Just taken off my Spitzbergs and fitted my "winter wheels"

Winter wheels = the VW steel wheels with Hankook W310s tyres

Just a question regarding the tyres - as far as I can see they are not directional tyres, ( I cannot find any markings on the tyres) - obviously the tyres have been fitted correctly by Setyres as the tyres are marked "outside" and this appears correctly on each wheel.

My question - the tread pattern on the W310's is in "one direction" and curves, the curve being wider at one end than the other, (if you can understand my meaning).

On the near side wheels the tread pattern is the opposite way to the offside wheel, (i.e. the wider groves are facing forward on the offside wheels whilst the wider groves are facing backwards on the nearside wheels) - this seems strange to me? - has anyone else noticed this or is there something wrong.

This seems inconsistent to me.

Could someone look at their winter tyres and see if they have the same configuration?

Edited 29 October, 201213 yr by BillN_33

Directional tyres will be marked with an arrow and the word rotation and can be fitted to one side of the vehicle only. Asymmetrical tyres will be marked on the walls outside and inside, these can be fitted at any position, but must be fitted correctly on the wheel.

Directional tyres will be marked with an arrow and the word rotation and can be fitted to one side of the vehicle only. Asymmetrical tyres will be marked on the walls outside and inside, these can be fitted at any position, but must be fitted correctly on the wheel.

I know this - I have had directional tyres fitted to my cars

<br />That is not my query!

Edited 29 October, 201213 yr by BillN_33

Well if they're asymmetric tyres and you see the word outside on the outer wall then they're fitted correctly, so in answer to your query, it must be normal.

Are these the tyres?

http://www.hankookwintertyres.co.uk/Winter-iCept-Evo-W310.htm

I have the same tyres, as long as the "outside" marking is on the outside of the wheel ( eg the bit you look at) then they are correctly fitted.

They do not care about the direction of rotation.

If they did then hankook would have to make left handed and right handed tyres, which would be hugely expensive and lead to potential mistakes if fitted on the wrong hub.

Well if they're asymmetric tyres and you see the word outside on the outer wall then they're fitted correctly, so in answer to your query, it must be normal.

Are these the tyres?

http://www.hankookwi...pt-Evo-W310.htm

Yep - those are the tyres

as you can see those "mid tyre curved groves" will not be in the same direction on one side of the vehicle as on the other (side)

Edited 29 October, 201213 yr by BillN_33

I have the same tyres, as long as the "outside" marking is on the outside of the wheel ( eg the bit you look at) then they are correctly fitted.

They do not care about the direction of rotation.

If they did then hankook would have to make left handed and right handed tyres, which would be hugely expensive and lead to potential mistakes if fitted on the wrong hub.

I've never noticed this before - but what seems inconsistent to me is the the tyres on one side of the car, in theory, move water in a slightly different way to the tyres on the other side

Prior to the Yeti I had mostly SAAB 9 5s - I 'm almost sure that they all had directional tyres fitted

Edited 29 October, 201213 yr by BillN_33

It sounds like those tyres are have Asymmetric tread patten, not a directional one. This basically means the inner tread is different to the outer. They can be fitted to either side of the car, as long as they are fitted to the wheel correctly.

An asymetric tread is also what you need as a spare. You do not want a Directional one it could only be fitted to one side of the car.

It sounds like those tyres are have Asymmetric tread patten, not a directional one. This basically means the inner tread is different to the outer. They can be fitted to either side of the car, as long as they are fitted to the wheel correctly.

An asymetric tread is also what you need as a spare. You do not want a Directional one it could only be fitted to one side of the car.

Jim, look at the images of the tyre posted on link above

It is not the inner or outer tread pattern that I am discussing - it is the mid tread pattern

what I am saying is that on one side of the car the mid tread pattern is the opposite to the mid tread pattern on the other side of the car

This must be normal and acceptable as pointed out above - it just surprised me when I changed the wheels

I've never noticed this before - but what seems inconsistent to me is the the tyres on one side of the car, in theory, move water in a slightly different way to the tyres on the other side

Yep. I haven't seen a asymmetric tyre that's not like that but I haven't been looking. I prefer directional over assymetric for that reason. If you aqua plan I'd imagine a greater drag on one side than the other causing a spin.

Brigdestone adrenalines are the same.

http://www.bridgestone.com.au/tyres/treads/RE002.aspx

And these

http://www.bridgestone.com.au/tyres/treads/pz-x.aspx

There are plenty so maybe it doesn't make too much differance. Considering a set of tyres can cost near $1000 and your stuck with them for 30,000km odd, I'm not prepared to take the risk and it would always be in the back of my mind.

I supose I'll find out when my yeti arrives because they have some asymetrical Dunlops as standard.

Happy Days.

It is very rare that tyres are both directional and asymmetric. The Hancooks you have got are only asymmetric.

Have at look at my posts on this thread that was discussing Yokohama Prada 2s. http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/243586-my-parada-2s/

I tend to like these

http://kumho.com.au/products/ecsta-spt-ku31/

Tread patterns like these move water away from the middle of the tyre and reduce the risk of Aqua Planning. If they were fitter backward the risk would be increase as water pressure would be increased toward the center.

If you look at some if these Asymetrical patterns, 1/3rd of the tread on one side is sweeping away, therefore the opposite side is sweeping in. It just doesnt seem right to me?

Happy Days.

It is very rare that tyres are both directional and asymmetric. The Hancooks you have got are only asymmetric.

I agree. They would have to manufacture 2 different tyres, one for each side.

Happy Days.

Have at look at my posts on this thread that was discussing Yokohama Prada 2s. http://www.briskoda....6-my-parada-2s/

They look like they would spear the whole car sideways if you aqua planned.

Like this:

I know this - I have had directional tyres fitted to my cars

<br />That is not my query!

I understand what you are getting at: With your tyres fitted correctly with "outer" on all the tyres facing outwards, one set of tread patterns are going what would be in the correct direction for dispersing the water, while on the other side of the car they (the tread pattern) are going in the reverse direction! This has to be, when you think how tyres are moulded. I have Goodyear Eagle Ultra Grip (205/60/R16) cold weather tyres on steel rims and have the same one way tread...I have wondered whether they all work the same (?). Not yet fitted; waiting for an average of less than 7 degrees, or when I get round to it!

As an added point, this tyre size should cause less than 1% error to the speedo'.

Peter

I agree. They would have to manufacture 2 different tyres, one for each side.

Happy Days.

As mentioned that thread Yokohama once did. Their ADVAN NEOVA AD05 was designed for the left hand side of the car and the ADVAN NEOVA AD06 was designed for the right hand side.

It would get even more complied if your car had different sizes (widths) of tyre front and back as all 4 would have to be different!

Just driven 700 miles on our Hankook W310's over the weekend, bar a little extra noise on 'gravel rash' roads, their far better than the summer Conti's the car came with.

Temps ranging from +10 to freezing.

TP

Though the centre of asymmetric tyres may appear to clear water "the wrong way" on one side, in practice they still do it properly as long as there is sufficient space to expel the water. As the tread wears down, any deficiency will become more apparent, though performance of any tyre deteriorates as it wears. Various Goodyear & Pirelli tyres also have treads that appear to be directional but aren't.

Had a long discussion regarding directional wet racing tyres at Oulton Park recently. Some drivers fit the directional tyres the correct way on the driven (rear) wheels, but the wrong way on the (undriven) fronts on the basis that it gives them better control as the tread blocks squeeze together & grip the Tarmac better under very heavy braking!

Strangely, even the Yokohama Competition tyre fitting "expert" said that the jury is still out on the best way to fit them (on track) despite exhaustive testing by the manufacturer. In a straight line at speed, they certainly work best at clearing water when all are fitted in accordance with the marked rotation. But on the circuit, there is evidence that the fronts work better the wrong way round, but only on rear wheel drive cars..... I know it sounds incredible, but it's true!

However on the public highway, there's only one way to fit directional tyres. Fit them the wrong way round & your insurer would have grounds for withdrawing cover in the event of an accident.