Front tire mounted backwards!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 388
Likes: 12
Front tire mounted backwards!
With just 12,000 miles on my 2011 Coupe (base) I found myself in need of new front tires (the rear both have 6/32 of tread remaining). Whilst watching the technician mount my replacements he made an interesting discovery with regard to the pax side tire. "Sir, did you know that this tire was mounted backwards? The directional arrow should be pointing to the right."
Wow. So I inspect the tire once off to see if there was any patch (noting I bought the car at 6900 miles), and the original owner had advised that there was never any work done to the car, thinking maybe it was once off for a repair. No patch...
My only conclusion (given the driver's side was mounted correctly) is the car must have come this was from the factory.
Any other theories out there?
Wow. So I inspect the tire once off to see if there was any patch (noting I bought the car at 6900 miles), and the original owner had advised that there was never any work done to the car, thinking maybe it was once off for a repair. No patch...
My only conclusion (given the driver's side was mounted correctly) is the car must have come this was from the factory.
Any other theories out there?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2012
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From: CA
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Kernersville NC
Le Mans Master
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From: Madison (Huntsville) Alabama
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St. Jude Donor '09
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,796
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From: skiatook oklahoma
although i would NEVER call tirerack the expert on tire direction, i had found this interesting (not gospel, interesting)..
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...jsp?techid=188
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...jsp?techid=188
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,172
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From: Des Moines Iowa
I don't believe any of the C6 corvette models came from the factory with directional tires, however some / most? of the tires had an inside and outside requirement. Is it possible that a tire was incorrectly mounted with the inside on the outside? I suppose. I recall hearing/reading that the tires were mounted by Goodyear/Michelin and then shipped to the assembly plant @ BG, but don't know that for sure.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 388
Likes: 12
I don't believe any of the C6 corvette models came from the factory with directional tires, however some / most? of the tires had an inside and outside requirement. Is it possible that a tire was incorrectly mounted with the inside on the outside? I suppose. I recall hearing/reading that the tires were mounted by Goodyear/Michelin and then shipped to the assembly plant @ BG, but don't know that for sure.
As to the Tirerack blog, I found that quite interesting and consistent with what others have told me. But with that said, I remain amazed that GM let this go by. Not much quality control.
Notably, and with respect to an earlier post, BOTH tires were equally worn and evenly across the tread.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,974
Likes: 148
From: Magnolia Texas
I suspect your mileage was due to alignment and not the tire mounting. While 12k may seem low to you, OEM tire mileage has been the subject of many posts, rants and questions. I got around 14K on mine even with a proper alignment every 6 months.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 7,100
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I believe that is a very rare, well at least it was, factory experimental car. Saw one on Barrett Jackson go for $1.5 million. 
Oh well. At least your tires are headed in the right direction now.
I still have the original Goodyears on factory rims, I am going to take a look at them tomorrow.
Oh well. At least your tires are headed in the right direction now.
I still have the original Goodyears on factory rims, I am going to take a look at them tomorrow.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 388
Likes: 12
I believe that is a very rare, well at least it was, factory experimental car. Saw one on Barrett Jackson go for $1.5 million.
Oh well. At least your tires are headed in the right direction now.
I still have the original Goodyears on factory rims, I am going to take a look at them tomorrow.
Oh well. At least your tires are headed in the right direction now.
I still have the original Goodyears on factory rims, I am going to take a look at them tomorrow.
Just to be on the safe side I am going to get the car aligned. It will be interesting to see if any significant adjustments are needed.
As to "rare, experimental car", well, having sold more cars than I can count that today would be selling for a small fortune I will accept this as just another of many lost opportunities... Just like my chance to play on the PGA Tour....
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 388
Likes: 12
So, given this clearly was the original tire, and the original and only other owner had no reason to "hide" any prior need to pull it off the rim, what logical explanation do you have as to why it was mounted backwards other than it came that was from GM?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2015
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From: Mead Wash
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Maybe at the GM plant it was stored on the left side of the building with all of the left side wheels and tires. So as a joke on a Friday or Monday someone moved it over to the right side of the building to see how long it would be before someone noticed. Took a few years.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 411
Likes: 81
From: Hackettstown NJ
Just to throw this out there:
I bought a used ZR1 with low mileage from a high end used car dealer that kept it indoors.
When he sold the car to me he said he replaced one rear tire due to a small screw in it. It could of been installed backwards (it wasn't).
If he didn't tell me that I would of guessed like one of the above post mentioned, it was from the factory.
Maybe the dealership notice a problem with the OP's front tire upon delivery & replaced it backwards (not knowing) & not worth mentioning the tire change to the original owner????
Just a thought.
I bought a used ZR1 with low mileage from a high end used car dealer that kept it indoors.
When he sold the car to me he said he replaced one rear tire due to a small screw in it. It could of been installed backwards (it wasn't).
If he didn't tell me that I would of guessed like one of the above post mentioned, it was from the factory.
Maybe the dealership notice a problem with the OP's front tire upon delivery & replaced it backwards (not knowing) & not worth mentioning the tire change to the original owner????
Just a thought.
