Since Michelin first invented radial tires in 1946, motor vehicle safety has dramatically improved. Before introducing radial tire technology, the standard fitment on all vehicles was cross-ply tires. Cross-ply was first introduced in 1898, and although an old construction method, these tires have particular strengths and are still used today.
It was not advisable to reverse early technology radial and cross-ply tires. Although it’s not ideal to reverse modern radial tires equipped with steel belts marked in a single direction. If marked as bi-directional, there are no reasons not to switch front to back and left to right.
Directional or asymmetric, tires should rotate in a single direction and not be reversed. Multi-directional, or symmetric, tires are clearly shown as such either by a chevron or an arrow indicating the direction of travel, imprinted onto the tire sidewall. You can be reverse multi-directional tires.
Can Radial Tire Be Reversed?
You could not change the direction of older technology tires was because of safety considerations. After a while of running in a specific rotation direction, the tires developed a direction of lay pattern in them. Reversing these old tires would change the direction of the rotation and could compromise the tire’s integrity.
With the advent of steel belt technology, this problem went away, and there was no safety issue changing the rotational direction of a tire.
Two types of tread patterns are built into modern tires. These are symmetrical and asymmetrical. On the symmetrical tread, the inner and outer halves of the tread pattern are equal.
The opposite is true with an asymmetrical tire:
- The outside edge of the tire consists of large stiffer tread blocks, which assist with cornering.
- The inner tread blocks are smaller disperse water better to improve wet grip.
- The middle of the tread has a continuous rib to help straight-line stability.
The intention of having a different tread pattern on the inner and outer halves of the tire is to increase the performance of the tire are as follows:
- The V-shaped tread pushes the water outward as the tire rotates; this improved water dispersal improves handling in wet conditions.
- Improve road noise and stability, particularly at speed. Most racing cars have directional radial tires.
- Fuel consumption is improved as a directional tire offers less rolling resistance.
- Improve straight line directional control.
It is not unsafe to switch directional tires to the opposite side of the car. However, fitting them on the wrong side of the vehicle means they will rotate in the opposite direction to what it was designed for, and you won’t enjoy the benefits of the tire.
Explain The Difference Between Cross-Ply And Radial Tires
Although cross-ply tires were initially invented in 1898, they are still more suitable for specific applications than radial tires.
The difference between the two types is in their construction.
Radial Tires
Steel cord plies are placed on the heel of the tire, and a belt is placed across the casing. The cord plies being placed directly on top of each other results in the sidewalls of radial tires remaining very flexible.
Multi-Ply Tires
Carcass layers made from nylon cord make up a cross-ply tire. The layers are placed diagonally across each other at an angle between 30 and 55 degrees. As a result, multiple rubber plies overlap and form a thick layer, which is less flexible.
The pros and cons between radial and cross-ply tires are
The pros of radial tires are:
- They provide better steering control and road contact
- The flexible tire walls Improve the driving comfort
- Less heat is generated in the tire at high speeds, leading to better handling and reduced tire wear.
- They have a higher resistance against damage to the tire’s tread
- They have a lower rotational resistance which achieves Lower fuel consumption
The cons of radial tires are:
- Radial tires have softer sidewalls making them more prone to damage and pavement rash.
- Steel belt-equipped radial tires deal with minor bumps less effectively.
The pros of a cross-ply tire are:
- Because they are made up of multiple rubber piles overlapping, they offer a higher resistance against sidewall damages; this makes cross-ply tires suitable for off-road use.
- They are cheaper to produce, resulting in a lower cost to the consumer.
- They are ideal for transporting heavy loads, such as vans and light commercial vehicles.
- They offer significantly better stability.
The cons of cross-ply tires are:
- Due to their increased rolling resistance, the tires heat up more quickly than radial tires.
- Cross-ply tires are less comfortable to ride in because of the ticker sidewall and reduced tire flexibility.
- Because they have a higher rolling resistance, vehicles fitted with cross-ply tires will experience a higher fuel consumption.
Do’s And Don’ts For Tires
We have established modern radial tires can be reversed. You can safely switch the rotational direction of most modern radial tires; there are some things you can’t do, either because it is illegal in your country or state or because it is simply too dangerous.
Never Mix Radial And Cross-ply Tires On The Same Vehicle.
It is hazardous, and, in some countries, it is illegal. By mixing radial and cross-ply tires, your car will no longer have a single, unified stress tolerance across all four tires. Mixing tires may ultimately cause a blow-out.
Never Mix Different Tread Pattern Tires On The Same Axle.
Although not advisable, you can mix tires with different tread panels on other axles.
Don’t Mix Tires With Different Tread Depths On The Same Axle.
If the vehicle travels through water, the tire with a better tread depth will clear water faster than the tread tire with less tread; this may cause the car to be out of balance, which may mean a loss of control.
Never Mix Tire Sizes
If you have tires of different sizes on each wheel, the following may result.
- The speedometer calculates the wheel’s speed from the rotational speed of the vehicle’s wheel. Changing the wheel size will result in erroneous speed readings.
- Tires of different sizes may negatively affect a car’s steering, acceleration, and general handling characteristics. You may experience less grip and reduced control.
- Having different-sized tires on an axle will affect your car’s ability to speed up; this could be dangerous when you need to speed up quickly to overtake or avoid an accident.
- Having wheels with different widths will result in other wheels having different levels of traction. In slippery conditions (ice, water, or mud), the car will be unstable and difficult to control.
- Having tires of different sizes will increase the wear on the wheel bearings, steering, suspension, and clutch.
Conclusion
Incorporating steel belt technology into modern tires means that it is possible to swop tires onto either side of the vehicle. Whether the tire has a directional tread design means that you will only experience the best features of the tires if they are installed onto the right side.
Much more severe implications result of you install:
- Cross-Ply and Radial tires on the same vehicle
- Tires with different tread patterns on the same axle
- Tires with varying depths of tread on the same axle
- Different sized wheels on the vehicle.