Front tire Rotation ?????

[MERCULES]

Not sure if this is a dumb question or not so here goes.

My front end has been aligned with the new Car fixer specs and all is good finally.

The new Nittos on the front have some slight chop to them so it was suggested I take them off and remount them on opposite rims as once this patterns develops it may continue even with a good alignment.

I notice on the outside of the front tire it says left and the other one says right, so does this mean they are directional tires and I cannot rotate them side to side?

Does it matter if they are remounted on each others rims and run opposite to the tire markings?

[RubberCtyRauder]

They are directional so no can swap sides

[fastblackmerc]

What he said ^^^^^^^^

[RubberCtyRauder]

I guess you could but you would have to drive in reverse. :D

[MERCULES]

Well I don't always like the answers, but I sure do appreciate the quick responses, thanks.:)

I will run them as is and hope for the best, darn shame that they started to chop with only 300 miles on them, the toe was out a country mile from the previous alignment .(also replaced a ball joint, that was slightly sloppy)

I will say it feels like a totally different car with the car fixer specs, with the flags off the camber bolts and the toe set correctly.

[rauder88]

It wouldn't help a ton, but the inner edge will now be on the outer if you have a shop dismount the tires and flip them. Your left will then be on the right. I have to do this on my truck to help with tire wear.

[RubberCtyRauder]

It wouldn't help a ton, but the inner edge will now be on the outer if you have a shop dismount the tires and flip them. Your left will then be on the right. I have to do this on my truck to help with tire wear.

The tread will be facing the wrong way. Traction will be compromised, especially if wet and any professional tire shop should refuse mounting a tire the wrong direction. That's a liability issue

[rauder88]

The tread will be facing the wrong way. Traction will be compromised, especially if wet and any professional tire shop should refuse mounting a tire the wrong direction. That's a liability issue

I'm not saying to rotate the rims side to side.
Flip the tire on the rim, the left tire now becomes the right...
Put them on the appropriate sides of the car.
O=outside I=inside
Tires will still face the correct direction. Need to be dismounted from the rim, flipped over then balanced.

...LF........RF
..O^I.....I^O

becomes this

...LF........RF
..I^O.....O^I

if just rotated then you get incorrect rotation

[RubberCtyRauder]

Ok I see what you doing

[JBeezy]

If they are taken off the wheel and installed on the opposite side but in the same direction wouldn't they still be going in the correct direction

[EMAS]

There are 4 types of tires.

Unidirectional, symetrical, mount and run them any way you want. (these are the most common tire)

Directional mount them either way but when going forward they should spin with the arrow on the sidewall.

Asymmetrical, there is an inside and an outside but they can run either way. They are typically marked outside and inside on the sidewall.

Directional asymmetrical. These are sold in lefts and rights and should be mounted and run as per the sidewall. They typically have an arrow and outside and inside marked on them or right and left and an arrow.

A quick look at the Nitto site shows that in appropriate sized tires for the front of our cars they make directional tires and asymmetrical tires, but no directional asymmetrical tires so if they say right or left then they are directional tires and there should be not problem turning them around on the wheel and then running them on the other side.

Post up what model tire you have.

[MERCULES]

The tires are Nitto 555 Extreme, they have an arrow on them marked with left or right on the each tire.

[Marauderjack]

I tried that when I ran Nittos up front and it helped......removing them from the rims and swapping maintains the proper rotation but the wear continues and they remain NOISY!!:argue:

I went with Kumhos and can swap them side to side every 5K at oil changes......whisper quiet!!:beer:

Unidirectional tires up front have never worked well for me on any car......they wear bad and become very noisy!!:shake:

[MERCULES]

There are 4 types of tires.

Unidirectional, symetrical, mount and run them any way you want. (these are the most common tire)

Directional mount them either way but when going forward they should spin with the arrow on the sidewall.

Asymmetrical, there is an inside and an outside but they can run either way. They are typically marked outside and inside on the sidewall.

Directional asymmetrical. These are sold in lefts and rights and should be mounted and run as per the sidewall. They typically have an arrow and outside and inside marked on them or right and left and an arrow.

A quick look at the Nitto site shows that in appropriate sized tires for the front of our cars they make directional tires and asymmetrical tires, but no directional asymmetrical tires so if they say right or left then they are directional tires and there should be not problem turning them around on the wheel and then running them on the other side.

Post up what model tire you have.
Nitto NT555 Extreme ZR 245/45Z/R18 100W (thanks for your input)

[burt ragio]

Never understood why the mfg used two size tires front & back. This prevents tire rotation for best wear & longevity. Although the next time you purchase tires get all four the same size & push the traction control button each time you start the car. This way you can gain the most out of your tires.

[Marauderjack]

Never understood why the mfg used two size tires front & back. This prevents tire rotation for best wear & longevity. Although the next time you purchase tires get all four the same size & push the traction control button each time you start the car. This way you can gain the most out of your tires.

Looks cool and looks "Old Skool"...that's all!!:D

I put the same size all around on my car back in 2005 and did not like the look at all!!:shake:

[justbob]

Never understood why the mfg used two size tires front & back. This prevents tire rotation for best wear & longevity. Although the next time you purchase tires get all four the same size & push the traction control button each time you start the car. This way you can gain the most out of your tires.


That looks dumb and goes against the main look of the car. No thank you.


Builder Of Badassery

[Gerry24]

The rake look, fits the MM...

[EMAS]

Nitto NT555 Extreme ZR 245/45Z/R18 100W (thanks for your input)


Looking at their website it shows that they are definitely directional, do not look asymmetrical and they don't list L and R part numbers so yeah it will be find to flip them over on the wheel and then run them on the other side.

[Gerry24]

Never understood why the mfg used two size tires front & back. This prevents tire rotation for best wear & longevity. Although the next time you purchase tires get all four the same size & push the traction control button each time you start the car. This way you can gain the most out of your tires.

Maybe they had a deal with BFG, I would think... 245/55/18 is an odd ball size. :loco::dunno:

[BUCKWHEAT]

It wouldn't help a ton, but the inner edge will now be on the outer if you have a shop dismount the tires and flip them. Your left will then be on the right. I have to do this on my truck to help with tire wear.
I did this with my MM fronts. worked fine.