Just noticed that one of the rear tyres on my Mondeo, a Pirelli P Rosso is actually fitted the "wrong" way i.e. the sidewall labeled "Inside/Interior" is facing out. I've checked all the others (which, whilst not the same brand, are all directional) and they all seem correct i.e. they have all got the "Outside/Exterior" label facing out.
Is it a serious safety issue? Basically, how big a deal is it?
TIA.
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Do you still have the receipt for the work and how long ago was it fitted?
I don't know the implications of running a tyre the wrong way on the structure of the tyre but do know that the way the tread is designed to impact with the road, offering a correct level of grip and a water clearing ability as designed - the tread has to be rotating the correct way for it to be as effective as intended by the manufacturer.
I for one would certainly take it back to the place that did the original fitting and be ready for the, 'We didn't do that, it must have been done elsewhere' speech you are probably going to get...
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If it wasn't important it wouldn't be labelled 'interior' 'exterior' - its usually to do with water dispersal.
If it can be it needs switching round. My sister had the same issue after having a new tyre following a service. Took it back and the garage flipped it over and fitted it correctly.
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I bought the car recently and didn't notice this until recently.
All 4 tyres are in good condition with I would estimate, less than 75% wear.
I'll probably take it down to the local tyre-fitter and have it swapped round.
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depends
driven normally on dry roads you would probably not notice the difference
driven to the limit, especially in the wet, unpredictable will be the outcome
but biggest problem would be the consequences after an accident
if you were unlucky enough to be involved in a fatal road traffic accident and your car was examined in detail by police and your insurance company then
i) you may well get hammered by the police in court
ii) your insurance company have an excuse to avoid paying out
so i wouldnt have thought its worth the risk
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It might not have such good roadholding as it ought in the wet.
It might wear faster.
Get the others changed to match if you spend much of your time in reverse.
It shouldn't be unsafe, but I would make sure it's fitted correctly.
Check the "rotation" arrow.
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It's an MOT fail to have directional tyres fitted incorrectly so I would say there must be a safety issue for it to be part of the test.
You could always swap it for your spare (if you have full size spare).
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Are P Rossos directional and not just asymmetrical?
Either side of a DIRECTIONAL tyre can be on the outside as long as it rotates in the correct direction. ASSYMMETRICAL tyres need to have the correct face on the outside.
The above comments still apply though; it does need changing.
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Inside/Outside are not the same as directional (given you have a left and a right side). So why would there be a performance issue? could it be cosmetic.
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MOT fail and Potential problem if stopped. by the BiB. Ask them to put it right asap. Regards Peter
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Some of the premium tyres we fit to the 7.5 tonners I work on have rotational arrows moulded into the tread area.
Within a few miles, the arrows have worn off !
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Probably means that your car will only go backwards?
Just go to your nearest tyre fitter. £5 to have it turned round including balancing. Cost not worth worrying about! If the dealer who sold you the car is a garage, and is within 5 miles (i.e. the value of the cost of the petrol) AND has the facilities to do it (not all garages will fit tyres themselves) AND you've got a couple of hours to waste etc. etc. etc. If one of the big chains won't do it for a sensible price (but they will) go to a second-hand tyre place who will definitely.
On second thoughts, it seems to be an "inside"/"outside" distinction rather than a rotation direction issue. It may well be going in the right direction, but on the wrong side of the car - presumably it sends water away from the car, not towards? If that's the case, then you'll need a new tyre, so it will be worth going back to your supplying dealer.
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Like mapmaker, I wonder if the direction of tread is right but this tyre is meant to be on the other side of the car. If that's the case you'll need a new tyre. I'd also check the spare to make sure that one is not directional tread too.
When I had direction tyres on my Passat years ago and got a flat in one, the tyre place was instructed by the lease company to replace it with a non-directional one. I was not too happy having an almost worn tyre on one side and a new non-directional one on the other. When I asked the lease company if they could assure me it would be 100% safe and if there was an accident or something they were partly responsible - they sanctioned the change of both tyres ;-)
Trouble with a part worn directional tyre is it cannot be used as a spare either.
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After looking at this tinyurl.com/6eonrw I assume they're directional but not asymmetrical.
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If the tyre is directional and also has markings for inside/outside then this tyre needs to be on the other side of the car doesn't it?
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Thanks for all the responses - I'll pop down to the local tyre-fitters and have it "turned over" on the rim.
I did think about changing both the rear tyres (a Michelin Primacy and the P-Rosso) to match the fronts but it seems a shame to waste 2 good tyres with plenty of life and of course the best part of £200 too.
Edited by Chad.R on 02/09/2008 at 16:08
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If the tyre is directional it cannot be turned around. It needs replacing. And it's probably on that side with the wrong tyre wall outside because it is directional.
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If the tyre is directional it cannot be turned around.
???
Isn't just a case of taking the tyre off the rim, turning it over (so that the "inside" is facing "outside") and the refitting?
Surely otherwise you'd have different tyres for offside and nearside etc. ???
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Errr
Inside is inside and outside is outside - If all the other tyres are fitted correctly it can just be turned round on the rim. you dont buy 4 different directional tyres now do you ala
"I 'll have a front nearside directional tyre. you just gave me a back offside directional tyre"
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I stand to be corrected but I have never heard of tyres that are BOTH directional and asymmetrical. If that were the case then different tyres would be required for the left and right side of the car.
If the tyre has an 'outside' marking then it must be asymmetrical.
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I stand to be corrected but I have never heard of tyres that are BOTH directional and asymmetrical. If that were the case then different tyres would be required for the left and right side of the car. If the tyre has an 'outside' marking then it must be asymmetrical.
I agree, AFAIK all directional tyres are Symmetrical.
To the OP, if the tyre has been running the wrong way for some time, it will be noisy until it wears a bit.
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Is it a PZERO ROSSO or a PZERO ROSSO DIREZIONALE? See my earlier link to the Pirelli tyre range.
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Or possibly even a P Zero Rosso ASSIMMETRICO!
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ASSIMMETRICO & DIREZIONALE lovely words, doesn't it sound better in Italian?
Edited by RobertyBob on 02/09/2008 at 16:27
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Some high performance tyres are both assymetrical AND directional so need to be fitted on the correct side of the car. I have no idea if this applies here. Maybe they are just assymetrical and not directional?
So if this was the case there would be a difference for tyres on each side of the car.
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Some high performance tyres are both assymetrical AND directional
As confirmed by Dunlop here:
www.dunloptyres.co.uk/ourTyres/car/technicalInform.../
"
Asymmetric tyres
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if you do use a wheel with an incorrectly fitted asymmetric tyre, it should be regarded strictly as a 'Temporary spare'.
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Some tyres are both asymmetrical and directional. These tyres carry markings on the sidewall which a) indicate the correct direction of rotation and b) identify the inner- and outward-facing sides.
Directional Tyres
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What happens if you are unfortunate enough to have a puncture and your spare wheel is fitted with a directional tyre designed to rotate in the opposite direction to the tyre which it replaces? You are recommended to treat the spare wheel as a 'Temporary spare', drive at reduced speed and have the tyre correctly refitted as soon as possible.
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Or possibly even a P Zero Rosso ASSIMMETRICO!
As far as I can see, there's a PZERO ASIMETRICO, but not a PZERO ROSSO ASIMETRICO.
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Sidewall just says "PZERO ROSSO".
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Remind me to keep buying inexpensive non-directional tyres will you?
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My last cars since 1997 have all been company ones. One set of direction ones and I didn't notice any improvement or anything. Just meant at time of replacing a puncture I felt it wise to replace two. Had they been non-directional then could have used the worn tyre as spare.
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>>I didn't notice any improvement or anything.
Just exactly what sort of improvement were you hoping for? I really hope that you seldom drive to within the limits of your tyres. In any event, you'd never be able to compare how close you get to the limits, would you?
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Michelin Pilots on the Xantia are clearly marked inner/outer. Asymetric treads look as though they're designed to throw water outwards and possibly combat scrubbing on the outer faces while cornering.
Local tyre firm did manage to fit one wrong way round (after a puncture repair), but wilingly sorted it when error was lointed out. Like ithers I think, unless the tyre has obviously worn oddly as a result of bieng incorrectly oriented it will be sufficient to just remove and refit in correct direction.
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Sidewall just says "PZERO ROSSO".
Look at the pattern of the tread to aid identification.
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My Pirelli Zero Nero's are assymetrical;the tread differs across the width of the tyre.
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Might incorrect fitting invalidate insurance, if a claim arose?
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No.
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>>No.
I think yes, if the poor performance of the tyres was material to the crash.
So, if you aquaplane and crash, then having incorrectly fitted tyres could affect how the insurance company react.
If, on the other hand, someone runs into you while you're stopped at the lights, then the condition of your tyres wouldn't be important.
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FT please clarify - illegal tyres (re tread depth) can invalidate insurance, fitting alloy wheels without telling insurer can invalidate insurance. How is fitting an assymetric and/or direction of rotation tyre incorrectly not a problem? I bet some companies would leap at the chance of turning down a claim, if they could.
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Guidance somewhere (is it on this thread?) is that incorrectly fitted rotational tyres when used on a spare wheel should be treated in the same way as a spacesaver spare - i.e. reduced speed, reduced range, and drive straight to the nearest tyre fitter.
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Look at the pattern of the tread to aid identification.
The speed index (rating) should also help with identification. Certain Pirelli tyres are only available in certain speed ratings. Click on tinyurl.com/6eonrw
Edited by L'escargot on 03/09/2008 at 10:12
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