SRT8 Asymmetric Tire Rotation

[roadwarrior]

OK, trying to maximize tire life, was going to have the tires dismounted and swapped side-for-side, moving the LH outside of the tire to the RH inside on the opposite side (makes sense?), but I can't because the tires are asymmetrical! Outside must stay on outside...

If I did do this, would the tire spontaneously self destruct? Tire guy says it will fly apart and cause serious carnage, stock market crashes and global warming. If no destructionism, for a daily driver use MSRT, no track time or street craziness, what would be the ill effects to handling? Is this a real serious no-no or just something that someone in the know who closely looks at the sidewall markings would twitch an eyebrow at?

My tires have fairly decent tread left (15k miles), but have some shoulder rounding, so I thot, dismount and swap across to wear them out completely.

Thoughts?

Best regards,
Tom

[NC-SXT]

not sure if it would cause carnage but it would not be good.

from patient web site

A cord inclination angle of the outermost belt layer of a tire on the right side with respect to a tire running direction is arranged in such a manner as to be inclined leftwardly downward in the tire running direction while the cord inclination angle of the outermost belt layer of the left tire is arranged in such a manner as to be inclined rightwardly downward in the tire running direction. In addition, projecting bent portions of lug grooves on a tread pattern of a tire grounding surface are disposed outside from the center of a tread exploded width in the tire running direction.

[demonglory]

If installed with the wrong side facing out the tire will not provide best performance. I am told by various tire manufacturers, that no damage or premature wear to the will occur...I have seen it done by mistake several times without tragedy...

[Jontoad]

i mounted my asymmetric pirelli tires i had on my truck (like 4 years and 2 sets of tires ago) backward on purpose because i hated the look of the sidewall. the only problem i had was they squealed like hell and the front end pushed in corners after being flipped. it was because on asymmetrical tires the outside is more solid tread blocks for cornering and the inside tread is for all season traction/watter clearing and thus being not as stable. when backward they wouldn't bite on corners.

fyi- some of the cars at he SRT expieriance had the tires on bakwards and i asked about it. they said they hated doing it since the cars slid more but they had to do it since they go through so many tires. they had to try to extend the life of them.

[roadwarrior]

I read and re-read (and re-re-read again) that patent one, and still say "huh?"

It looks as if I can find a tire shop that will mount them backwards, I may go for it. Current economic situations aren't great but are not horrible (yet), but mostly, I'm cheap! and need to get a few more miles from these tires.

Anyone else want to or able to weigh in with any more pros/cons? Summer is coming along, not too concerned about wet traction in SoCal, and as I said, we don't push this car too much. Mainly worried about catastrophic issues with tire delam/destruction, etc.

Thank you for all and any input,
Tom

[Jontoad]

not sure if it would cause carnage but it would not be good.

from patient web site

A cord inclination angle of the outermost belt layer of a tire on the right side with respect to a tire running direction is arranged in such a manner as to be inclined leftwardly downward in the tire running direction while the cord inclination angle of the outermost belt layer of the left tire is arranged in such a manner as to be inclined rightwardly downward in the tire running direction. In addition, projecting bent portions of lug grooves on a tread pattern of a tire grounding surface are disposed outside from the center of a tread exploded width in the tire running direction.

that sounds like a description of directional tires. not asymmetrical. think about it. an asymmetric tire on one side is spinning the opposite way of an asymmetric tire on the other side. asymmetric just means the tire has a "this side out" label on one side of the tire because one edge is set up for dry cornering, not for spinning direction.

i would ignore the patient information. there is no "running direction" on an asymmetric tire.

[Therealgreyfox]

The only reasoning behinde the whole thing is that like stated above one side wall is stiffer and the other is softer... flipping them around "shown in tests" under performance driving will cause sparatic handling chariceristics....ie your going to have grip one min. and next thing you know.. your sliding around. "to avoid law suits" most chain tire centers will not perform this for you. "due to the tests" that "have been performed". for daily driving .. and from my standpoint, I dont really see a big problem with it. the only place I could possibly forsee a issue is those nice lil roundabouts on the highways and exit ramps.. "If your into hauling some serious a** around them" you could end up kissing the wall.

[stevo440]

Just my personal oppinions, that I practice myself and I have 21,500 miles on my tires and more to go.

Increase your tire pressure in front to 40-45 psi and your rear to 37-40 psi that will help with the rounding of the shoulder always keep approx. 4psi more pressure in the fronts then rears. Also get an alignment, minimal toe in front and rear and minimal neg camber front and rear. And finally rotate tires left to right and vise-versa. Don't flip the tires on the rim, with the F1's.

[roadwarrior]

OK update on this.

Had the tires swapped, no accelerating/handling/braking ills so far (as I said, this car isn't driven at the limit), and all seems good. Immediately after the swap (like 15 minutes!) got a brake-sensor chirp in the rear, crooked wear on the pads, so got some ceramic pads all'round and have a happy car, with more to wear on the tires, and no brake dust.

Life is good!

Thanks all,
Tom