Tyres - am I being stupid?

[therealpigdog]

Just bought a set of four Avon ST Ice Touring tyres on steel wheels and think I might be going mad.

The tyres are asymmetric with a large groove on one side - do far so good as all mounted correctly, but from the tread pattern it looks as though I have four left tyres as the tyre appears to be directional.

Is this the case, or am I going mad? Can you have asymmetric and directional tyres (and are these them)?

[jas xjr]

Sounds like two of the wheels have the tyres mounted the wrong way. Just get them changed over.
With directional tyres there should be an arrow on the tyre indicating direction of rotation

[j44esd]

therealpigdog said:

Just bought a set of four Avon ST Ice Touring tyres on steel wheels and think I might be going mad.

The tyres are asymmetric with a large groove on one side - do far so good as all mounted correctly, but from the tread pattern it looks as though I have four left tyres as the tyre appears to be directional.

Is this the case, or am I going mad? Can you have asymmetric and directional tyres (and are these them)?

Directional tyres will be marked with an arrow showing the direction of travel, asymmetric tyres will be marked clearly 'OUTSIDE' on the sidewall to assist with fitting. You cannot to the best of my knowledge have tyres that are both asymmetric and directional, as this would in essence be akin to 'left' and 'right' tyres.

Check that the marking 'OUTSIDE' or 'EXTERIOR' is visible and this should tell you if they have been fitted the 'right' way round.

You can however have treads that look like two 'left' hand tyres - the Michelin Pilot Primacy is a good example of this.



If you still aren't sure, just pop into your local tyre dealer, I'm sure they will be able to check to allay any fears.

Hope that helps!

Edited by j44esd on Wednesday 21st December 18:33

[98elise]

j44esd said:

therealpigdog said:

Just bought a set of four Avon ST Ice Touring tyres on steel wheels and think I might be going mad.

The tyres are asymmetric with a large groove on one side - do far so good as all mounted correctly, but from the tread pattern it looks as though I have four left tyres as the tyre appears to be directional.

Is this the case, or am I going mad? Can you have asymmetric and directional tyres (and are these them)?

Directional tyres will be marked with an arrow showing the direction of travel, asymmetric tyres will be marked clearly 'OUTSIDE' on the sidewall to assist with fitting. You cannot to the best of my knowledge have tyres that are both asymmetric and directional, as this would in essence be akin to 'left' and 'right' tyres.

Check that the marking 'OUTSIDE' or 'EXTERIOR' is visible and don't worry. You can however have treads that look like two 'left' hand tyres - the Michelin Pilot Primacy is a good example of this.



If you still aren't sure, just pop into your local tyre dealer, I'm sure they will be able to check to allay any fears.

Hope that helps!

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

[mgtony]

Another stupid question; if you have directional tyres, which direction should the spare be??

[j44esd]

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.

[LordHaveMurci]

mgtony said:

Another stupid question; if you have directional tyres, which direction should the spare be??

My Spare is for nearside as this is most common punctured my local tyre fitter says.

[j44esd]

mgtony said:

Another stupid question; if you have directional tyres, which direction should the spare be??

Pah. You mean you don't carry two spares?

The serious answer to this would appear to be:

http://www.tyres-online.co.uk/discus/messages/2/31...

[Puddenchucker]

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.

Yokohama Neova.



If I recall correctly, and I could be wrong, the original Honda NSX had tyres that were both asymmetric and directional (as well as different width and diameter front to rear).

So such tyres exist for road use, but they do tend to be for the more specialist applications.

[j44esd]

Puddenchucker 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.

Yokohama Neova.



If I recall correctly, and I could be wrong, the original Honda NSX had tyres that were both asymmetric and directional (as well as different width and diameter front to rear).

So such tyres exist for road use, but they do tend to be for the more specialist applications.

Emphasis mine. For the OP's question, the Avon is an asymmetric tyre as listed on Avons own website.

PS When were those Yoko's made? I don't recognise them as the current pattern

PPS I knew someone would find something, hence my caveat "Of course, sod's law says that you are right and there are some crazy fitments out there!"

[j44esd]

Puddenchucker said:

Yokohama Neova.



If I recall correctly, and I could be wrong, the original Honda NSX had tyres that were both asymmetric and directional (as well as different width and diameter front to rear).

So such tyres exist for road use, but they do tend to be for the more specialist applications.

Also, are they left and right tyres? Or just that the picture shows one the wrong way round? I know that the standard Advan looks like they should be a 'left' and 'right' but aren't, they are just a more exaggerated example of the Michelin in my original post.

I see (now) that they are for a Lotus - but can only find reference to Front and Rear fitments (Different sizes) not left and right - could you point me in the direction of the information so as to update my knowledge?

[Puddenchucker]

http://www.yokohamatire.jp/yrc/japan/tire/brand/ad...

And via Google Translator:

Google Translator said:

ADVAN NEOVA AD05 · AD06, so we adopted an asymmetric directional pattern, when attached to the side walls were stamped "SIDE ACING OUTWARDS" outward rotation and mark. Please attach all in the same direction so that according to the direction of rotation of the tire.
In addition, this tire for the left (AD05) for the right (AD06) because there is, when the order is for the left (AD05) 2, for the right (AD06), please designate two

And fitted to a Secma F16 (Road legal)

[therealpigdog]

Cheers - will unpack fully in the morning - it just looked odd, but those dunlops have reassured me.

just need snow now!

[j44esd]

Puddenchucker said:

And fitted to a Secma F16 (Road legal)

Cheers! I couldn't find it anywhere - do you know what the NSX ones were? My experience previously has only thrown up 'race' tyres before - so it's always good to add new knowledge.

[j44esd]

therealpigdog said:

Cheers - will unpack fully in the morning - it just looked odd, but those dunlops have reassured me.

just need snow now!

Are they stamped on the sidewall? As I mentioned before - just check with your tyre fitter - they are sure to know - all the best with the new tyres!

[donna180]

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.

P Zero corsa system - I believe the previous version had asymetric front and rear.

http://www.pirelli.com/tyre/gb/en/car/sheet/pzero_...

[j44esd]

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.

P Zero corsa system - I believe the previous version had asymetric front and rear.

http://www.pirelli.com/tyre/gb/en/car/sheet/pzero_...

It did. But I don't think that they were 'left' and 'right' tyres. They were asymmetric and directional, but not side dependent.

As stated before I will more than happily stand corrected though

Edited by j44esd on Wednesday 21st December 23:27

[Frances The Mute]

A tyre that is asymmetric and directional is known as a composite tyre. They are specifically handed which makes it a ballache in terms of stocking for dealer - hence them not being so popular.

There are clear benefits in terms of handling, though.

[donna180]

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.

P Zero corsa system - I believe the previous version had asymetric front and rear.

http://www.pirelli.com/tyre/gb/en/car/sheet/pzero_...

It did. But I don't think that they were 'left' and 'right' tyres. They were asymmetric and directional, but not side dependent.

As stated before I will more than happily stand corrected though

Edited by j44esd on Wednesday 21st December 23:27

If asymetric and directional then surely either a left or right side tyre.... !

[j44esd]

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...