By not turning it yourself you are almost definitely waiting too long to get it turned.

In the southern mud its usually turned once the first edge has gone.

I've never met anyone who could get on a bike and tell if it was fitted with or against the arrow.

But. I always fit mine the right way to start!

I always fancy a turned X11 tyre (after one or 2 outings) gave more grip than a brand spanker. I convinced myself the side wall etc needed softening up. New X lights seem spot on as new.

The tyre will perform differently depending on which way round you fit it, it is to do with the weaving of the belting and the order in which its laid to make the carcase. The difference in performace on a trials tyre is so minute you won't feel it.

Polish the arrow off with a flapper disc (same as you do with "not for highway service") Using a tyre wrong way round on the road is an offence and an MOT fail.

Bikes not registered and I don't ride on the road so no problems there. It was one of those situations where you think you know exactly what you're talking about and then someone who is "in the know" tells you a total opposite and makes you stop what you were going to do.

Its getting turned then and with the new improved level of grip I'll obviously win on the next trial

I always fancy a turned X11 tyre (after one or 2 outings) gave more grip than a brand spanker. I convinced myself the side wall etc needed softening up. New X lights seem spot on as new.

i always felt that a totally shagged Dunlop gripped better than a new one did

I think we all turn tyres unless you get them for free but what beats me is why none of the bike designers have used hubs that can have the sprocket and disc swapped round so the wheel can be used in both directions.

Makes perfect sense to me.

No doubt i`m going to be told that you already can on some bikes.

They do it in speedway, I've seen them reverse a wheel after an unsatisfactory start to get a new edge. Obviously there's no brake disk to worry about!

I remember the Talons hubs which I think were pretty universal and reversible. However to be honest I could probably turn a tyre on the rim much faster than swapping sprocket and disc.

Couple of spanners and allen keys weigh a lot less to carry than a compressor and tyre mousse. Your not still on innertubes by any chance?

Nobody turns a tyre during a trial so why mention carrying tools. Sprocket and disc bolts tend to be loctited in so 8 bolts to warm and remove, clean,re apply loctite. Definitely easier to turn a tubeless tyre.

A worn or turned tyre can give more grip in certain circumstances than a new one. Its down to contact area and effective space between knobbles.

Edited November 12, 201312 yr by dadof2

i always felt that a totally shagged Dunlop gripped better than a new one did

I've got just the tyre for you perce, its been nicely bedded in pottering around scotland for 6 days, then turned it for the reeth 3 day. It should feel about right!

No problems with the turned tyre today other that the usual inadequacies of the rider, strangely turning the tyre didn't stop me being bloody knackered on the last 5 sections! Enjoyed myself today!