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Directional Tyres - Right way round ?

5K views 22 replies 10 participants last post by  David P 
#1 ·
Just had the two front tyres replaced so I now have Bridgestone RE050A all round.

Noticed this morning that the NSF tyre is on with the rotation arrow facing backwards and a closer inspection of the tread shows that the tread points in completely the opposite direction to the OSF. The car feels ok and I haven't noticed any extra tyre noise since it was changed (on Thursday).

So the question is does it really matter. Would I look a bit of a numpty if I went back and complained about it or should it really be addressed, it obviously hasn't rained since I had it done and don't want to end up in a ditch the first time we get a wet day.

Also, can it simply be taken off and put on the other way round or will it need a new tyre specifically for that corner.

Any advice gratefully received.

Thanks.
 
#3 ·
Yes, I'd definitely get it sorted. They should be able to rotate the tyre on the wheel to get it pointing the right way.
 
#8 ·
In an axis which is at 90 degrees to the normal rotation of the wheel of course.
Rotating it in the axis of normal rotation would not help a great deal.

And, now I think about it, does the tyre only have a direction of rotation? Or does it also state what has to be the outside edge? If the latter, then they will not be able to use the same tyre.
 
#4 ·
Its vital for water clearance. If it points the wrong way it will channel water under the tyre rather than out and away causing it to aquaplane much more easily.
 
#7 ·
It was done as part of a major chunk of work that I had done to the car this week, so it just came back from the garage and I didn't think to check.

It was only when I parked up in the car park at work this morning and the rotation arrow was at the top of the tyre and in the sun that I noticed. It is disappointing, but they are sorting it out for me this lunchtime as a matter of urgency, so no harm done on this occasion.

I'll remember to be more thorough in the future.
 
#9 ·
Pretty sure that the tyre can go on any side, it will have the tyre spec written on both sides so it can be seen regardless of which side it is fitted to.

Interstingly, the origianl Honda NSX was developed to use 4 different tyres for each wheel to optimize the handling!
 
G
#10 ·
Haha, this happened to a friend of mine when he bought a car a while back, they fitted a couple of tyres as part of the deal and when he went back for a service the wanted to charge him to put them on the right way round. I don't think its a dealer he'll be going back to.
 
#11 ·
RE050 are directional, but not sided, so the same tyre is used on doth sides of the car.
RE050A are asymmetric, so there may be different left and right side versions...
 
#21 ·
i had cornering grip problems when i fitted new goodyear f1 gsd's (still no grip after100 miles:eek:)and i spoke to good year about it,i told them tyres are fitted correctly in relation to direction he surprised me by saying dont make any difference on that tyre type ,which did shock me:wow:
turned out that i needed to scrub tyres more as still had releasing agent on tread width
 
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