Directional Tyres

Hello all.

I posted a question on an advanced driving forum I use regarding directional tyres.

I have been answered by an officious traffic copper that it would appear would nick his own grandmother.

http://www.advanced-driving.co.uk/bb/viewtopic.php?t=211

I am surprised by his answer of you can't fit a directional tyre rotating in the wrong direction, as I'd been advised by my tyre supplier that the directional part has nothibng to do with the construction of the tyre, but just its ability to disperse water.

I've e-mailed uniroyal but as yet have no answer from then.

Loads of you must have this problem, where if PC nickeverything is correct, you only have a spare for two wheels, and would be stuck if one of the remaining two was punctured.

Anyone come across this before ?

I find it dificult to believe, but that doesn't mean it isn't true, that I could have a stupid space saver, but can't drive with the rotation the wrong way round on a full tyre.

After that horrific head on bump I had in my old 5 series, I know how closely my car was examinied, so like to know the rules, although I'm not keen on the answer I'm getting on this one.

Possibly, but then you would be mixing directional and non directional on the same axle.

I would expect that to be a no no too.

The Engineer in me tells me to stay away from rotational tyres.  They are not flexible when it comes to evening out tyre wear and of course when you get a puncture.

I scrapped a rotational tyre on my E39 even though it still had excellent tread left.  It was an unknown make to me so I wasn't even happy having on the car in the first place let alone the fact that it was rotational specific.

I wouldn't mix even make of tyres between axle an or front rear.  All four tyres should be the same make and type at all four corners on your barge.

Remember a tyre is all that keeps you on the black stuff so don't mess about with them by fitting cheap nasty different tyres.  don't mess about with your safety!

My E39 is shod with four identical tyres and that's the way it will stay!

Andrew

I was told by a tyre fitter (while he was putting some Yokohama directional tyres on for me) that a guy had run a pair of directional tyres backwards, which had worn out in under 2000 miles.

There does seem to be more than water dispersion to take into account. Interestingly the new Michelin Pilot Sports that I have on my front wheels are a diffferent tread pattern to the original PS and are assymmetric, so can run either way.

Andy

I would prefer to use a bald spare that was a bit underpressure than a spacesaver, but spacesaver is the only legal one, spacesavers are just a drive a few miles home idea, and most punctures seem to happen miles from home in p***ing rain and darkness, OH yes perfect to use a spacesaver NOT !!!!

Badger 540 wrote: My Dad has a 17" spare for his E36. It would be proud of the boot carpet level (as the tyre is wider) except you can get some replacement trim parts from the dealers which raise the carpet height. End of problem.

That's fair enough but why pay out for these replacement trim parts?

If I get a pucture the first thing I would do would be to drive to a tyre place and get a new one fitted. Driving for a few miles on a 15" steel wheel wouldn't bother me.

On top of this it will reduce the boot space. Not an issue if it is a second car, but mine isn't and I find the boot size (and lack of folding rear seats!) an inconvenience as it is. 

Finally my car has optional 16" wheels (15s were standard) Would it have come with a 16" spare alloy? if not, if it had the standard 15" alloys fitted would it have come with an alloy wheel spare?

Nigel wrote: Possibly, but then you would be mixing directional and non directional on the same axle. I would expect that to be a no no too.

I raised this query a while back and my tyre fitter said the directionals were worth the effort when running wide low profile tyres which have often been associated with increased risk of aqua-planing. The directional tyres aparently sort this. I've never had a problem with my goodyears even when I've seen a deep patch of water running across the road and prepared for the worst.

He recommended using an assymetrical tyre from the same manufacturer as your main wheels and didn't want to comment on how fitting the tyre backwards would affect handling, braking, wear or wet weather response - his reply was a flat NO. 

sleeper wrote: Some things to bear in mind - a) directionals the wrong way will run hotter as the friction increases and wear faster. b) the E36 and E46 M3's have 7.5" front rims and 8.5" rear rims. With a full size spare for point B which would you carry?  Surely you can't mix rim widths on the axle???

E34 runs 17x235 on 8j's at the front and 17x 255 on 9j's at the rear, I was told to have a 235 spare 'cos the 255 would rub if fitted to the front. Re: mixing rim widths I think it's a case of not acting the maggot when running on your spare, otherwise there'd have been a different solution provided by BMW.

BTW, does anyone know what were the OEM tyres for the E34 M5's?