I didn't. Just had the tires rotated on the car, the technician came out to the waiting area and explained that it was going to take slightly longer because a tire had been installed "backwards" and they were going to remount and rebalance it. When it was finished I said that I was puzzled how a tire can be mounted backwards. He explained that there is information printed on the side of the tire that faces out that gives the tire people pertinent information about the tire, such as when it was made, etc. So, there we are, a factoid that I can see how many of my friends know this.

Some tires are directional. Meaning that the tread pattern is designed to run one direction.

I know it's that way for motorcycle tires. I assumed it was the same for cars & trucks.

Depends on the tread design and carcass (the internal cords) construction.
Asymmetric treads are that way. These are usually tires that are more high performance than your everyday sedan or minivan/SUV.

Directional tires push water in a specific way. Pretty common. All my motorcycle tires are directional.

What happens when you drive on a tire installed backwards?

There's also non-directional tires that have a marked OUTSIDE on the sidewall. Could've been the case of the OP, if they weren't directional.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeGLI:
What happens when you drive on a tire installed backwards?

For some directional tires, I imagine it could funnel water inward & cause increased hydroplaning.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeGLI:
What happens when you drive on a tire installed backwards?

Have you seen Bueller? The mileage goes down!

I was aware that some tires are directional and therefore can be mounted backwards.

quote:

Originally posted by Bama Tactical:
Some tires are directional. Meaning that the tread pattern is designed to run one direction.

I didn't think of that.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeGLI:
What happens when you drive on a tire installed backwards?

The car keeps trying to go in circles.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
There's also non-directional tires that have a marked OUTSIDE on the sidewall. Could've been the case of the OP, if they weren't directional.

Yep, that's exactly the case, I drive a Ford Focus, with Goodyear tires.

If this was a directional tire how long were you driving on it mount backwards? I’m curious if there could be uneven wear or something.

A very long time ago, I went to Sears for new tires. The tires they had were whitewalls and I didn't want those so they installed them backwards.

Unless it's a directional tire there isn't an issue with it being installed either way other than aesthetics. But it should be the side out with the information of size, PSI, age etc.

If they didn't charge extra to remount and balance the tire it's no big deal...

Directional treads can still be symmetrical and not have an inside or an outside, but they have to rotate in the proper direction. So there is a correct orientation for the left side and for the right side and you can only rotate front to back. Driving with them rotation the wrong way will pull water into the V of the tread rather than out. Not a good thing

Asymmetrical treads have an inside and outside and are marked that way on the sidewall. But they are not direction and once mounted properly on the wheel, they can be placed at any location and can be rotated with a cross pattern.

Asymmetrical & Directional tires have to be made for left side and right side as mirror images, installed correctly on the rim, and only rotated front to back, assuming they are the same size. Only very high performance cars use this kind of tire, and the rears are often larger than the fronts, which means you can't rotate them.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Unless it's a directional tire there isn't an issue with it being installed either way other than aesthetics. But it should be the side out with the information of size, PSI, age etc.

If they didn't charge extra to remount and balance the tire it's no big deal...

Thank you. And they didn't, since I went to Discount Tire. Now, it sort of begs the question; when the technician was telling me about it he asked about who had mounted the tire initially, I pointed to him and said that te tires were purchased there (and have been rotated once there, come to think of it). He looked somewhat concerned about that, I wonder if they can go back and see who was the tech that installed them originally?

quote:

Originally posted by MikeGLI:
What happens when you drive on a tire installed backwards?

Happened to a friend of mine. Rear tires mounted backwards. Car generally drove fine, however the tires wore out really quickly- that’s how he noticed, when his rear tires were very worn out in 10k miles.