uclown2002
Guru
- Location
- Harrogate
Just fitted Conti Top Contact Winter to CAADX and noticed they have directional arrows! Of course front one is on the wrong way but does it matter?
Tyre Direction
- Thread starter uclown2002
- Start date
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According to Sheldon....no it doesn't
Tread Directionality
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.
Tread Directionality
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.
Dusty Bin
Guest
It probably doesn't matter in any practical sense, but the OCD in me would want it the the right way round....
snailracer
Über Member
Depends on what you have an OCD about: the direction arrow on my tires say "drive", and of course the front wheel essentially only drives 'backwards' i.e. when you brake. So, my wheels have the direction arrow in opposite directions front vs rear.
solidthegreat
Active Member
- Location
- North Oxfordshire
My thinking exactly. They are on there for a reason. Whatever mad scientists wearing white coats with crazy hair sat next to bubbling test tubes Continental use, they must have tested it and said "ear, this wheel goes round better tother way"
snailracer
Über Member
While I can see the directionality matters for certain specialised tyres, it could also be to stop people phoning them up and asking, "which way does this tyre go on?" for those tyres that don't care.
OP
OP
uclown2002
Guru
- Location
- Harrogate
Thanks guys; changed it anyway 
It would have worn me down!
It would have worn me down!
snailracer
Über Member
Noooo, that would have spawned a "Wheel direction" thread!
biggs682
Itching to get back on my bike's
- Location
- Northamptonshire
unless it had a disc fitted
Shut Up Legs
Down Under Member
Or a dynohub? Do dynohubs work in either direction? I've never put this to the test.