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A tire can be installed backwards. Who knew this was a thing? Login/Join 
Now and Zen
Picture of clubleaf206
posted
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.


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Posts: 12269 | Location: The untamed wilds of Kansas | Registered: August 25, 2001Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Some tires are directional. Meaning that the tread pattern is designed to run one direction.


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Posts: 815 | Location: Tuscaloosa, AL | Registered: May 04, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Picture of mojojojo
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I know it's that way for motorcycle tires. I assumed it was the same for cars & trucks.



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Posts: 6790 | Location: North Carolina | Registered: April 30, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Just because you can,
doesn't mean you should
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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.


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Posts: 9986 | Location: NE GA | Registered: August 22, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Directional tires push water in a specific way. Pretty common. All my motorcycle tires are directional.


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Posts: 3054 | Location: Round Rock | Registered: February 11, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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cant complain.
Picture of MikeGLI
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What happens when you drive on a tire installed backwards?




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Posts: 9777 | Location: Orlando, Florida | Registered: July 12, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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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.




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Posts: 16289 | Location: Spring, TX | Registered: July 11, 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Picture of P250UA5
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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.




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Posts: 16289 | Location: Spring, TX | Registered: July 11, 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
thin skin can't win
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quote:
Originally posted by MikeGLI:
What happens when you drive on a tire installed backwards?


Have you seen Bueller? The mileage goes down!



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Posts: 12890 | Location: Madison, MS | Registered: December 10, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I was aware that some tires are directional and therefore can be mounted backwards.
 
Posts: 3570 | Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Registered: June 20, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Now and Zen
Picture of clubleaf206
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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.


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Posts: 12269 | Location: The untamed wilds of Kansas | Registered: August 25, 2001Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Now and Zen
Picture of clubleaf206
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quote:
Originally posted by MikeGLI:
What happens when you drive on a tire installed backwards?


The car keeps trying to go in circles.


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"....imitate the action of the Tiger."
 
Posts: 12269 | Location: The untamed wilds of Kansas | Registered: August 25, 2001Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Now and Zen
Picture of clubleaf206
posted Hide Post
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.


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"....imitate the action of the Tiger."
 
Posts: 12269 | Location: The untamed wilds of Kansas | Registered: August 25, 2001Reply With QuoteReport This Post
paradox in a box
Picture of frayedends
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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.




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Posts: 12605 | Location: Westminster, MA | Registered: November 14, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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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.


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Posts: 4824 | Location: St. Louis, Mo | Registered: March 23, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Posts: 17230 | Location: SF Bay Area | Registered: December 11, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Thank you
Very little
Picture of HRK
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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...
 
Posts: 24668 | Location: Gunshine State | Registered: November 07, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Left-Handed,
NOT Left-Winged!
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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.

 
Posts: 5043 | Location: Indiana | Registered: December 28, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Now and Zen
Picture of clubleaf206
posted Hide Post
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?


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"....imitate the action of the Tiger."
 
Posts: 12269 | Location: The untamed wilds of Kansas | Registered: August 25, 2001Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of Mutiny
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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.
 
Posts: 482 | Location: Out West | Registered: January 14, 2014Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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