Tyre tread patterns

[mgaut]

My car has 4 Pirelli P6000 tyres on, and whilst not an ideal choice of tyre (as I understand) they all have good tread on, so I won’t be replacing them just yet.

My query is regarding the tread pattern. The best way I can describe this is that on the outer part of the tyre (the bit you can see under the wheel arches) the tread runs across the width of the car then diagonally towards the centre. On the near side tyres the diagonal tread that runs into the centre is pointing forward, whereas on the off side tyres the diagonal tread is pointing backwards !!

I’m guessing the diagonals they should all be pointing forward, to dispel water ? Looking at my Audi didn’t help, as 3 point forward and one backward !!

Hope this makes sense; any advice appreciated before I head off to the tyre fitters tomorrow.

Cheers

Mike

[The Surveyor]

If they are direction-specific, there should be an arrow on the side-wall showing the direction of rotation. Not quite sure how that works if they are not a symetrical pattern thou?

Paul

[mgaut]

Hmm … no directional arrow. Wheels now off the car ready for the other half to take to the fitters tomorrow.

Viewed from above, with both wheels side by side, the nearside tyre has the outer (left) diagonal tread running forwards, and the inner diagonal tread running backwards. The offside tyre is identical, so by removing one tyre and ‘swapping it over’ (i.e. the inside tyrewall now becomes the outside tyre wall) won’t help as the tyre patterns will still end up the same as they are now !!

I’m more confused now. Either I’ve got 2 left or right hand side tyres (but as I said, no directional arrows) or they are supposed to be like this ? The front tyres are exactly the same.

Mike

[19560]

mgaut said:

I’m more confused now. Either I’ve got 2 left or right hand side tyres (but as I said, no directional arrows) or they are supposed to be like this ? The front tyres are exactly the same.

I'm confused too. What are you doing? P6000s are non-directional and are a good standard tyre fitted to most jags and many VWs etc.
S03PPs and T1-Rs are generally thought to be the best all round tyres for TVRs, unless F1-GSD3s are available in your size.