New Tyres

[Shorinjidude]

Hello there, this weekend I changed the tyres on my bike for Armadillo puncture resistant. Realised this morning that the rear is on in the wrong direction. Is there really a big difference?

 

[byegad]

Yes, potentially one that matters. I'd swap it so the tread is the way it was intended, likely giving better braking.

 

[raindog]

And cornering.
(didn't we do this a couple of weeks ago?)

 

[zacklaws]

Which tyres are they, I use Specialized All Condition Armadillo Elite Tire and as far as I know there non directional, whichever way you turn them round the tread is the same.

As for puncture protection, I got my first puncture last week, right through the thickest part, apart from a little hole in the tyre there was no trace of what it could have been. Tyre had only been on for about 2 weeks, on my other road bike fitted with same tyres managed about 1000+ miles up to now and they have been fine

 

[Shorinjidude]

Yep, those are the ones Zacklaws. Didn't notice the arrows myself at first, their on the side next to the printed logo. Have to wait 'till Saturday before I get a chance to change them. Cheers.

 

[andy_wrx]

Sheldon Brown says it doesn't matter http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tires.html#direction

Some tires have an asymmetrical tread, for instance "V" shaped tread blocks that could be oriented with the point of the "V" facing forward > or backward <. The question then arises, which way should they face? Road Applications

With tires for road use, it really doesn't matter, since tire tread patterns serve no function on hard surfaces. Tires with "V" patterns are common for motorcycles, and are generally installed so that the point of the "V" hits the road first. This is to help "squirt" the water out ahead of and to the side of the tire contact patch, as a protection against hydroplaning. Since hydroplaning is impossible on a bicycle, there's no need to observe this custom.
Off-road Applications

For off-road use in soft surfaces, there may be some merit in paying attention to the tread orientation, though this is far from certain. Ideally, you would like the front tire to offer maximum traction in the braking direction, while the rear tire would normally be oriented to produce maximum traction for drive forces. Thus, if a particular tread pattern is perceived to have better traction in one direction than the other, it should be facing one way if used on the front wheel, and the opposite way if used on the rear wheel.

 

[beachcaster]

You could always cycle backwards ?

I'll get my coat .............

Barry

 

[fossyant]

Back wheel might overtake the front you know....