Unless the word "outside" on the sidewall means "not for indoor use"

Mine has directional tyres. Unless the word "outside" on the sidewall means "not for indoor use"

No. You have asymetric tyres which are neither directional nor sided. Sorry. The tread pattern across the width changes, but they do not need to be fitted to a specific side or corner so long as the word 'Outside' is visible on the outside of the car.

I am obvioulsy interested in tyres, after all my four are the only things connecting my car to the road surface, and this 'discussion' could have been quite useful in determining 'best practice' if people had referred us to authoritive sources of information as opposed to heresay or opinion.

Even then we need to be careful as this quote from the AA is really not much more helpful as there is no evidence to back it up.

If a directional tyre is fitted the wrong way round, the tyre won't be dangerous, but you won't gain any of the benefits of it's design.

I frequently have discussions with my degree students regarding the choice of sources: they must be reliable and authoritive sources, examples in this case might be tyre manufactures or independent tests (e.g. What Car).

There is another thread on this forum regarding front to back swaps, but that does not contain any references to such sources to back up statements such as 'I'd always have the better tyres on the front'.

So please, in order to clear this up, can people refer to the sources of their information so that we can follow it up with information from people who have more than just anecdotal evidence to go from.

Are you saying my mate Dave from down t'pub isn't a reputable source?

Does he undertake scietific testing of tyres under controlled conditions?

If not, then sorry, it's not for me.

A directional tyre should be marked along these lines:

And might look like this (note the typical 'V' pattern):

I have never bought directioanl tyres, but I would assume that if you purchased a set of four, you would need to purchase two 'left' ones and two 'right' ones in order to ensure they were all running the right direction (the ones on the left rotate anti-clockwise while the ones on the right rotate clockwise).

Non-directional , asymetrical tyres might look like this (note the change in tread pattern across the width of the tyre):

And should be marked like this:

I,ve completely forgotten what this thread was all about,and now the trolling has started.

Time for a stop I think......

I agree that non-directional tyres can be fitted either way. Directional tyres cannot. So nothing to argue about it seems.Mine has directional tyres. Unless the word "outside" on the sidewall means "not for indoor use"

Care to show us a picture of your brand and model of tyre? The "outside" marking usually means they are not directional. Outside to outside has them rotating in different directions on each side of the car.

Winter tyres apart, I am very surprised that so many Yeti owners are on directional tyres. I did not know Skoda fitted them to Yeti vehicles (excluding Greenline versions, about which I know nothing at all). Directional tyres are bloody noisy compared with asymmetric tyres, that IS for sure... and they "tramline" more. Directional spares too, are a pain. My Subaru has a full sized spare (not supplied ) but if I used it it can be the wrong way round until I can get it corrected.

My Yeti was supplied new with Pirelli P Zero Rosso asymmetric tyres correctly fitted!

Edited 12 July, 201213 yr by freedie

Kiwi, can you explain " NOT SKODA's?" and create mayhem on another manufacturers forum please.

Yes, I'm sure the lovely people on Edition38 would love to hear you explain how they're all wrong...

'Outside' visible on all four of my 17" Dunlop SP01, and the treads all face the same direction. If you fitted the tyres the other way around, with the 'outside' marking facing inwards, then the treads would not match!

In simple terms, these are 'directional' tyres then?

Just my 2p

'Outside' visible on all four of my 17" Dunlop SP01, and the treads all face the same direction. If you fitted the tyres the other way around, with the 'outside' marking facing inwards, then the treads would not match!

In simple terms, these are 'directional' tyres then?

Just my 2p

In the "old-days" we used to swap wheels diagonally but with moden suspension and fancy tyres the fronts will always wear different to the backs so unless you swap them very frequently - say about every 1,000 miles - you will get poor handling.

Edited 12 July, 201213 yr by Norry

But if you swap them from side to side, they still have the 'Outside' outwards and still have the tread pattern consistent from the outer edge to the inner edge but they will be rotating in the opposite direction therefore making them not directional. Directional tyres are designed to rotate in just one direction.

Tyres marked with 'Outside' (and no arrow indicating rotational direction) are designed to rotate in either direction on either side of the vehicle. No one has yet posted any authoritive links to whether it is 'good' or 'bad' to swap non-directional tyres from side to side (referring back to the OP - mistake noted in later post) or indeed from front to back.

Directional tyres frequently (but not always) have an obvious 'V' pattern designed (among other things) to move the water from under the tyre to the outer edges and away from the tyre thus reducing the likleyhood of aquaplaning. For a brief and non-technical explanation from a reasonably decent source read this.

You're forgetting the main rule of buying something - don't get advise about what to buy from someone who is selling it to you.

people are getting very confused here - a prime example of a directional tyre are those fitted to tractors they have a simple <<< pattern with the <<< facing the same way on each end of the axle.

The only way you could take a wheel from the right side of the axle and place it on the left (and retain the correct directional tread pattern) would be by placing the outside face on the right against the hub on the left.

We have asymmetric tyres on our cars where the tread pattern is not the same across the full width of the tread - hence the marking on the outside of the tyre which says "outside" - it doesn't say leftside or rightside.

Just imagine what happens at the tyre fitters, they take all the wheels off and regardless of where they are going to go back on the car they ensure that the outside of the tyre is on the same side as the pretty bit - and not on the hub side.

Now if you take a wheel off the right side and place it on the left the outside of the wheel is still on the outside, but rotating in the opposite direction.

This is perfectly acceptable.

With 2 wheel drive cars I would still swap corner to corner, with 4x4's I suspect its less of a problem.

If you corner hard then the fronts will suffer greater wear on the edges of the tread

Motorcycle tyres are almost always directional nowadays, but as there is no way to swap them with another wheel on the same axle its never a problem.

I did once get a tyre fitted the wrong way round on a bike by a trainee fitter, the bike handled like a dog and went straight back to the tyre shop, where the unfortunate trainee was given a clip behind the ear, made to change the tyre and make me a cuppa while I waited. I expect he never made the same mistake again!!

Edited 12 July, 201213 yr by vegit8

My tongue was firmly in my cheek!

From self proclaimed pariah to self appointed lecturer in scientific citation (who regards "What Car" as an example of a source for citation).

I'm afraid this thread has lost my attention. It may be easier for those who join discussions on a Yeti forum if they either have, or seek, knowledge about the Yeti.

:zzz:

Totally agree - it's getting boring - I think we all get the point.

I only wanted to mention the corrosion on the hub locating spigot

My bicycle tyres are directional. They have arrows on them.......

Kiwi, can you explain " NOT SKODA's?" and create mayhem on another manufacturers forum please.

It's quite simple. I am currently trying to buy a skoda with a manual gearbox. So far it's been about two months so far and Skoda NZ are still "looking into it". I expect it'll be after Christmas.

'Outside' visible on all four of my 17" Dunlop SP01, and the treads all face the same direction. If you fitted the tyres the other way around, with the 'outside' marking facing inwards, then the treads would not match!

In simple terms, these are 'directional' tyres then?

Just my 2p

Dunlop SP01 are asymetrical tyres, they are not directional.

From self proclaimed pariah to self appointed lecturer in scientific citation (who regards "What Car" as an example of a source for citation).

I'm afraid this thread has lost my attention. It may be easier for those who join discussions on a Yeti forum if they either have, or seek, knowledge about the Yeti.

:zzz:

Can't recall ever regarding "what car" as remotely scientific. But getting directional/asymetric loudly wrong must be pretty boring!

Babs, pass the popcorn old chap

Kiwibacon - suggest you read all my comments before rushing to the keyboard - you're not the only one capable of a little mild joshing you know!