Tread direction on Tires!!!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 328
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From: Clearwater, FL
Tread direction on Tires!!!
I went out and got tires from Pep Boy's. Didn't want to spend to much on what I usually get because of trading in the C4 in for a C5 at the end of the year. So I went cheap and got the Z-Rated tires from them. After putting them on and driving it down the road, the rear end of my car is every where. It feels like the tires are following every crack in the road. I got it home and looked at the tires. The left side tread is running forwarded and the right side tread is running backwards. Is this right? I went back to Pep Boy's and showed them and told them what was going on and they told me that they were not true directional tires...they tried giving me all these excuses that it shouldn't matter and that it's a harder tire than what I'm use to. It may be a harder tire but they should both be running in the same direction. Right???????
I guess if you go cheap you get cheap.....
:mad
I guess if you go cheap you get cheap.....
:mad
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Canton GA
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Re: Tread direction on Tires!!! (bwagner)
Look for directional arrows on the sidewall. It could also be the alignment.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,178
Likes: 2
From: Windermere FL
Re: Tread direction on Tires!!! (92Shawnster)
Did you get the ones with the whitewalls? ;) You get what you pay for. I certainly did. :yesnod: If you want a good bargain replacement, look at Kumho, Firestone SZEP and Bridgestone RE 730s. But I feel one of the most important parts of a car is the tire. It is the conduit by which the engine, brakes, and handling of the car is brought to bear. As such, it can be a weak link in all three areas. So while I might skimp on say shocks or brake pads, I wouldn't on tires. :yesnod:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,075
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From: Brookhaven Pa
Re: Tread direction on Tires!!! (bwagner)
They put the one tire on backward, you should make them change it, if it didn't matter the manufactor would not go to the trouble of putting a arrow on the sidewall.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Clearwater, FL
Re: Tread direction on Tires!!! (cnl3rd)
They put the one tire on backward, you should make them change it, if it didn't matter the manufactor would not go to the trouble of putting a arrow on the sidewall.
Racer
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 354
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From: Beach Cities SoCal
Re: Tread direction on Tires!!! (92TripleBlack)
Right on 92TripleBlack...I have the Bridgestone RE 730's...this is a VERY GOOD TIRE for the money...I did my research through http://www.tirerack.com and I wasn't at all disappointed with my purchase...these are NOT cheap tires, they stick like glue and wear so far (4-5 months) is excellent.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 406
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From: BAY AREA CALI
Re: Tread direction on Tires!!! (bwagner)
If they both say Mount This Side Out and one has a backwards pattern sounds like they gave you two left shoes. I'd bet they are directionals hence the MOUNT THIS SIDE OUT statement. I had a tire salesman tell me 285 40 17's were truck tires too :lol: :lol: Tire Rack is the cureall great prices, shipping and service without the :bs . Good luck
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From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
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Re: Tread direction on Tires!!! (VetBoyZR1)
Tell us if it says ROTATION >>>>>> on the sidewall, that will prove it.
Check your tire pressures, or have them rebalance them, looks like they are mounted properly.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 7,410
Likes: 252
From: Little Elm TX
Re: Tread direction on Tires!!! (Mr Mojo)
Tell us if it says ROTATION >>>>>> on the sidewall, that will prove it.
That's right, if you look at drag radials, they are not directional, but they do have an inner and an outer side.
Check your tire pressures, or have them rebalance them, looks like they are mounted properly.
That's right, if you look at drag radials, they are not directional, but they do have an inner and an outer side.
Check your tire pressures, or have them rebalance them, looks like they are mounted properly.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 328
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From: Clearwater, FL
Re: Tread direction on Tires!!! (R94 LT 1)
Tell us if it says ROTATION >>>>>> on the sidewall, that will prove it.
That's right, if you look at drag radials, they are not directional, but they do have an inner and an outer side.
Check your tire pressures, or have them rebalance them, looks like they are mounted properly.
Mr Mojo is right. Just because it says mount this side out doesn't mean it's directional, it means it's asymmetrical. I know a Pirelli tire that's asymmetrical but not directional. Think of it this way; a directional tire has to be taken OFF the rim to be mounted to the other side of the car, otherwise it would be going the wrong way. An asymmetrical tire can be mounted on the other side because once it's mount facing out on the rim, the side of the car doesn't matter, it still FACES out.
That's right, if you look at drag radials, they are not directional, but they do have an inner and an outer side.
Check your tire pressures, or have them rebalance them, looks like they are mounted properly.
Mr Mojo is right. Just because it says mount this side out doesn't mean it's directional, it means it's asymmetrical. I know a Pirelli tire that's asymmetrical but not directional. Think of it this way; a directional tire has to be taken OFF the rim to be mounted to the other side of the car, otherwise it would be going the wrong way. An asymmetrical tire can be mounted on the other side because once it's mount facing out on the rim, the side of the car doesn't matter, it still FACES out.
So why is rear end all over the road then? You would think if it was the alignment it would have been like that before with the other tires I had on there. They were still good tires. The only reason I got them replaced was due to a nail in the side wall of one. So I replaced them both. Plus I just got an alignment done about 7-8 months ago. Unless my alignment is off again already...
It sucks, I never thought I would get to a point of not wanting to drive my car. But it's that bad....
:mad
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,178
Likes: 2
From: Windermere FL
Re: Tread direction on Tires!!! (bwagner)
http://www.carreview.com/PRD_31165_1577crx.aspx
Here's some reviews of them. They are made by Cooper for Pep Boys. They don't look real impressive. Even the Pep Boys site says they are about as good as regular Goodyears, which are worse than the Goodyear GSCs the car came with, which are the worst tires I have ever ridden on. A set of Bridgestone KDs or Pilot sports will put you well into C5 handling territory, not C3. This is probably why you are so frustrated with your car.
Here's some reviews of them. They are made by Cooper for Pep Boys. They don't look real impressive. Even the Pep Boys site says they are about as good as regular Goodyears, which are worse than the Goodyear GSCs the car came with, which are the worst tires I have ever ridden on. A set of Bridgestone KDs or Pilot sports will put you well into C5 handling territory, not C3. This is probably why you are so frustrated with your car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,182
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From: Concord NC
Re: Tread direction on Tires!!! (92TripleBlack)
Yikes, if they are good as Goodyear, they are crap. The single best thing I ever did for my car is replace the original tires. Goodyears handle like crap.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,178
Likes: 2
From: Windermere FL
Re: Tread direction on Tires!!! (SlowJoe)
As good as good year eagles, which are crap next to the stock GSC which are crap next to a good tire which are crap next to a top end tire. Heck, the thing would probably handle better with the tires from my Grand cherokee bolted on.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 7,410
Likes: 252
From: Little Elm TX
Re: Tread direction on Tires!!! (92TripleBlack)
I would also check to make sure ALL 4 TIRES they put on are the SAME SIZE! My brother got 4 tires from NTB once and they put 3 on that were the right size and one on that was just a little BIGGER :eek: :eek: :eek: He was having similar handling problems. :mad :mad :mad
Racer
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 440
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From: Corvallis OR
Re: Tread direction on Tires!!! (bwagner)
maybe they mounted the wheels wrong... i.e 400 psi on the impact gun, full tourque on the first bolt. Verify your rims arent bent.
I hope I'm wrong about this
I always make them mount my wheels by hand, and also bring them a tourque wrench all set up to the 100 ft-lbs..
Jim-K
I hope I'm wrong about this
I always make them mount my wheels by hand, and also bring them a tourque wrench all set up to the 100 ft-lbs..
Jim-K
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Clearwater, FL
Re: Tread direction on Tires!!! (Jim-K)
maybe they mounted the wheels wrong... i.e 400 psi on the impact gun, full tourque on the first bolt. Verify your rims arent bent.
I hope I'm wrong about this
I always make them mount my wheels by hand, and also bring them a tourque wrench all set up to the 100 ft-lbs..
Jim-K
I hope I'm wrong about this
I always make them mount my wheels by hand, and also bring them a tourque wrench all set up to the 100 ft-lbs..
Jim-K
Racer
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 440
Likes: 0
From: Corvallis OR
Re: Tread direction on Tires!!! (bwagner)
Well, when i first got my 86, it was real nervous on the road. Ruts on the highway could literally pull the wheel out of my hand, it was spookey.
My tires were seperating. It was quiet obvious by spinning the wheel and looking at it. It was all lumps and bumps. (front a bit easier to ck then the rear) I think this was the biggest problem.
Since then i've put new tires, (firehawk sz50's), new bearing hubs, poly suspension, ball joints, u-joints, and one inner tie rod end. Now its rock solid straight, and although hwy ruts can move the car around a bit, it does not want to make me change my diaper like before.
So if your tires are round, then i'd ck the tie rods, both front and rear, and the hubs. Something is causing the suspension to lose its geometry.
Firestone usually gives me a free inspection for this.
Good Luck
Jim-K
My tires were seperating. It was quiet obvious by spinning the wheel and looking at it. It was all lumps and bumps. (front a bit easier to ck then the rear) I think this was the biggest problem.
Since then i've put new tires, (firehawk sz50's), new bearing hubs, poly suspension, ball joints, u-joints, and one inner tie rod end. Now its rock solid straight, and although hwy ruts can move the car around a bit, it does not want to make me change my diaper like before.
So if your tires are round, then i'd ck the tie rods, both front and rear, and the hubs. Something is causing the suspension to lose its geometry.
Firestone usually gives me a free inspection for this.
Good Luck
Jim-K
