Are most tires one-sided?

[LS2Fish]

I just got into a massive fight with one of my friends about something that would seem to be rather simple. The question is: Are the majority of tires that exist specific to inside and outside? That is, do they have a specific inside of the tire and a specific outside of the tire. He has gone on to say that he believes that the majority of directional tires are one-sided, and a lot of non-directional tires are onesided as well. I disagreed, stating that while tires do exist that are one-sided (and are specifically marked as such), they do NOT make up any kind of majority of the tire market.

We're about to kill each other over this, we're betting each other's GTOs, life savings are on the line, etc etc... please help solve this once and for all.

[Dan00Hawk]

I have had a set of tires (Pzeros Neros,) that had an indication on the sidewall for which side should be facing out. And of course any "whitewall" or "white letter" tire should typically have that side facing out. I don't believe those to be the majority, however, as every other tire I've purchased over the last 18 years of driving has not had a specific inside/outside. Most are unidirectional, but didn't matter which sidewall was facing out. But that's just subjective opinion, as I haven't done any research.

You're better off consulting a "tire expert" or spending some time on TireRack to get actual results. :)

[Lorider680]

I know alot of tires that have a whitewall stripe only have them on one side to give the buyer the option of facing them in or out. That is non-performance tire though. The performance tires are usually made to go only one way (tred pattern). As far as the majority, that will be tough to tell. Good luck
Face!

[Chilly Palmer]

You are correct - some tires are specific to which side you face in or out, but most are not.

[HotRodKush]

Yeah, 99% of "normal" tires can be mounted any direction. The directional tires are usually high performance tires.

[gametech]

Your friend is goading you into a "gimme" bet. Of course one-directional high performance tires are one-sided, so to speak. However, you wrote that he said "non-directional tires are one-sided as well". Well, regardless of tread pattern, most tires have the white letters, or inflation info, or etc., printed on one side, so he is probably trying to get you on a technicality. That being said, the vast majority of tires can be used in either rotation.

[Rockin_Da_Goat]

yes yes and yes. they are all right. most tires can be put either way. look at most truck and suv tires. they give the customer the option of going black wall or white lettering. the same goes with white wall tires. those type of everyday tires make up like 90-95% of the tires on the market. performance tires on the other hand will be marked. like the stock 17 in kdws are directional. i know that because i have sold them for a long time but i have never seen the arrow on my own tires (not that i have looked too hard). so, this coming from a service writer, tire salesman, whatever you want to call me, that is how it works.

[smokehouse]

I think your buddy is confusing tread pattern with sidewall markings.

Like many here have said, most tires have different “faces” when it comes to sidewall markings. Many used to have a black side and a “whitewall” side. Figuring that whitewall tires aren’t really popular for the most part, many manufacturers make a black side and a white lettering side. It’s the customer’s choice to choose which to use. Then again, some tires are the same on both sides.

The tread patters is completely different. Again, like many here have said, treads are either directional of non-directional. Most tires are non-directional and can be fully rotated. It doesn’t matter which way the tread is facing.

Directional tires which are almost completely exclusive to performance tires need to have the tread pointing in a single direction. There is always a “this side out” message with an arrow pointing in the direction the tire must rotate on the sidewall of the tire. These tires can only be rotated from to back. The problem is that many here (including myself) have a staggered setup. With 235’s in the front and 275’s in the rear I cannot rotate my directional tires.

[spd98]

Most of the people in here have missed the point of the thread.

Some tires are "one sided" but this isn't the ame as unidirectional. Unidirectional means they are only designed to rotate one way. "One sided" means that the tire has two different looking sidewalls. It could mean one side has white lettering or a be a white wall. This is completely independant of the tire being unidirectional. Most tires now days do not have different sides. Meaning both sidewalls are the same.

[Riddlefox]

I don't think I've ever seen a one-sided tire..
http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~gunderso/model_photos/ other_pieces/mobius_strip.jpg

[Dan00Hawk]

Most of the people in here have missed the point of the thread.

Some tires are "one sided" but this isn't the ame as unidirectional. Unidirectional means they are only designed to rotate one way. "One sided" means that the tire has two different looking sidewalls. It could mean one side has white lettering or a be a white wall. This is completely independant of the tire being unidirectional. Most tires now days do not have different sides. Meaning both sidewalls are the same.

Exactly...

http://www.pneunet.cz/pneu_big/pirelli/nero_2.jpg
For the above tire (Pzero Nero), only the right side of the pictured tire can be on the outside of the car. It can be rotated in either direction, however, but the broad shoulder treadblocks are designed to handle the cornering forces of the car, and thus be on the outside. This is an example of a "one sided" tire.

http://www.pneunet.cz/pneu_big/goodyear/f1-gsd3.jpg
For the above tire (Goodyear F1), either the left or right side can be on the outside of the car. However, it can only be rotated in one direction. This is an example of a "unidirectional" tire.

[mach5288]

Exactly...

http://www.pneunet.cz/pneu_big/pirelli/nero_2.jpg
For the above tire (Pzero Nero), only the right side of the pictured tire can be on the outside of the car. It can be rotated in either direction, however, but the broad shoulder treadblocks are designed to handle the cornering forces of the car, and thus be on the outside. This is an example of a "one sided" tire.

http://www.pneunet.cz/pneu_big/goodyear/f1-gsd3.jpg
For the above tire (Goodyear F1), either the left or right side can be on the outside of the car. However, it can only be rotated in one direction. This is an example of a "unidirectional" tire.

Dan00Hawk has it right, there's a big difference between unidirectional tread patterns and asymmetrical tread patterns. Another good example of an asymmetrical & unidirectional tire besides the Pzero Nero, is the BFG KD which not only rotates in one direction but also has specific left & right side tread patterns. (check them out on tirerack)

To answer the point of the thread, 99% of tires out there are NOT SIDE specific (inside/outside), though many do have a specific rotational direction.

[LS2Fish]

Ironic that you guys used the PZero Neros in your example... thats exactly what my aformentioned friend put on his goat.

OK... thank you. Yes, I agree with what you guys were saying, how some tires have white wall or lettering on jus one side, but its only meant to give the owner the option for which side faces out. My father has Goodyear Mud-terrains or M/Ts or whatever they're called, and for the first half of the life of the tires, he had the white lettering facing out, but for the second half actually had the tires un-mounted and re-mounted to the wheels with the black-lettering facing out. My mother also had a set of tires on her Outback with the whitewalls facing in... and if I remember correctly, they were General brand, and after fixing a flat on one, it bubbled out a sidewall, and when we got home and she opened the trunk to take the tire out, it exploded in her face... so don't buy those.

SOO MOST tires are NOT designed to only ever have one side face out, be it unidirectional or not... Which is what I told him. Thank you all. I will be sure to print this thread, laminate it, and bitch slap my incorrect friend with it.

[LS2Fish]

I don't think I've ever seen a one-sided tire..
http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~gunderso/model_photos/ other_pieces/mobius_strip.jpg

haha hey man they put those on the 24 inch riiiims

[Doctor Evil]

Any tire that is unidirectional and has a specific out-side must be manufactured in two versions: a left-hand and a right-hand. The tires on the right side must rotate clockwise while the tires on the left side must rotate counterclockwise.

Thus if you use four identical tires with a specific out-side they cannot be unidirectional.

If you have four identical tires with no specific out-side that are unidirectional (like the Goodyear F1 shown above) you cannot rotate them from one side to the other without remounting them in reverse on the wheel rims (unless the wheel rims also have no specific out-side).

[mistermike]

There seem to be more and more unidirectional tires lately. I'm thinking they're more efficient at evacuating water.

[jed.only]

asymmetrical tires (PZero Nero, KDWS) have one side that needs to face out due to tread block and void ratio for dry and wet traction, they can mount on either side of the vehicle. they can be rotated front to back or criss cross or side to side.

directional tires (RE730, F1) have the tread pointed a certain way to move water. they can be rotated front to back, or dismounted and flipped to go side to side. unless you dont like the DOT tag.

symmetrical tires really have no one side that faces out, unless you dont like the DOT on the outside or they are white lettered/white walled.

[TriflowM5+M3]

there was a large large shift toward directional high performance tires over the past few years. Thus they were designed to be specific to a spot or side on a vehicle. The Goodyear Aqua Tread kinda started this as most of directionals can channel water more effectively than that of a normally designed tire. Problem was, that they became quite loud with miles.

Tis why you see alot of assymetrical tires these days rather than the directionals. The assymetrics offer enhanced water evactuation without the noise.

Tires lines that were once directional but are now assymetrical

Pirelli Pzero
Goodyear F1
Bridgestone Potenza
Michelin Pilot

[jim2527]

You guys forgot to mention directional asymetrical tires......