You can switch it around, but if you look closely at the tread pattern you will see that the knobs are positioned in an arc over the tire in a cupped fashion. If you turn the tire around it will be in the wrong direction. Poor traction is the result. I have switched my non-directional tires around for a fresh edge. This works for a couple of rides. I can't see buying a new tire for riding in the summer here in California. It is desert-like with alot of rocks. And dirt that resembles cement. Bad news for tires.
Darrin
The arcing of the knobs that darringer mentions is on the M12s, I don't think it's on the S12. The reason for the directional arrow is because of the bias belt and how it overlaps. A very very small chance of seperation where the belt overlap if you run the tire opposite of the arrow. Has any one out there ever seen tire damage because of this?
I turned the rear MS-11 (S-12 precursor, same thing?) on my KDX around and raced it that way. It wasn't until later I found the directional arrow pointing in the wrong direction. Never noticed anything different.
Don't take a chance if you are desert racing or doing high-speed riding, due to what Duane said about the belts. The tire will probably overheat and disintegrate.
I'm not a tire expert but 4/5 /6 ?years ago S. Crevier a roadracer for factory Kawasaki noticed his front tire was on backwards at Daytona, without time to change he ran it like that with no problems. Roadracers use alot of front brake. lol. So if it was my tire, I wouldn't worry about it.
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