Tyres Wrong Way Round?

[grubbergreen]

Ive just had a new pair of Kumo tyres fitted to the front of my 2003 Galaxy.The offside tyre has a red dot on the side wall on the outside but the dot is on the inside on the nearside tyre.Should they both be on the outside? If so is it worth getting the one changed over what difference will it make?

[big_kev]

I think the red dots are more to do with balance, they should be near the valve normally.

Inside or outside doesn't matter assuming the tyres are not directional.

 

Directional tyres usually have an arrow on both sidewalls indicating direction of rotation.

[tiny]

Tyres when manufactured are not of a perfectly uniform weight around their diameter (hence the need for balancing), nor for that matter are they perfectly round(radial runout). They are usually marked with red or yellow dots to highlight specific points in the tyre.

 

A red dot (when applied) typically denotes the high point in the tyres circumference. If the rim has a marking showing that it has a low spot (rims are often not round either!) then the red dot should line up with the rim marking. The radial runout of a tyre howver is so minute that it will probably not be noticed, were talking microscopic measurements here.

 

The yellow dot ussually denotes the lightest point around the tyre and this should be lined up with the valve as this is typically the area where the rim is heaviest once the valve is fitted and the tyre should therefore need the least amount of balancing.

 

If the tyre has both markings, the red dot should be fitted to the low spot in a rim if applicable and the yellow dot ignored. If no low point is marked in the rim then the tyre would be mounted according to the yellow dot. I believe that some manufacturers use different coloured dots just to add more confusion to the mix!

 

Many tyres can be fitted in any position on the vehicle and run of the mill tyres tend to be of this style, they are a general purpose "compromise" tyre giving a balance of performance characteristics, wet/dry performance, handling, wear etc.

 

There are however several other types of tyre that offer improved performance in various different areas.

 

Are your tyres asymetrical? Look at the tread patern, if it is not symetrical accross the tyres width then the tyre should be marked with "Inner" or "outer" to ensure the tyres are fitted the right way round. they can be fitted in any position on the vehicle so lang as the "inner and outer" markings are adhered to.

 

A directional tyre on the other hand must be fitted in the direction of travel in this case the tyre will be marked with the direction of travel, typically with an arrow and the word "rotation". These tyres once fitted to a wheel can only be mounted on one side of the vehicle.

 

Tyres can also be asymetrical and directional in which case the tyre will be marked with the direction of travel AND "inside or outside". Such tyres must be fitted the right way round and in the correct direction of travel. These tyres are typically top end or high performance tyres.

Edited December 5, 2007 by tiny

[Saif Rehman]

Tyres when manufactured are not of a perfectly uniform weight around their diameter (hence the need for balancing), nor for that matter are they perfectly round(radial runout). They are usually marked with red or yellow dots to highlight specific points in the tyre.

 

A red dot (when applied) typically denotes the high point in the tyres circumference. If the rim has a marking showing that it has a low spot (rims are often not round either!) then the red dot should line up with the rim marking. The radial runout of a tyre howver is so minute that it will probably not be noticed, were talking microscopic measurements here.

 

The yellow dot ussually denotes the lightest point around the tyre and this should be lined up with the valve as this is typically the area where the rim is heaviest once the valve is fitted and the tyre should therefore need the least amount of balancing.

 

If the tyre has both markings, the red dot should be fitted to the low spot in a rim if applicable and the yellow dot ignored. If no low point is marked in the rim then the tyre would be mounted according to the yellow dot. I believe that some manufacturers use different coloured dots just to add more confusion to the mix!

 

Many tyres can be fitted in any position on the vehicle and run of the mill tyres tend to be of this style, they are a general purpose "compromise" tyre giving a balance of performance characteristics, wet/dry performance, handling, wear etc.

 

There are however several other types of tyre that offer improved performance in various different areas.

 

Are your tyres asymetrical? Look at the tread patern, if it is not symetrical accross the tyres width then the tyre should be marked with "Inner" or "outer" to ensure the tyres are fitted the right way round. they can be fitted in any position on the vehicle so lang as the "inner and outer" markings are adhered to.

 

A directional tyre on the other hand must be fitted in the direction of travel in this case the tyre will be marked with the direction of travel, typically with an arrow and the word "rotation". These tyres once fitted to a wheel can only be mounted on one side of the vehicle.

 

Tyres can also be asymetrical and directional in which case the tyre will be marked with the direction of travel AND "inside or outside". Such tyres must be fitted the right way round and in the correct direction of travel. These tyres are typically top end or high performance tyres.

 

 

What an explanation.........................i wonder how many 'professional' tyre fitters put this into practice, hardly any.

Edited December 5, 2007 by Saif Rehman

[tiny]

What an explanation.........................i wonder how many 'professional' tyre fitters put this into practice, hardly any.

 

 

I make tyres for a living....................Horrible job!

[big_kev]

I make tyres for a living....................Horrible job!

 

It must be a bugger cutting out that big hole in the middle !

[Saif Rehman]

Next time i'm gonna have tyres fitted, i going to ask them that they do it this way and then take a dozen steps back and wait for a reaction!

[Smilge]

What an explanation.........................i wonder how many 'professional' tyre fitters put this into practice, hardly any.

 

 

I make tyres for a living....................Horrible job!

 

You should try becoming a Technical Author matey! ......... excellent explanation!