Tyres - am I being stupid?
Discussion
j44esd said:
donna180 said:
If asymetric and directional then surely either a left or right side tyre.... !
Erm. Without getting away from the OP's question too much, and having now ascertained that a composite tyre exists in the form of the Yokohama Advan, The P Zero Corsas in your link are directional front, and asymmetric rear. So not left or right. You could put the directional front on either the left or the right hand side of the axle, and the asymmetric rear on either the left or right hand side of the axle.I think. I'm confused now...
Edit2: ignore my edit comment!!!! Edited by donna180 on Thursday 22 December 19:14
j44esd said:
donna180 said:
j44esd said:
98elise said:
I believe a ferrari has left and right tyres, and as the front and rears are different sizes it actually has a specific tyre for each corner. I can't remember which car it is though
Really? That would be very unusual - plenty of cars have different sized front and rear tyres, but outside of racing (For track direction where more strain is put on certain sidewalls), I was not aware of anything road biased that had this.Take for example the BMW 3 series on staggered 18's - 225/40R18 front, 255/35R18 rear - the front and rear are different sizes, but the individual axles don't have a 'left' or 'right' fitment - they are either directional, and so fitted in the direction of rotation, or asymmetric and fitted with the 'OUTSIDE'/'EXTERIOR' facing outward.
Of course, sod's law says that you are right and there are some crazy fitments out there!
In the case of the OP, Avon list the ST Ice Touring as being asymmetric:
http://www.avontyres.com/node/3174
Hence, they should be fitted as per the directions for an asymmetric tyre.
http://www.pirelli.com/tyre/gb/en/car/sheet/pzero_...
As stated before I will more than happily stand corrected though
Edited by j44esd on Wednesday 21st December 23:27
I ran three sets of these on my Opel Track car - brilliant on track almost equivilent to a slick (were the worst tyre I have ever used on the road in the rain mind)
Pirelli Blurb from what I kept
The P Zero Corsa is Pirelli's DOT-legal Competition tire primarily developed for use on high performance cars at drivers' schools and lapping days conducted on race tracks.
On the outside, The P Zero Corsa uses a high hysteresis tread compound that transfers the vehicle's horsepower to a dry track by developing inspiring grip at high tread temperatures. This tread compound is molded into a unique asymmetric and directional tread pattern that features a sturdy outer shoulder to provide lateral stability and cornering grip, while grooves in the tire's central and inner tread areas enhance wet track handling and braking. The P Zero Corsa's asymmetric and directional tread design requires separate "left" and "right" side tires for the vehicle as branded on each tire's sidewall.
The P Zero Corsa is molded with 6/32" of tread depth in its grooves and is available unshaved for use on damp tracks
Caution: The P Zero Corsa is not recommended for driving on extremely wet roads where there is the risk of hydroplaning. This is especially true of shaved or worn tires. Drivers should drive cautiously at reduced speeds in these conditions.
The P Zero Corsa can be safely driven to and from the track, given sufficient remaining tread depth, but is not recommended for daily street use because of its roughly 15% less hydroplaning resistance and dramatically reduced tread life compared to the P Zero Rosso.
Pirelli doesn't recommend high running pressures for the P Zero Corsa, instead stating that it should typically be run near 2 bar, or about 29 psi. Pirelli suggests setting initial pressures about 6 psi below the intended running pressure, going on the track for three to four laps to get the tires to operating pressure, then pit and immediately adjust pressures to the desired level. Of course, testing will be required to determine the ideal operating pressure for any given vehicle and/or driver.
Still listed here as left and rights although I haven't been able to find a set for 2 years
http://www.wheelenhancement.com/tirespecs.php?tire...
Edited by B'stard Child on Thursday 22 December 19:04
jon- said:
Could be worse:
Vredestein Ultrac Sessantas(?)Just put them on my S4 and have been very impressed with the value for money. Improved the handling all round especially the much sharper turn in, despite being a summer tyre they perform very well in the wet typhoon weather we've had in Cornwall the last 2 weeks. I won't try to get technical like some above (as I don't know what I'm talking about) but this unconventional looking style works!
Edited by pinseeker on Thursday 22 December 21:38
Just had to google this thread having confused myself when taking delivery of a set of four Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2's. Apologies for the thread resurrection.
So, in response to the original poster's "am I being stupid?" No. Or if you are then I have to admit to it too. It's really counter-intuitive shifting from symmetrical rotational tyres to non-rotational asymmetrics with an inside and an outside and differently oriented tread on each side.
To my mind, they seem to contradict each other in their rules. The question I would like answered, further to the erudite discussion above is this:-
On a symmetrical rotational tyre it is critical that the V's and other tread shapes are specifically placed to displace water as they turn, and it's bad for them to be back to front. How is it that on an asymmetric tyre it is possible for very similar V's and patterns to work either way round?
...colour me confused.
So, in response to the original poster's "am I being stupid?" No. Or if you are then I have to admit to it too. It's really counter-intuitive shifting from symmetrical rotational tyres to non-rotational asymmetrics with an inside and an outside and differently oriented tread on each side.
To my mind, they seem to contradict each other in their rules. The question I would like answered, further to the erudite discussion above is this:-
On a symmetrical rotational tyre it is critical that the V's and other tread shapes are specifically placed to displace water as they turn, and it's bad for them to be back to front. How is it that on an asymmetric tyre it is possible for very similar V's and patterns to work either way round?
...colour me confused.
Edited by Ryvita on Wednesday 16th September 16:26
Edited by Ryvita on Wednesday 16th September 16:32
Ryvita said:
On a symmetrical rotational tyre it is critical that the V's and other tread shapes are specifically placed to displace water as they turn, and it's bad for them to be back to front. How is it that on an asymmetric tyre it is possible for very similar V's and patterns to work either way round?
Looking at tread symmetry is a distraction from the main question. The big question is how the manufacturer has engineered the tyre to deal with forces of acceleration, steering and braking all of which are "directional". The tyre carcase will either be engineered "directional" or "non-directional".
Even racing slicks with no tread at all may need to be on the correct side of the car.
Ozzie Osmond said:
Looking at tread symmetry is a distraction from the main question.
The big question is how the manufacturer has engineered the tyre to deal with forces of acceleration, steering and braking all of which are "directional". The tyre carcase will either be engineered "directional" or "non-directional".
Even racing slicks with no tread at all may need to be on the correct side of the car.
You're quite correct, but then I would presume that the carcass will indeed have to be non-rotational/directional to work like this? Might be symmetrical or not, I don't know.The big question is how the manufacturer has engineered the tyre to deal with forces of acceleration, steering and braking all of which are "directional". The tyre carcase will either be engineered "directional" or "non-directional".
Even racing slicks with no tread at all may need to be on the correct side of the car.
Ryvita said:
On a symmetrical rotational tyre it is critical that the V's and other tread shapes are specifically placed to displace water as they turn, and it's bad for them to be back to front. How is it that on an asymmetric tyre it is possible for very similar V's and patterns to work either way round?
Ignoring the tyre buildup under the skin, and looking purely at tread pattern which is the bit that looks wrong and therefore the cause of this thread....You are right that a tire with a "V-shaped" directional tread pattern is designed to carry water from the center of the footprint to the outer edge. And fitting it backwards would reverse the pumping effect - pushing the water to the center of the tread with nowhere to go and making the tyre more likely to aquaplane.
The difference is that even though a non-directional tread pattern has angled grooves, it isn't designed to pump the water all the way to the tyre edge. The small angled grooves just push it to the nearest large circumferential groove, so it can then "exit" out of the back of the tyre that way.
If you look again at your tyres, you'll see that no matter which way it's turning the water will still be cleared.
Some tyres can be more extreme than others. The vredestein tyres posted previously in the thread can look VERY wrong even when fitted correctly, but again they have that large circumferential groove that lets the water travel from infront of the tyre to behind it.
Trust the manufacturer labels. If they have "outside" and "inside" written on the side, and are fitted such that the lables are oriented correctly on the vehicle, then it's more than likely right. It's VERY rare to have road tyres that are both directional and asymmetrical.
Edited by JordanTurbo on Wednesday 16th September 19:04
Hi. I also think I'm going mad, or just a sad git!
I had Goodyear efficient grip performance tyres fitted to the rear of my car. I was/still am suspicious of the way they are fitted. Goodyear themselves have informed my that they are asymmetric tyres, and as long as the tyres are fitted with the outer wall on the outside then they are correctly fitted. However, as it's already been said, it looks like I have two left had tyres fitted due to the lines in the tread of each tyre and the writing and pics on the tyre walls.
I just went back to the fitter and tried to tell them that one tyre is fitted the wrong way round but they convinced me that it isn't. I have now realised that they are right about that but, it looks like the right hand tyre should be on the left hand side of the car. That way, the lines of the tread pattern on both tyres would be running the same.
Long winded I know. Difficult to explain what the f I mean!
Is it possible to have had two left hand tyres fitted?
I had Goodyear efficient grip performance tyres fitted to the rear of my car. I was/still am suspicious of the way they are fitted. Goodyear themselves have informed my that they are asymmetric tyres, and as long as the tyres are fitted with the outer wall on the outside then they are correctly fitted. However, as it's already been said, it looks like I have two left had tyres fitted due to the lines in the tread of each tyre and the writing and pics on the tyre walls.
I just went back to the fitter and tried to tell them that one tyre is fitted the wrong way round but they convinced me that it isn't. I have now realised that they are right about that but, it looks like the right hand tyre should be on the left hand side of the car. That way, the lines of the tread pattern on both tyres would be running the same.
Long winded I know. Difficult to explain what the f I mean!
Is it possible to have had two left hand tyres fitted?
Spacebuggy said:
Hi. I also think I'm going mad, or just a sad git!
I had Goodyear efficient grip performance tyres fitted to the rear of my car. I was/still am suspicious of the way they are fitted. Goodyear themselves have informed my that they are asymmetric tyres, and as long as the tyres are fitted with the outer wall on the outside then they are correctly fitted. However, as it's already been said, it looks like I have two left had tyres fitted due to the lines in the tread of each tyre and the writing and pics on the tyre walls.
I just went back to the fitter and tried to tell them that one tyre is fitted the wrong way round but they convinced me that it isn't. I have now realised that they are right about that but, it looks like the right hand tyre should be on the left hand side of the car. That way, the lines of the tread pattern on both tyres would be running the same.
Long winded I know. Difficult to explain what the f I mean!
Is it possible to have had two left hand tyres fitted?
Goodyear Efficient Grip is an asymmetric non-directional tyre. That is, the pattern is not symmetrical across the tyre, thus there will be a mark on the outside sidewall saying ‘outside’ or similar. It is non-direction, that is the tyre can run in either direction. Thus if you have the same size wheels on all four corners, any wheel can fit on any corner.I had Goodyear efficient grip performance tyres fitted to the rear of my car. I was/still am suspicious of the way they are fitted. Goodyear themselves have informed my that they are asymmetric tyres, and as long as the tyres are fitted with the outer wall on the outside then they are correctly fitted. However, as it's already been said, it looks like I have two left had tyres fitted due to the lines in the tread of each tyre and the writing and pics on the tyre walls.
I just went back to the fitter and tried to tell them that one tyre is fitted the wrong way round but they convinced me that it isn't. I have now realised that they are right about that but, it looks like the right hand tyre should be on the left hand side of the car. That way, the lines of the tread pattern on both tyres would be running the same.
Long winded I know. Difficult to explain what the f I mean!
Is it possible to have had two left hand tyres fitted?
I have bought Vredestein Quatrac 5 for my wife’s Fabia. These are one of the few asymmetric non-directional all-season tyres.
Edited by Pica-Pica on Wednesday 29th May 17:19
Pica-Pica said:
I have bought Vredestein Quatrac 5 for my wife’s Fabia. These are one of the few asymmetric non-directional all-season tyres.
Thread resurrection! I have just bought a set of Quatrac 5 tyres, but cannot see any markings saying "outside" or similar. I think they are the right way round, as per the picture above - can you see any such markings on yours?A quick thank you to this thread for preventing me from calling my tyre place and shouting at them for fitting my Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5s incorrectly
It does look extremely odd though. The tread on the outside of the tyre is facing one way on the left and another on the right. I called Goodyear and they told me that ‘96% of the tyre’s water clearing efficacy is down the centre’ so these outside treads have very little bearing on anything. It still makes no sense to me that the treads would not be pointing in the same direction on both sides of the car. Can anyone give a clearer explanation?!
First Photo - Left Rear - Note how highlighted swoop curves towards the rear of the car (the slashes in-between too)
On my 2006 Maserati 4200 (manual)
It does look extremely odd though. The tread on the outside of the tyre is facing one way on the left and another on the right. I called Goodyear and they told me that ‘96% of the tyre’s water clearing efficacy is down the centre’ so these outside treads have very little bearing on anything. It still makes no sense to me that the treads would not be pointing in the same direction on both sides of the car. Can anyone give a clearer explanation?!
First Photo - Left Rear - Note how highlighted swoop curves towards the rear of the car (the slashes in-between too)
On my 2006 Maserati 4200 (manual)
Wait until you see a set of rainsport 5's fitted 
https://www.tyrereviews.com/Tyre/Uniroyal/RainSpor...
https://www.tyrereviews.com/Tyre/Uniroyal/RainSpor...
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