Tyre rotation orientation

[Seeker]

There's a certain amount of embarrassment here, not only mine. I must admit to never checking the tyre rotation orientation after it's been fitted by a tyre fitter.
Today, I took my bike to be MOT'd and the tester said: "Did you know that your front tyre was fitted wrong way round?" and: "Who fitted it?"

"No, I replied" and: "You did." Oops. I don't feel too proud of this because I should have checked, on the other hand I shouldn't need to check. I'll accept some blame.

I'd only ridden for maybe 100 miles with it fitted incorrectly and, honestly, I didn't notice any different when correctly fitted although I was limited to town speed limits.

[SV650rules]

I believe rotation direction is to do with tread clearing water from tyre more efficiently, so if not used in heavy rain it may never affect anything - or is it the way the plies are wrapped and overlapped so tyre is stronger when braking ?

Did you take bike or just wheel to get new tyre ? If they got the whole bike no excuse, but a front wheel on its own how do they know which way it fits in the bike unless they took notice when they took old one off ?

[Craig380]

There's a certain amount of embarrassment here, not only mine. I must admit to never checking the tyre rotation orientation after it's been fitted by a tyre fitter.
Today, I took my bike to be MOT'd and the tester said: "Did you know that your front tyre was fitted wrong way round?" and: "Who fitted it?"

"No, I replied" and: "You did." Oops. I don't feel too proud of this because I should have checked, on the other hand I shouldn't need to check. I'll accept some blame.


Haha, I bet THAT shut him up quick. He had ONE job.

[Talking Heads]

I believe rotation direction is to do with tread clearing water from tyre more efficiently, so if not used in heavy rain it may never affect anything - or is it the way the plies are wrapped and overlapped so tyre is stronger when braking ?

Its potentially both of these, depends on the tyre.
Some tyres can be front or rear and are marked <=F : R=>

[R1ffR4ff]

Glad you caught it.It's not just water displacement/Aquaplaning from the incorrect direction fitting but depending on how the tyres are made incorrect forces on the carcasses/Tread splice.

Good read here,

http://cyrilhuzeblog.com/2009/08/23/tires-directional-arrows-explained-by-avon-tyres/