tire on backwards
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 489
Likes: 358
From: Chester, NJ
tire on backwards
standing in the driveway today looking at my vette and it dawned on me for the first time that something looked strange about the rear wheels. the tread pattern looked the same on both sides instead of being symmetrical. closer inspection on right rear, sidewall clearly states that "this side inward".
i bought the car from a dealer last fall. have only put about 2,000 miles on it, mostly last fall and this spring. it has gotten a little squirelly a few times, but i thought it was just the few times I hadn't totally let the tires warm up. now that i think about it, it has always been to the side with the tire on backwards.
obviously, it's something i need to get fixed. my question is if the tire is toast or can it just be turned around. according to service records on the car i got from the dealer it was installed at 17,190 miles, so the tire only has about 3,000 miles on it.
not real enthused about going back to the same dealer that already installed the tire backwards, but if I need a new tire, i intend to at least make a stink about getting them to pay for it.
any advice would be helpful.
thanks,
i bought the car from a dealer last fall. have only put about 2,000 miles on it, mostly last fall and this spring. it has gotten a little squirelly a few times, but i thought it was just the few times I hadn't totally let the tires warm up. now that i think about it, it has always been to the side with the tire on backwards.
obviously, it's something i need to get fixed. my question is if the tire is toast or can it just be turned around. according to service records on the car i got from the dealer it was installed at 17,190 miles, so the tire only has about 3,000 miles on it.
not real enthused about going back to the same dealer that already installed the tire backwards, but if I need a new tire, i intend to at least make a stink about getting them to pay for it.
any advice would be helpful.
thanks,
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
One magazine tested directional tires mounted backwards, they didn't find a lot of difference. When steel belted radials first came out, the recommended you only rotate them front to back. Supposely changing direction could cause belt/tread seperation. Now most manufactors recommend "X" rotation. I have stuck to front to back (except Vette, of course) because it's easier to do at home (lifting one side of car at a time).
Your tire will be fine, just tell them to be careful of tire pressure sensors, a lot of people are not used to them.
Your tire will be fine, just tell them to be careful of tire pressure sensors, a lot of people are not used to them.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
Originally Posted by Oldvetter
One magazine tested directional tires mounted backwards, they didn't find a lot of difference.
If they are F1 Supercar tires, they are asymetric but not directional.
That is, they have an inside and an outside, but can rotate either direction. I rotate my Z06 tires from side to side all the time.
I have a spare front and rear wheel/tire mounted up, and every 6,000 or 7,000 miles I rotate the set of spares onto the right side of the car, move the right sides to the left side, and the left side tires become the spares.
Last edited by TEXHAWK0; May 7, 2006 at 09:03 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,237
Likes: 9
From: Springhill FL
I once was riding with someone that had a used tire on the rear mounted backwards. It was an old 80s buick regal or some such. We were goofing off and he locked up the brakes. The tire blew on the spot. When we went to pull it off we got our hands shreaded becuase the radial metal wire had pushed through the tire. It looked like a spiked tire, little metal wires sticking out 1/2" slanted against rotation all the way around.
I dunno..I'd take it back to the dealership myself. If nothing else, make them say its OK, so if something happens they are responsable.
I dunno..I'd take it back to the dealership myself. If nothing else, make them say its OK, so if something happens they are responsable.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,762
Likes: 2
From: Murphy TX
I would make 'em fix it. Period. They're boneheads, make them make it right.
As far as directional - most tires are fine in the dry either direction. Most of the directional design is related to water and dispensing with water, so you may have less than optimal wet performance. You may never notice.
Either way, I'd make 'em fix it on principal.
As far as directional - most tires are fine in the dry either direction. Most of the directional design is related to water and dispensing with water, so you may have less than optimal wet performance. You may never notice.
Either way, I'd make 'em fix it on principal.
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Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Originally Posted by yellow01
As far as directional - most tires are fine in the dry either direction. Most of the directional design is related to water and dispensing with water, so you may have less than optimal wet performance. You may never notice.
