tires run in wrong rotation

[randywebb]

I just discovered that the installer mounted two of my new Bridgestone S-03 tires wrong. The directional arrows point backwards. I've put over 1,000 miles on them - far more than the amount of mileage to break them in.

Has any damage been done? Do I need new tires, or is it enough to just reverse the two tires on the rim?

Thx.

[jbrinkley]

look out Im going out on a limb offering advice
if they are the two fronts or the two rears cant you just switch em?
boy im gonna look like a retard if im wrong

[randywebb]

1 front; 1 rear

but my question is about damage....

[Emission]

No damage. Directional treads are more for wet weather rather tire carcass issues. Flip if you want (they will work better in the rain). It shoud be a free install considering they were mounted "backwards" last time!

[Phantom911]

What about the effect that camber has on the tread? I know 1000 miles is not a great deal but if there is a good amount of negative camber, the car may pull if the tire is flipped around on its rim. Tre reason I say this is because I had a tire mounted incorrectly too. The front left. It had been on for a while and like a dodo I had it flipped when I replaced the rears. Well, it gave new meaning to "lively" handling.

[Emission]

Originally posted by Phantom911
What about the effect that camber has on the tread?

I am no expert, but your theory does make sense.

If your alignment is "normal" I see no harm in running (or mounting) a directional "backwards" on the vehicle.

If you are running extremes in alignment, you may have excessive wear on the "new" tire that will be very apparent (enough to cause even dangerous handling) when flipped back to the "correct" position.

Good point!

[ScottKelly911]

I say get them to buy you new tires.

[Phantom911]

I'll second that but good luck on that one.

[Rufblackbird]

They're designed to roll one way for better traction, and I doubt going backwards for 1k miles would've done any permanent damage. They should definintely redo it for free.

The only thing that I've had experience with backward tires was that they caused a lot of vibration when I went above 55mph.

[dvkk]

Clarification:

Originally posted by Rufblackbird
They're designed to roll one way for better traction,

Only in the wet.

[RoninLB]

I flip 4x16x6 all the time. The S-03 flipped backwards suprised me on how good it still is in the rain when 3/4 worn. I flip about every 5-6k mi. Rear tire wear should be even for transaxle care imo. I always use a tire depth ga to monitor. Measure at left-right-center.

Directionals is for rain efficency.

[Jack Olsen]

I flip mine all the time. I have over 3 degrees negative camber. No bad things have happened.