markbognor
South East
Posts: 9,970
Club RR Member Number: 56
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Directional tyresmarkbognor
@markbognor
Club Retro Rides Member 56
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I've just noticed, after owning them for ages that a pair of wheels I have are not actually a pair, one is +5 et and the other is 0. These would work muck better on the other side of the car to where they are now to help eliminate panhard rod axle movement on lowering.
Trouble is they have directional tyres on. Can I swap 'em round until I get to a tyre fitter who can flip 'em for me? Is it illegal, or just advisable not to use directional tyres the wrong way round?
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as far as I'm aware its not illegal and I've been told by a tyre importer (Yokohama) that it is not detrimental to run them the wrong way round the benifits are at the upper levels of grip and performance
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mrj
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,662
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you can flip them, it could be, that they are starting to make noises after that. Michelin for example recommend using their directional winter tyres on the rear axle on RWD cars "the wrong way" ...
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Last Edit: Apr 11, 2011 6:15:33 GMT by mrj
- 1971 VW 1600 TL Fastback - 1978 Passat GLS Variant - 1980 Audi 100 5E - 1981 VW aircooled panel van (sold) - 1983 VW Jetta Mk.I - 1984 VW Polo Coupé - 1984 VW Passat hatchback - 1987 VW Passat Variant - 1987 VW Passat hatchback - 1988 VW T25
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rtlkyuubi
Posted a lot
Low and Slow
Posts: 2,922
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Ive always thought that it was illegal to run them backwards. As when it rains, the tread will pull water into the middle of the tyre instead of out to the sides.
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I've known a car to fail its MOT because of directionals on the wrong way round as well, but think they're unlikely to kill kittens or hurt nuns, so should be ok.
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will
Posted a lot
Posts: 4,023
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joda
Part of things
Posts: 674
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May not be illegal to run them, but it may cause an insurance company to not pay out due to miss fitment of tyre's or something like that!
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Last Edit: Apr 11, 2011 8:27:12 GMT by joda
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spiny
Club Retro Rides Member
Wiki Admin
I am abivalent towards car electrics ...
Posts: 1,331
Club RR Member Number: 167
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Directional tyresspiny
@spiny
Club Retro Rides Member 167
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I would imagine it'd make the handling a bit hairy in the wet, with all the water under the tyres being forced into the middle of the wheel, rather than out to the sides.
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`state
Yorkshire and The Humber
Posts: 1,215
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Be ok in the dry.As soon as you get a decent bit of rain it`ll be like driving on ice.Rather than directing the water from the middle outwards it`ll direct it to the middle of the tyre where it cant escape. I was pulled years ago in my mk2 astra and id just fitted a back disc conversion.Was in a rush to pick swmbo up so chucked the wheels on without checking the direction of the tyres.Copper made me change them over at the roadside as id put them on the wrong sides.Or he was going to book me.
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Look at all the plastic people who live without a care.Try to sit with me around my table,but never bring a chair.
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Its not always about water dispersal, sometimes its about extra braking grip or economy/noise. I have Khumo KL71 directional mud terrains on the Vitara, and they are proven to grip better when on backwards and can be swopped round if the going gets really muddy, they are desigend to be quiet on the road and not wear out to fast, thats why they are directional, not for extra grip in the rain.
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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Should fail the MOT. The 205 failed on the tyres being mounted in the wrong direction (silly me no checking) even though the tread was non directional:
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1997 TVR Chimaera 2009 Westfield Megabusa
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Apr 11, 2011 11:25:13 GMT
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I had a fleet Mondeo (a few years ago mind,) returned to the workshop because all 4 tyres were put on facing the wrong direction and had exploded at speed on the motorway (well 2 did...) but that was quite a time ago, I'm sure they are of better design now....
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Oh Lord, Won't you buy me a Vauxhall Chevette....? Pretty please? I can't find any!!!!
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EmDee
Club Retro Rides Member
Committer of Autrocities.
Posts: 5,932
Club RR Member Number: 108
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Directional tyresEmDee
@emdee
Club Retro Rides Member 108
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Apr 11, 2011 12:07:39 GMT
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I had a policeman give me gip for the tyres on my Cupra because he said they were fitted wrongly. In fact he was wrong. The Vredestein Ultrac Sessantas that were on there are designed to be run that way. Here is the pair of them before they went on: To be fair the one on the left of that pic looks backwards (er if you imagine the car is facing you) - but it isn't. So if the law give me trouble for doing it right I can't imagine what would happen if I fitted them wrong. I actually think babies and nuns would be killed. Don't do it.
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Last Edit: Apr 11, 2011 13:22:04 GMT by EmDee
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`state
Yorkshire and The Humber
Posts: 1,215
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Apr 11, 2011 12:15:57 GMT
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My yoko`s are like that with the groove on the outside,makes 2 of the tyres on one side look wrong. I had my doubts at first about them but you cant even tell its raining when driving the car.
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Look at all the plastic people who live without a care.Try to sit with me around my table,but never bring a chair.
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Apr 11, 2011 12:33:16 GMT
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Her daily didn't fail the MOT when there was one on the wrong way round, but the tester did let me know. You couldn't tell by the handling. Maybe you could on a sports car or racing car, but I doubt anyone could on a sloshy road car.
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robg2
Part of things
Posts: 815
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Apr 11, 2011 16:05:24 GMT
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I had a policeman give me gip for the tyres on my Cupra because he said they were fitted wrongly. In fact he was wrong. The Vredestein Ultrac Sessantas that were on there are designed to be run that way. Here is the pair of them before they went on: To be fair the one on the left of that pic looks backwards (er if you imagine the car is facing you) - but it isn't. So if the law give me trouble for doing it right I can't imagine what would happen if I fitted them wrong. I actually think babies and nuns would be killed. Don't do it. I think this is fairly compelling evidence. These tyres (and many others) do look like one will work and the other won't, but it obviously can't be that significant... In other words, tread pattern design is as much about cosmetics as optimised grip. I've also failed an MOT on a tyre being the wrong way round - "not fitted in accordance with manufacturers instructions". Someone will surely look in the testers manual though and give us the definitive version. I've done trackdays and the like on tyres run the wrong way round, and it makes naff all difference. They definitely won't explode or any such horror. It will definitely make less difference than having different wheel offsets side to side - but of course that wouldn't be picked up in an MOT test!
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Last Edit: Apr 11, 2011 16:07:53 GMT by robg2
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Colonelk
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,742
Club RR Member Number: 83
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Directional tyresColonelk
@colonelk
Club Retro Rides Member 83
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Apr 11, 2011 16:34:48 GMT
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IIRC some drifters run directionals in reverse as they reckon it helps prevent them delaminating. Not noticed much either way.
I also had a directional tyre on the wrong way round after having a puncture repaired. didnt notice for ages and never got pulled or owt.
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CIH
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,466
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Apr 11, 2011 18:25:08 GMT
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That's correct. The pro drifters gnerally run diretional tyres back to front on the rear as they delaminte at a slower rate.
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