actual tread orientation. Simply put I and at least one other have one configuration and there are at least a couple of others with the opposite. My question is what is the correction tread orientation with relation to the sidewall arrow? Should tread sipe come to a point in the same direction as the sidewall arrow or should the tread sipe pattern come to an open configuration.

Thanks,
Troy

[jclark]

As another data point, my SportAttacks agree sidewall & tread edge as well:



Purchased and mounted June 2006.

jeff

[powert]

Here is his second response;

Hi Troy!
I apologize for the confusion, but in mid 2006 Continental Germany made a mid-year production change and reversed the rotational direction of the front 120/70ZR17 Road Attack. Continental Germany is always testing and re-testing to further refine their products and after extended research Continental Germany found that reversing the rotation of the tread allowed for slightly better tread wear. Thus no mistake has been made, all Continental motorcycle tires should always be mounted in accordance with the directional arrow that is printed on the sidewall of the tire.
Safe Riding & Best Regards,
Best Regards,
Greg Reich
Continental Tire North America, Inc.
Sales Manager/Motorcycle Tires
P.O. Box #105
39 E. Main St.
Suite #117
New Albany, OH 43054
Tel: 614-855-6960
Fax: 614-855-6961
E-Mail: greg.reich@conti-na.com
Website: www.conti-moto.com

[boxercup]

Greetings,

So as we know marketing speak pablum, Conti did this to avert early tire wear and thus loss of sales.

With this 180 reversal what are the affects on SAFETY, GRIP and your LIFE. Not to mention Lap times.

I have not been a fan of this tire and at INTERMOT they had a naked Lady at their booth being body painted to draw attention to the Attack.

WOW

[ckcarr]

As long as it doesn't blow at 150 mph