Stock BFG's Directional???

[STLR FN]

Conventional wisdom would say no. Which I believe.

Last night I was tooling around in the Marauder getting dinner. Roads were slightly covered in snow but I had a heck of a time getting moving from a stop. Fast forward to this morning, 8" of snow on the ground gotta move the car to my garage. Try to go forward no dice, just sit and spin, put her in reverse and have not an ounce of trouble. Wierd, you betcha. :dunno:

[duhtroll]

They do say "this side out" on the outer side of the sidewall. Don't know really if that means required or just preferred.

[spiders]

I was told threy were directional... by dealership

[merc6]

was this tire like a few others where the inner sidewall were difrent thickness than outer for better wear characteristics?

[RoyLPita]

They are directional. Even the owner's manual states that they could be rotated from side to side.

[STLR FN]

Then I think I need to check 'em out. :(

[GarageMahal]

They are directional. Even the owner's manual states that they could be rotated from side to side.

Umm, I think these statements contradict. My understanding is that the KDWS are not directional but do have a specific side to mount inside.

For comparison, the KDW2 tires are directional and cannot be rotated side to side (without remount the tire anyway).

jta

[Tallboy]

Umm, I think these statements contradict. My understanding is that the KDWS are not directional but do have a specific side to mount inside.

For comparison, the KDW2 tires are directional and cannot be rotated side to side (without remount the tire anyway).

jta

What Brian wrote is correct. Even if you rotate side-to-side, the "outside" of the tire is still on the "outside".

EDIT: Intermittent stupidity on my part. Brian is "half-right".

[spiders]

I was told by dealer they could not be run on other side/rotated in rear because they were directional tires...

[Tallboy]

I was told by dealer they could not be run on other side/rotated in rear because they were directional tires...

You were told wrong.

[GarageMahal]

...Try to go forward no dice, just sit and spin, put her in reverse and have not an ounce of trouble. Wierd, you betcha. :dunno:

I have found this to be true on every RWD car I have driven in snow. I think it is has to do with pulling a car through the snow versus pushing it. This is possibly why FWD is considered "better" in the snow.

jta

[spiders]

I was told wrong...
well that's a first... yea, right

[GarageMahal]

What Brian wrote is correct. Even if you rotate side-to-side, the "outside" of the tire is still on the "outside".

It appears we have a slightly different definition of directional. For clarification, when I read directional, I understand it to mean the preferred rotation direction of the tire.

No worries, just clarifying my statement.

jta

[Tallboy]

It appears we have a slightly different definition of directional. For clarification, when I read directional, I understand it to mean the preferred rotation direction of the tire.

No worries, just clarifying my statement.

jta

No problem at all, J. The KDWS tires, however, do not have a "preferred rotation direction", just "this side out/in" kind of a deal...

[GarageMahal]

No problem at all, J. The KDWS tires, however, do not have a "preferred rotation direction", just "this side out/in" kind of a deal...

We agree there :)

[TooManyFords]

After going through the first set, I mounted the second set with the "this side in" out. Never saw any difference in performance, ride or feel. Clearly they are not "directional" as everyone above pointed out. I do know the centers on the rears still wear out just as fast.

Cheers

John

[Tallboy]

They are directional. Even the owner's manual states that they could be rotated from side to side.

"Half-right", Bri. Directional-no. Side-to-side rotate-yes.

See, J? THIS is where I got lost. Sorry...:o

[merc6]

I have found this to be true on every RWD car I have driven in snow. I think it is has to do with pulling a car through the snow versus pushing it. This is possibly why FWD is considered "better" in the snow.

jtaYep the 6 climps hills on the stock mishelin pilots but plows on turns. foreward and reverse was equal cause I could park in a snow bank while others would drive around for a spot. Also engine being on or more like in front of the drive wheels helps.
:lol:

[STLR FN]

Well I went and checked 'em out. They definitely have "this side in" imprinted on the tire.

The push/pull affect makes sense but :dunno: Guess a winter beater is going to be coming quicker than I think.

[GarageMahal]

Well I went and checked 'em out. They definitely have "this side in" imprinted on the tire.

The push/pull affect makes sense but :dunno: Guess a winter beater is going to be coming quicker than I think.

Good snow tires will solve your problems. I made it through most of my first winter with the KDWS on but finally got fed up and bought snow tires. No problems with the white stuff at all anymore.

jta

[gilby04]

After going through the first set, I mounted the second set with the "this side in" out. Never saw any difference in performance, ride or feel. Clearly they are not "directional" as everyone above pointed out. I do know the centers on the rears still wear out just as fast.

Cheers

John

Since the "this side in" mounting position appears to be inconsequential...

I wonder if the the centers would wear first if the rears were 235/50-18 instead of the standard 245/55-18 ?

Also, I wonder if the standard rears would not wear the centers if they were mounted on wider wheels ?

What do you guys think ?

[RoyLPita]

Umm, I think these statements contradict. My understanding is that the KDWS are not directional but do have a specific side to mount inside.

For comparison, the KDW2 tires are directional and cannot be rotated side to side (without remount the tire anyway).

jta

My bad, The factory BFG's are NOt directional. Forgive me for not proofreading what I typed. Thanx for pointing this out.

[cougarmandan]

The more I read the more I get confused. I know the rear tires are wider than the front. Shinny side of the wheel is out weather its on the left or right side of the car. So let me get this right, I can rotate left to right and right to left without remounting the tires.

[GarageMahal]

The more I read the more I get confused. I know the rear tires are wider than the front. Shinny side of the wheel is out weather its on the left or right side of the car. So let me get this right, I can rotate left to right and right to left without remounting the tires.

Correct, you may rotate the factory BFG KDWS tires from side to side without remounting. Personally I never bothered to do it but others do.

jta

[Marauderjack]

This has been posted before and I noticed it on all 3 sets of rears!! The RR will wear much faster than the LR so moving them will get a few extra miles but not many!!:argue:

My first set of rears were replaced by the dealer with about 7K miles on them with bad center wear (I ran them at 24 PSI on the highway and centrifugal force caused the bad center wear)......Second set got much better mileage inflated to 40 PSI but still not acceptable in my book!!:confused:

The third set was removed and replaced with Nitto 555's and no noticeable wear at 7K miles!!:bows: They are a bit smaller in diameter (giving me effectively 3.73 gears) and about a half inch wider than the BFG's!!:beer:

The Nittos do much better in wet weather.....I just wish they made a tire the exact same size as the BFG's but never the less......I WILL NOT GO BACK TO BFG's!!!???:shake:

I have a set of front OEM BFG's if any of you want them.....10K miles and look new!! PM me if interested......I'll make you a deal on them!!;)

Marauderjack:burnout: