It is entirely possible to have a mixture of directional and nondirectional tires on the same vehicle. There are a couple of reasons why it is important to know if your tires are directional whether they are tires already on your vehicle or tires that you plan on mounting to your wheels.
Even though a unidirectional tire that does not face the right way is not necessarily a safety hazard, it does negatively impact the tire and vehicle performance and may reduce energy efficiency and it should be corrected.
Finally, if they are not installed correctly, the tread can wear down much faster. Tread that is worn down too much does, in fact, pose a safety hazard. The first reason why it is important to know if the tires are directional is when you are preparing to mount them to a vehicle.
When you are mounting directional tires, you have to make sure they are facing the correct direction. Therefore, not only do you have to know if they are directional tires, you also have to know which way they need to be installed. You can double check for an arrow on the sidewall that points to the front of the vehicle. Alternatively, you can look at which way the tires face by looking for the v shape in the tread.
This shape should be visible when looking towards the front surface of the tire. Another reason why it is good to know if your tires are directional is for rotating. Since they are made to face a single direction, they cannot be rotated in the same way as other tires. When nondirectional tires are rotated, they are typically moved from the front to the back and vice versa and, depending on if it is rear wheel drive or front wheel drive, they will also move to the opposite side of the vehicle.
With directional tires, the process is not as simple. When you are preparing to rotate the tires on a vehicle that has directional tires, you will have to follow a different procedure. Typically, you can still rotate the front and rear tires as long as they stay on the same side. The best way to properly rotate directional tires requires more skill, labor, and cost than a typical tire rotation.
The best way to properly and adequately rotate directional tires is to remove the tires completely and remount them in the correct direction at the proper rotation place. This would depend on whether the vehicle is rear wheel drive, all wheel drive, or front wheel drive. I've spent many years selling cars, working with auto detailers, mechanics, dealership service teams, quoting and researching car insurance, modding my own cars, and much more. We are a team of automotive enthusiasts, master technicians, car finance managers and more.
We share our knowledge with you, here on CarShtuff. You can read more about us, here. We can be reached at contact carshtuff. Directional tires have a tread pattern designed to rotate in only one direction. When you look at such tires head on, the lateral voids and channels on the tread all point forward and down. Directional tires also called unidirectional are better for performance cars — and traveling at high speeds — than tires with symmetrical or asymmetrical tread patterns.
The tires channel water away efficiently for excellent hydroplaning resistance and deliver sporty performance on dry surfaces. But directional tires cannot be easily rotated to as many positions on the vehicle. In order to rotate directionals to opposite sides of a vehicle — not just between front and back on the same side — the tires have to be dismounted from the wheels and remounted before being installed. For this reason, most drivers end up just switching directional tires from front to back on the same side when they get a rotation.
Most directional tires have a solid center rib, which adds rigidity for high-speed stability. Also, the lateral channels on the tread pattern all point down in a V-shape.
Such designs are used on summer or winter tires. This type of tire offers the most grip. Meaning, these would be great if you want a tire for those icy winters but can then turn around and keep driving them throughout the summertime.
They offer year-round grip, great traction in wet, icy, snowy conditions, you can drive them at fast speeds, and you have multiple rotation possibilities. These are considered the all-weather type of tire.
Symmetrical tires are the most common everyday tire. These are your all-season tires that have even wear and can be driven throughout the summer and winter months. They have a long tread life and keep your car smooth and quiet while driving. They can be fitted and rotated in any way due to the continuous ribs across the entire tread face.
Make sure you buy tires based on how you drive. If you have a fun sports car that you drive throughout the summer and fall then I would go with directional tires. They allow the car to carry more speed while keeping the car stable.
If you are looking for a tire with better tread then I would go with the asymmetrical tire, and if you just want a great tire for all seasons, then stick with the symmetrical tire. Of course, when deciding on what type of tire is best for your specific vehicle always refer to your owners manual or your mechanic.
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