Facing a tire in the right direction

[Wester]

If there is no arrow telling you which way to put on a tire facing in the right direction how do you know ?

Also if a tire is not facing in the right direction does it make the going tougher for the cyclist ?

 

[jefmcg]

If there is no arrow telling you which way to put on a tire facing in the right direction how do you know ?

Also if a tire is not facing in the right direction does it make the going tougher for the cyclist ?

Yes, the tire should always be facing the direction that you want to go. Bikes move very poorly sideways.

 

[jefmcg]

More helpfully

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/bicycle-tires-facts-knowledge-technology-tips.224314/#post-4973941

 

[Gary E]

Did hundreds of miles on my Hybrid before I even realised that there was a direction of rotation arrow marked on the tyre So I have to say no. That said, I imagine for more aggressive tread patterns it could come into play more?

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

If there is no arrow to say which way round it goes, then it doesn't matter.

I suspect that for road use it doesn't really make a difference but I always make sure mine go on the marked way round anyway.

 

[Gary E]

Should have said - inevitably when I realised there was an arrow on the tyre, I found it was fitted the wrong way.

Forget 50/50 chance, this was more like the toast landing buttered side down scenario, if there's a right way and a wrong way I'll usually find a way to achieve the later

 

[Racing roadkill]

The majority of directional tyres, have a tread pattern which optimises performance in a given direction, because the tread pattern is designed to work best with the tyre rotating in the indicated direction. However, not all directional tyres have tread / tread patterns. Some manufacturers will indicate the tyre rotation direction, dependent on the direction in which the tread / rubber was layed on the carcass. Certain tyres can theoretically wear prematurely, if the tyre isn’t rotating in the direction in which the rubber was layed down on the carcass.

 

[MichaelW2]

Given that rear tyres propel you forward and front tyres slow you down during hard braking, the tread direction should really be revered for the two application, if tread makes any contribution to traction.

 

[Racing roadkill]

[QUOTE 5029174, member: 45"]Tread on road tyres is absolutely nothing more than a marketing gimmick. So it doesn't matter which way you fit your tyre.[/QUOTE]
Keep telling yourself that, you might even convince yourself one day.

 

[Racing roadkill]

[QUOTE 5029194, member: 45"]You can't argue with physics.

Tread on tyres for road use is there to displace water and avoid aquaplaning. Bike tyres don't aquaplane, so the tread serves no purpose.[/QUOTE]
You need to understand physics, in order to know what you’re arguing with. What you say about the tyres ability to work in the wet, regarding grip, is true. The tread pattern does sweet F.A. in that regard. However, if you delve a bit deeper into the fluid dynamics of the system, you uncover something called ‘boundary layer tripping’. Essentially the tread patterns help the fluid transition over the wheel. It’s more about increasing the efficiency of the wheel through a fluid ( the tread patterns help with efficient passage through air, the effect is exacerbated with a denser fluid, like water). This is a very good reason to make sure your patterned / treaded, Road tyre is on the right way round, as putting it on the wrong way round, means it isn’t moving in a manner that’s going to achieve the optimum fluid dynamics.

 

[chriswoody]

Seems Schwalbe also believe tread direction is meaningless on a road tyre, however what do they know eh?

In the case of a road tire the rolling direction is mainly important for aesthetic considerations. Tires marked with arrows simply look more dynamic

There also similarly dismissive of tread on road tyres.

On a normal, smooth road, the tread has only limited influence on the riding properties. The grip generated by the tire on the road is almost exclusively the result of the rubber compound.

https://www.schwalbe.com/en/profil.html

 

[smutchin]

[QUOTE 5029230, member: 45"]You don't need tread to know when a tyre needs replacing.[/QUOTE]

If your tyre has no tread then it definitely needs replacing.

What a road bicycle tyre doesn't need is siping.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

You need to understand physics, in order to know what you’re arguing with. What you say about the tyres ability to work in the wet, regarding grip, is true. The tread pattern does sweet F.A. in that regard. However, if you delve a bit deeper into the fluid dynamics of the system, you uncover something called ‘boundary layer tripping’. Essentially the tread patterns help the fluid transition over the wheel. It’s more about increasing the efficiency of the wheel through a fluid ( the tread patterns help with efficient passage through air, the effect is exacerbated with a denser fluid, like water). This is a very good reason to make sure your patterned / treaded, Road tyre is on the right way round, as putting it on the wrong way round, means it isn’t moving in a manner that’s going to achieve the optimum fluid dynamics.

Another one of your gems.

Everyone else, there ain't no boundary layer tripping in this scenario. There is such a thing but it has nothing to do with tyres or dispersing water between a tyre and the road.

It is totally irrelevant which way your tyres point, as long as it is not sideways, as Jefmcg so shrewdly pointed out.

 

[The Crofted Crest]

the tread patterns help with efficient passage through air

I don't understand a thing about physics, but what you seem to be saying here, and I'm guessing, is that something that is less streamlined is more aerodynamic.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Remember if you put a tyre on the front wheel of your bike the 'wrong way round', you can just remove the QR and flip the wheel over. DAMHIKT. (Assuming it's a quick release wheel, and not disc braked, of course).