QA

Question: How To Tell If My Tires Are Directional

Directional tyres are marked on the side, i.e. on the tyre’s sidewall. You will see the word “Rotation” or “Direction” written here. Next to it, there is a small arrow which indicates the tyre’s forward direction (rolling direction). Directional tyres are marked on the side, i.e. on the tyre’s sidewall.

What happens if directional tires are on wrong?

A directional tire is, quite simply, a tire that is engineered to roll in only one direction. If mounted incorrectly, a directional tire cannot be expected to work properly in wet or wintry conditions. If mounted improperly, directional tires may also wear irregularly and prematurely, and produce excessive road noise.

Are directional tires left or right?

Directional tires must always spin in one direction. They have to be kept on the same side of the vehicle and not rotated to the other side. For example, the left front tire may only be rotated to the left rear.

What makes a tire directional?

Directional tires have a tread pattern that is designed to rotate in one direction. These tires have lateral grooves that form a V shape with an arrow on the sidewall pointing in the direction the tire should travel. This is to help ensure that the tires are mounted and rotated correctly.

What does a non directional tire look like?

Non-directional tires are also known as symmetrical or bias ply. These tires have an even number of plies running across the tire from side to side, all with equal angles. The tread design is usually arrow-shaped but can be round or square. It does not matter which side is up, and they can be mounted either way.

What happens if a tire is installed backwards?

The tires are also strengthened according to directional usage. When you put the tire in a backward direction, you risk compromising the tire’s durability by abusing it in the backward direction. The knobs are at a higher risk of getting damaged when used in a direction they weren’t meant to be used in.

Are radial tires directional?

Determine if your tires are unidirectional or multidirectional Many of the radial tires sold today are unidirectional, meaning they should only roll in one direction. Rotate the tires on cars with different sized front and rear tires If your car has different sized unidirectional tires, you can’t rotate them at all.

Can you reverse directional tires?

A: No, you cannot change the rotation of a directional tire. However, to do this the tires have to be dismounted from their rims, reversed, and remounted on the opposite-side wheels. That way they will still be rotating correctly in the arrow direction.

Are all season tires directional?

If your tire is directional, you’ll know by the arrow on the sidewall. This arrow indicates which way the tire is supposed to roll. Summer, all-season, and winter tires can all have a directional tread design, but all-season tires are the most likely to have this tread pattern.

Do you cross tires when rotating?

The general rule for tire rotation is to cross the free rolling axle. So on a front-wheel drive vehicle, the front tires are rotated straight back to the rear and the rear tires are crossed to the front.

How do you rotate a non-directional tire on a front wheel drive car?

The tread pattern on non-directional tires is designed so that they can be mounted on any wheel. To rotate non-directional tires, use the cross pattern. For cars with rear-wheel drive, move the front tires to the opposite sides of the rear: left-front to right-rear and right-front to left-rear.

Can raised white letter tires be reversed?

Most tires can be mounted either way, meaning there is no forward or reverse for mounting. If your tread pattern is directional, it should be marked on the sidewall.

Are Nexen tires directional?

NEXEN’s pioneering ways have led to the development of Korea’s first V-shaped directional tires, patented nano-technology and our award winning Green Hive concept tire.

Do directional tires wear faster?

While tires with symmetrical and asymmetrical patterns do not require a specific direction when installed on a car, installing directional tires improperly can not only lessen the benefits of the tires, but it can also cause them to wear down faster than the manufacturer intended.

Is there a right way to put tires on?

Below, I’ve broken down how to change a tire in 10 simple steps. Find a Safe Place to Pull Over. Check for Materials. Loosen the Lug Nuts. Lift Your Vehicle Off the Ground. Remove the Lug Nuts and the Tire. Place the Spare Tire on the Car. Replace the Lug Nuts. Lower Your Vehicle and Begin Tightening.

How do you rotate directional tires?

Front-to-back Directional tires are designed and constructed so that they always rotate in the same direction due to their tread pattern. If your tires are directional, they should only be rotated from front to back (or vice-versa) on the same side of the vehicle.

Are Bridgestone tires directional?

An example of a Bridgestone tyre with a symmetrical tread pattern is the Bridgestone POTENZA RE-71R. Directional tyres will feature an arrow on the sidewall, indicating which direction they need to roll when mounted on the car.

Are General Altimax tires directional?

GENERAL ALTIMAX TIRES ARE “DIRECTIONAL TIRES”. LOOK ON THE SIDEWALL FOR THE ROTATION ARROWS.

Are Michelin tires directional?

The Verdict: Michelin Defender XT Tires are NOT Directional. If you have further interest in directional tires you can read an article about directional tires here: Directional Tires Function and Mounting.