Directional Tires

[streethorse]

Last night I went to check my air pressure when I relized that I had my front
wheels on the wrong side of the car. The direction arrow pointing backward.
I had these wheels in storage for a while and did not notice when I put them
on. The back wheels were on right. I drove like that for over 1000 miles and
noticed no change in feel or handeling. I had always thought if you did
that you would have poor handeling or some bad effect. It never rains in Texas so I dont know how it would be on water.

 

[kid rock]

the directional bit of the tread is the bit that helps disperse the water, i once had my front ones on the wrong way round and when it rained i started sucking in water and aqua plaining all over the place,!


but as it doesnt rain where youa re its not a major isue, but i would change them when i get home!

Si

 

[DTNODYA]

I'm not gonna tell you how dangerous it is because I truly don't know. I have always heard, though that you should never run with them like that because it can cause loss of control ....

Put em on right IMO.

 

[bdcardinal]

just put them back on when you get the chance. as stated earlier the channeling helps get the water out, so when they are on backwards they tend to draw water in.

 

[streethorse]

Yeah, I did go ahead and switch em back to normal, It just may rain
someday.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I am pretty sure that once a radial tire is broken in that if you spin it backwards it greatly increases the probability of broken belts.

 

[SaleenGT2001]

I am pretty sure that once a radial tire is broken in that if you spin it backwards it greatly increases the probability of broken belts.

radial tires dont "break in" they will be fine any way you run them. just think about how you would rotate non directional tires. they cross to the drive axle...so that means that two of the tires are running "backwards" of what they were originally running. the only bad thing about running them the wrong direction is they will have poor wet traction. i have been working in a tire shop for the past 2 1/2 years and i have seen VERY few broken belts. they usually result from an impact. a lot of people are quick to say the tire has "broken belts" when actually the tires tread is chopped up b/c of an alignment issue of a lack of rotation.

 

[PULMEOVR]

At one point, I improperly mounted my two front tires (installed them on the opposite sides). I hydro-planned significantly more so then with the tires properly mounted. So yes, I would say that it is dangerous in the rain. Also, the stock Goodyears, once they get near the wearbars, they hydroplane quite badly. Check Tire Rack for their rating for hydro-planing resistance and you'll see a customer rated 5.3 out of 10 points. Pretty poor.

Matt

 

[four six]

Did it drive good in reverse? lol