Running directional tyres backwards
Discussion
A set of R888 will last me 3 trackdays with the front and rear nearside tyres wearing more on the outside edges.
After 2 trackdays I can run them backwards (by swapping sides) for 1 trackday then back the right way for a final day therefore getting an extra trackdays wear out of them.
Obviously only in dry conditions.
Is this OK? apart from clearing water is there another reason for them being directional?
Planning to run them backwards tomorrow at Castle Combe.
Thanks
After 2 trackdays I can run them backwards (by swapping sides) for 1 trackday then back the right way for a final day therefore getting an extra trackdays wear out of them.
Obviously only in dry conditions.
Is this OK? apart from clearing water is there another reason for them being directional?
Planning to run them backwards tomorrow at Castle Combe.
Thanks
audi fitted all my tyres the wrong way round on my new company car, newfor me but car was 3 years old. when i was given it back from the company i presumed everything was fine. the car handled normal in dry but was like skating on ice in the wet but only really at high speeds. to be honest i actually never checked the tyres and used to just swear about how dangerous it was in the wet as i had no experience of it in the wet before the tyre change, i blew off the air intake to the turbo luckly when a mechanic from audi came out he spotted it.
If you want to get the most out of directional tyres when they're wearing out one side more than the other, you can get them taken off and swapped to the opposite rim. Doing it this way means they remain directional. The economy of doing it depends on how much a tyre fitter charges to take off the tyre and mount and balance it on the opposite rim. Have a word with the trackday tyre support to see what they will charge. It will be lot safer.
The grooves in the tyre are there purely to spirit water away from the tread in as efficient a manner as possible - therefore if it is a dry day it will be fine...
Wet might prove slightly trickier, but hey-ho there aren't that many grooves on an R888 anyhow - it could prove interesting if there is standing water about (but not impossible, I was using slicks the other day and it wasn't too bad).
Frodo
Wet might prove slightly trickier, but hey-ho there aren't that many grooves on an R888 anyhow - it could prove interesting if there is standing water about (but not impossible, I was using slicks the other day and it wasn't too bad).
Frodo
changingman said:
I always thought you shouldnt run tyres backwards because when the tread part is bonded to the main part of the tyre there is a diagonal overlap that can fail and make the tread part come away!!??
I've heard that too, and in relation to slicks(hence it's not a tread pattern issue).
All those people with slicks in their garage ....... are some of them directional????
We used to do this when racing MX5's, they would tend to fold the tread over (so that the edge of the tread blocks created a wave shape), an a hot, dry day it was perfectly fine to reverse them, and the drivers commented on how it was much the same, either way. As soon as it got cooler/damp they were shocking though!
frodo_monkey said:
None of mine are...
And if you think about it, whats to stop this 'diagonal bit' failing with the wheel travelling the other way?
If, as in my fantastic diagramAnd if you think about it, whats to stop this 'diagonal bit' failing with the wheel travelling the other way?
, the tread is bonded with a diagonal overlap if the force of hitting the road is in direction A it will have the effect of scuffing up the join however if the force hits from direction B then this wont happen. I'm not saying this is how a tyre is made its just what I heard.
Edited by changingman on Saturday 23 May 08:46
Edited by changingman on Saturday 23 May 08:46
Well after an initial bedding in for a couple of laps the tyres performed exactly the same.
The bonding issue is probably only relevant if you run them down to the canvas which I do not plan on doing.
Speedo was registering 140mph but correction using Sat nav true speed 130mph so a good test.
Im happy to do it in future.
Mark
The bonding issue is probably only relevant if you run them down to the canvas which I do not plan on doing.
Speedo was registering 140mph but correction using Sat nav true speed 130mph so a good test.
Im happy to do it in future.
Mark
Hammerwerfer said:
I've seen Caterhams running the fronts backwards as they are optimised for traction in one direction and running them backwards offer greater braking performance.
Here ya go....http://www.ellisracing.co.uk/caterham_racing_tips....
Paul1972 said:
Hammerwerfer said:
I've seen Caterhams running the fronts backwards as they are optimised for traction in one direction and running them backwards offer greater braking performance.
Here ya go....http://www.ellisracing.co.uk/caterham_racing_tips....
The point of directional performance tyres is entirely to do with internal make up of the tyre and which direction the load is intended to be applied and therefore maintian stability. So one would typically only notice a difference if the tyre is at its limit regularly.
So for example a CR500 Avon is traditionaly run in reverse on the front od a Caterham because the tyre make up is designed to take load under acceleration, but on the front that load comes in the reverse direction from the brakes. You'd be hard pressed to realy spot a difference though in most cases.
On a road tyre its often to do with the tread patern and its ability to disperse water and reduce road noise.
Ultimately you should always run a matching axle with the driven tyres in the intended direction. The pushed wheels are free to go how you like so long as they are matched.
So for example a CR500 Avon is traditionaly run in reverse on the front od a Caterham because the tyre make up is designed to take load under acceleration, but on the front that load comes in the reverse direction from the brakes. You'd be hard pressed to realy spot a difference though in most cases.
On a road tyre its often to do with the tread patern and its ability to disperse water and reduce road noise.
Ultimately you should always run a matching axle with the driven tyres in the intended direction. The pushed wheels are free to go how you like so long as they are matched.
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