Even at the dawn of the automotive industry, when car tires were made of natural rubber, which melted in the sun and hardened from frost, designers and manufacturers thought about something more perfect. After all, such tires are not far removed from the wheel on a horse-drawn cart. As a result, technologies have evolved, oil processing methods have improved, times have changed.
In 1927, among other things, the Soviet scientist Sergei Vasilievich Lebedev, synthetic rubber was obtained, which became the progenitor of the material of modern tires. But such a material did not become a panacea, in addition to the rubber itself providing high performance properties for tires, the shape and profiles of the tire were also important. Subsequently, the tire treads became flat, in order to provide a large area with the road, which means stability on the road. In addition, they have a protector. At the same time, in some cases, the tire tread required a certain installation of tires, according to their rotation. It is about these very installation cases, as well as what will happen if the tires are installed incorrectly, that we will describe in our article.

Tire rotation direction or tire tread types

If you pay attention to the treads of tires that drive around your city, then most attentive people will surely see that tires are different. In one case, the tread pattern is like a checkerboard, just squares, in the other there is a strict direction, relative to the transverse axis of the wheel, and symmetrical. And, in the end, the orientation relative to this axis is asymmetric. That is, we can say about the banal, very well-known fact that tire treads are: directional and non-directional. Moreover, the welded tire tread can be symmetrical or asymmetric.

(Classification of tire type based on tread type)

So why do manufacturers bother to perform this pattern, what role does it play when using tires? After all, all this is clearly not only for the sake of beauty.

Installing tires relative to the tread on the tire

We will start with the case when the protector is non-directional. In this case, there is no need to talk about the correct installation of the tire, regarding where it should rotate. One way or the other, it doesn't matter. Another thing is when the protector is directional.
For a car enthusiast - an average person who does not want to delve into the essence of the matter, everything is simple. Look at the marking on the rim "ROTATION", which translates from English as rotation, and put the tire on the car in accordance with the rotation of the wheel in the direction of the car moving forward.

Or marking "outside" (outer side) ...

For those who want to know why the tire should be stopped in this way and not otherwise, and what may be affected by incorrect installation of the tire, we will tell the following.
The direction of the tread on the tire is designed to remove liquid, dirt, snow porridge from under it, that is, everything that has a low viscosity. At the same time, this withdrawal is necessary in order to avoid the so-called hydroplaning effect. That is, to prevent the loss of contact between the road and the rubber. Why this very contact is needed, we will not explain. Let's talk about how the directional tread removes all this from under the contact patch of the tire with the road.

How a Properly Installed Directional Tire Reduces Hydroplaning

Here you can talk and explain for a long time. But it is better, as they say, to see once. We made a gif especially for you. Take a look.

Basically, the tread works like the vanes on a centrifugal pump when it pumps water, except that the driving force here is not centrifugal force, but the force from squeezing water into the grooves of the tread. The force is generated each time the tire hits the fluid it is supposed to expel. So water, dirt, wet snow is squeezed out into the groove and discharged out. The wheel rotates further, and new water is again squeezed out into the groove in the direction of the car. Due to the removal of this "grease", the contact between the tire and the road is improved, which entails a safer ride. It's all so simple and logical. Here I want to talk about the direction of the drawing. As we have already said, you can pay attention to the ROTATION marking, or you can look at the picture.

(tire installed correctly)

So, the tread grooves should always move away from the contact patch of the tire with the road towards the back of the car, if you look at the wheels from above on the left. And the opposite situation for the wheels on the right. In this case, you can not look for the markings on the rim. I looked at the tread pattern and put a tire on the car according to the pattern.

What happens if the directional tire is installed in the wrong direction

Here everything is according to the logic of what is happening, but in reverse order. If everything under our wheels (dirt, sleet, water) is more difficult to squeeze out, since the grooves will be directed to the intake of all this environment, then in fact it will turn out that excess pressure will form in the center of the tire, in the contact patch. It will try to raise the tire, which contributes to the deterioration of rubber grip. By itself, this is not safe.

However, if we talk about a dry road, when there is no water on the street, or it is frosty and just snowing, then the presence of such grooves that drain water, slurry, in fact, does not oblige to anything. Also, such grooves will not affect the situation with limited speed, about 5-20 km/h.

Summing up about the correct and incorrect installation of directional tires on the machine

So, the direction of the tread grooves on the tire was invented not just for beauty. If they are, then it is better to use them. The directional grooves of the tread contribute to the removal of the liquid medium from under the wheel and thereby improve the contact between the rubber and the road. Therefore, pay attention to the correct installation of the tire. When installing a tire, you need to pay attention to its tread. At the same time, such a statement applies not only to the one who puts an already wrapped wheel on the car, but also to the mechanics who install the tire on the rim. After all, the car must have two wheels on the left side and two on the right. Nothing else!
Well, about the case when everything is operated with incorrectly installed tires. If it's dry outside, it won't make any difference. If it’s not slushy outside, it’s raining, then be extremely careful. It will be very difficult to get the car out of hydroplaning, and you can not talk about the sad results. You yourself know all about it without us.

The question "why did they bring me all four right (or left) asymmetrical tires s?” most attentive car owners ask when delivering tires.

We will answer right away: “right”, however, as well as “left” asymmetric tires are not currently available.

A few years ago, Nokian had Nokian asymmetric directional tires (model NRV) that were "left" and "right". But it turned out that such a decision caused a lot of inconvenience.

First, it complicates and increases the cost of production. Secondly, these inconveniences were associated with the fact that it often turned out that only left tires remained in one warehouse, and only right tires in another. Thirdly, it was not clear which one to buy spare wheel, because no one knows which tire will flatten or become unusable.

Imagine a situation where you bought 5 tires, two left and three right, logically believing that the shoulder is on the right and there are more holes and debris that can damage the tire. By the way, according to statistics, it is the right wheels that suffer more often than the left. But, by coincidence, it was the left tire that fell into disrepair! And having 4 tires of the same model (one left and three right), you still can't fit the car with tires.

It is for these reasons that manufacturers now do not produce left and right asymmetric car tires.

Then a reasonable question arises, it turns out that the asymmetric tires that are on the left “work” differently than on the right?

Yes exactly. When the same asymmetric tires are on the right, then part of the water is ejected, as it were, inward back, and if they are on the left, then they eject water inward forward.

How does it all work and does it interfere with driving in the rain? Numerous tests and studies by major tire manufacturers have shown that this tire design does not affect handling.

Asymmetric tread patterns come from motorsport. And they are still the most efficient at high speeds, especially in terms of good exchange rate stability in the turn and information content of driving. It is asymmetric tires that are now conquering the car tire market. They have many advantages over symmetrical and directional tires.

1. Excellent handling of the car, due to the fact that the outer sidewall of the tire (marked on the tire - outside), which is much more loaded in a turn, is made denser and with larger tread blocks. And the internal, on which the load is much less, on the contrary, is softer. This results in a good contact patch between the tire and the road. excellent handling cars.
2. Spare wheel versatility Unlike directional tires, asymmetric tires do not need to be remounted on the rim in the other direction, when mounting the wheel from right to left (or vice versa). After all, the outer side of an asymmetric tire put on a disc will always remain outer, both when installing the wheel on the left and on the right.

That is why asymmetric tires have become so popular and in demand, despite the fact that they remove water from the contact patch a little differently.

Large asymmetric tire companies (such as Michelin, Nokian, Goodyear, Continental) do a huge amount of research, developing and testing various tire designs, tread patterns and rubber compounds. Therefore, buying tires from well-known manufacturers, they can be safely trusted in this aspect.

The only thing is that after you have installed asymmetric tires on your car in a tire shop, it is advisable to check that they are installed correctly.

The inner side of the tire is designated INSIDE, and the outer side OUTSIDE. Therefore, if you see the inscription OUTSIDE on all tires (on the sidewalls), bypassing the car, then everything is installed correctly (you should not see the inscriptions INSIDE outside the car).

Some manufacturers of asymmetric tires designate the outer side of the tire (Outside) as: This side facing outwards, Side facing outwards or External. A inside tires (Inside): This side facing inwards or Side facing inwards.

Recently, motorists are increasingly questioning the "correct" installation of "left" and "right" tires. The fact is that with the correct installation of tires on a car, it may seem that the tires are installed the other way around, asymmetrically. Don't be scared - it's normal. That's the way it should be.

Asymmetrical non-directional tires do not have a direction of rotation, i.e. can be mounted on any wheel of the car.

The most important thing…

The most important thing is that on all tires (after they are installed) on you " watched» inscriptions « outside«.

Designations may vary:

side can be marked with the following inscriptions:

1. Internal side:

Side Facing Awards

Mount This Side Inside

Cote Interieur, etc.

2. External side, in turn, will be designated as follows:

Side Facing Outwards

Mount This Side Outside

Cote Exterieur, etc.

Marking example outside non-directional asymmetric bus:

Why actually...

The task that the designers of such tires set for themselves was to make two wheels on the axle “work” as ONE.

Asymmetric non-directional tires have been developed to optimize the highly conflicting requirements placed on tires. They must lie flat on a dry road and, at the same time, effectively drain water from the contact zone.

The outer part is specially made rigid for optimization operational properties tires in high-speed corners where quality contact helps minimize tread wear.

The inner side of the tire ensures the stability of the effort at the start and in braking, as well as the effective removal of water from under the wheel.

rotation

During operation, it is also recommended to change asymmetric tires from front to rear axle(and vice versa) every 5000-7000 km. Such a rearrangement is carried out in order to completely avoid the risk of uneven tread wear. In doing so, it should be remembered that:
- If the tire has a specified direction of rotation (indicated by arrows on the sidewall and the word "Rotation"), then the tires should be rearranged from the front to the rear axle on the same side of the car (the front right tire is installed at the rear right, the front left - at the rear left) . Remarkable levels of returns of winnings in gambling with the withdrawal of money allow visitors to gambling sites to quickly fill deposit accounts. When you need to pick up the prize money, with the withdrawal of money to the card, the guest of such an Internet room just needs to fill out the appropriate application for transferring funds, taking into account the limit limits for transferring amounts in force in the casino.
- If the direction of movement is not set for the tire, then they can be rearranged crosswise, i.e. put the front right tire in the back left, the front left in the back right, and so on.

Examples of asymmetric non-directional splints

Brand	Summer	Winter
Bridgestone	Potenza RE 001 Adrenalin	Blizzak LM-30
	Potenza RE760 Sport	Blizzak LM-35
	Turanza Serenity
	Turanza ER300
Continental	ContiEcoContact 3	ContiVikingContact 5
	ContiPremiumContact 2	ContiCrossContact Viking
	ContiSportContact 3	ContiWinterContact TS 810
	Conti4x4SportContact	Conti4x4WinterContact
	ContiCrossContact UHP	ContiWinterContact TS 830 P
Cooper	Zeon CS6	Discoverer M+S Sport
	Zeon XTC
	Zeon XSTa
Dunlop	SP Sport 01	SP Winter Response
	SP Sport 3000
	SP Sport FastResponse
	SP Sport Maxx GT
	SP Sport Maxx TT
good year	Eagle F1 Asymmetric	Ultra Grip Performance
	Excellence
	Efficient Grip
Hankook	Ventus Prime K 105	Ice Bear W 300
	Ventus S1 evo K 107	Ice Bear W 300A
Kumho	Ecsta X3 KL17	I`ZEN XW KW15
	Ecsta X3 KL17	I`ZEN XW KW17
	Ecsta KH11	I`ZEN XW KC15
	Ecsta ASX KU21
Michelin	energy saver	Pilot Alpin PA3
	Primacy HP
	Pilot Exalto PE2
	Pilot Sport PS2
	Latitude Cross
	Latitude Diamaris
	Latitude Sport
Nokian	Hakka i3	WR G2
	Hakka H	WR G2 SUV
	Hakka V
	Hakka Z
	Z G2
	Hakka C Van
	NRVi SUV
	Hakka Z SUV
	Hakka SUV
Pirelli	PZero Nero	Winter 190 SottoZero
	PZero Rosso	Winter 210 SottoZero
	P Zero	Winter 240 SottoZero II
	Cinturato P7	Winter 270 SottoZero II
	P7
Toyo	Proxes CF1	Snowprox S942
	Proxes CF1 SUV	Snowprox S952
	Proxes R33	Open Country W/T
Yokohama	AVID TRZ S316	W.Drive V902
	Parada Spec-2 PA01
	C.Drive AC01

Numerous tires with various parameters available on the market. How do you choose the ones that will ensure driving comfort and safety? One of the most important features every tire, especially in winter, has a tread. Do you have a dilemma: directional or asymmetric tread? In this article, we propose to solve this.

Choosing the Right winter tires very important. Even the most best car, which is driven by experienced driver, cannot cope with difficult winter conditions without good tires. As you prepare to buy, consider the following:

• individual driving style and environment where you move,
• the size,
• tread design and mixture used,
• label information,
• results of tests carried out by automotive organizations,
• opinions of other drivers.

Note: always install four identical tires with the same wear!

Directional tires

The tread pattern is easily recognizable by the 'V' or 'U' shaped grooves. They run from the shoulders to the front of the tires, which has a positive effect on grip on dry and, above all, wet surfaces. Instead of slipping, the tire grabs the water and throws it out. Thanks to this, the control becomes more precise, and you get full control over the car. You avoid "floating" in the path caused by hydroplaning. The most commonly used tread in winter tires is the directional tread. It has high traction properties and works great with residual slush. However, grip on snow is accompanied by additional plates and grooves, specific to this season's tires, which bite into the snow.

Pirelli Cinturato Winter- popular tire with directional tread.

Winter directional tires are the ideal solution for those who usually drive around the city and prefer a quiet driving style, as well as for drivers who cover long distances dynamically.

The direction of the tread in winter tires is very important. Whether we buy an asymmetric or a directional tread, the task of the blocks, slots and plates is, among other things, the drainage of water, mud or snow that reduces our adhesion. Grooves that are turned in a direction different from the driving direction can adversely affect driving safety and comfort.

Marking for directional tires

The marking on the wheels is the element that indicates how and when to use this model to really live up to our expectations. They also tell you how to put tires on our car. The directional tires don't stand out much even from symmetrical rubbers, but make sure that the tire tread is facing the side of the vehicle. To avoid mistakes, manufacturers place a graphic sign or the word "rotation" with an arrow on the side, dispelling any doubts about the assembly direction. Directional tires installed in reverse do not fulfill their function resulting from a special tread pattern.

Asymmetric tires

In this type of tire, the grooves are formed asymmetrically. What does it mean? The asymmetric tread is characterized by a variety of designs on the left and right, where each is responsible for different driving characteristics. The outer part is made up of stronger blocks that are responsible for safe and stable cornering and traction on dry surfaces. The inner sector should drain water and improve traction in rainy weather. With a variety of designs and a reinforced exterior, this solution is more durable than directional tires, which can chip faster. However, to avoid uneven wear, it is necessary to cycle the wheels in the car independently of the tires.

winter tire Hankook Winter i*cept evo2 W320B is an example of an asymmetric model.

This tread provides stable cornering and efficient braking, so it is ideal for medium to high-end car owners who prefer fast and aggressive driving (which is of course not recommended in winter conditions). Be sure to choose models specially homologated for this season for the winter - in case asymmetrical tread most of them are all-season tires. However, it won't the best choice in harsh winter.

Asymmetric tires, marking

If you are looking for asymmetric winter tires, it is worth visiting the site, which will be created by professionals. The asymmetrical tire assembly stands out from the other options. On the sides you will find special markings that indicate how they should be placed on the axle. The "outside" symbol should always be on the outside of the tires, and the "inside" symbol on the inside under the vehicle. The most common marks on winter tires 3PMSF - confirms winter properties tires, Mark M + S with the symbol of the mountain with a snowflake - used on all season tires, similar in properties to winter tires, the M + S designation is a manufacturer's statement that the model works on snow and mud, not necessarily reflecting real parameters.

Asymmetric and directional tread

It is impossible to clearly define which tread pattern is the most advantageous. It depends on individual needs and preferences. A clue, however, may be the fact that in winter tire testing conducted by the world's largest automotive organizations, such as ADAC, most of the driving is taken by directional tyres. On the other hand, experts often recommend asymmetric models for cars with high performance and higher speeds.

The marking of modern tires usually contains information about the seasonality of the application, namely:

1. Designations "M + S" or "M&S" are applied to both winter and all-season, as well as summer off-road tires. This marking allows driving on off-road, mud, wet snow, etc. If there is an image of a snowflake next to the abbreviation, then the rubber belongs to the “winter” category.
2. For all season tires marking options "All SEASON", "ROAD+WINTER", "ANY Weather", etc. can be used.
3. The inscriptions "WATER", "RAID", "AQUA", "Aquacontact" designate the so-called "rain tires", which provide improved contact between the treads and wet asphalt.
4. Winter tires indicated by the word "Winter" or the snowflake logo.

When installed on a car new rubber or when seasonal replacement tires, it is imperative to pay attention to the marking and direction of the wheel tread.

When installing a tire having a symmetrically directional pattern, the arrow applied to the sidewall of the tire is positioned in accordance with the direction of rotation of the wheel when the car moves forward.

Tires with an asymmetrical pattern must be installed so that the "Outside" designation on the sidewall is on the outside of the wheel.

Important! Particular attention is required when mounting asymmetric tires marked "Right" and "Left". To do this, you will need two pairs of tires with the appropriate inscriptions, which are installed on different sides of the car.