I know we talked my recent low speed spin to death, but I just got a call from my body shop to come get the car. He said they found that the right front tire was mounted backwards on the wheel!!!! What effect would that have on handling? Could it have been a significant factor in the accident? I never noticed this when I got the car back after having the new tires mounted, but I will be sure to check everything from now on.

 

Wow...I haven't heard of THAT happening before!

But it shouldn't cause any issues with handling...only if you were in the rain as that is what the channels are designed for.

What stupidity...! I would also suggest that you car go no where near whoever put the tires on!

 

I guess a backwards tire would actually pump water from the edge of the tread to the middle, and maybe would hydroplane even more easily than a slick!

 

I've been told by tire guys that radial tires and in particular, uni-directional ones, should not be used on the other side of the car (or "backwards" in this case) as they get "used" to rolling mainly in one direction. If reversed, rolling resistance and resistance to lateral forces change and may cause "unbalanced and inappropriate" handling characteristics. And this isn't even talking about water issues.

 

That is a bad thing. Where did you have tires put on? I'm sure your insurance took care of this for you, but it will be listed as an "at fault accident" and make your rates go up. Not good. I would look into this further.

- Chris

 

very bad, it will really mess up the tracktion of the car... the tire is not ment to be running in opposite directions and might have an adverse effect...

 

i had a highly modified mustang 6-7 years ago that had one unidirectional front tire mounted "backwards" - the right one.

the result was that when loading the right front corner (taking a left turn), the right front tire had NO grip.

i actually drove around like that for a few days until i noticed it when armor-all-ing the tires after a car wash.

you would never think the discrepency in handling would be so obvious, but it is.

regards.

 

According to the Bridgestone staff that we talked to on this very question.. it will make no difference in the dry and the tire does not care. It will screw up performance in the wet because water is not channeled away properly so I imagine that tire would be prone to hydroplane easily.

As I recall your spin was the rear coming out in a lift throttle situation. My guess is that this tire had nothing to do with it.

 

Directional tyre mounted on the wrong side ... Now, that's a first.

 

cedelena summed it up.

Everyone would be running on slicks were it not for rain...so tires have channels to direct water as the tires pass over and through the water...you still maintain the same contact patch in the dry whether the tire is on the right way or not.