Tyre fitting, rotational direction ?

Russman

Hi all,

Recently purchased a set of GP 4 Seasons tyres, does anyone know the correct direction to put them on the rim ? Does the tread direction make any difference ?

Thanks !

sy

Some tyres have an arrow on the sidewall giving the direction of rotation. Some tyres and direction is not important

mirv

Make the tip of the V of the tread point forwards as you look down from the handlebrs. Put the label of the tyre over the valve stem so that it's in a symmetric position on both the left and right side.

That way when you flat you can pump up the flattened inner a little and using the orientation of the labels relative to the valve stem find out where your tyre punctured and pick the offending stone or piece of glass out.

AstraMonti

They should have a small arrow pointing the direction on the sidewall, but it actually makes no difference.

Russman

AstraMonti wrote: »

They should have a small arrow pointing the direction on the sidewall, but it actually makes no difference.

That's what I thought re the arrow, but I can't see one anywhere.
Good that it makes no difference though !

Work for Life Cycle

It doesn't really make much difference on this tyre but if you want, the curved line side of the grid thread faces forward and the straight line side faces back.

Edit: I do not type as fast as I thought I did. Glad you got the answer though.

Statler

GP 4 Seasons don't have the directional arrow that other conti tyres do, thread is the same both directions if I recall so it makes no difference, although as it's been pointed out above it makes no difference even if there are arrows...

lennymc

i put my last tyres on upside down.

Holyboy

I would be of the opinion that it does indeed make a difference if the tyre has a direction arrow, it has to do with the thread carcass weave, why would a company put one on if it didn't matter?!

As for the GP 4 seasons, I can't recall if they have a direction but Conti' tyre mold/print is very hard to see, you really need to look hard to find it.

Statler

Just checked my GP 4 Seasons and there's no directional arrow, the GP4000s definitely does though. My understanding (based purely on skimming through google) is that thread patterns on narrow bike tyres are irrelevant due to their narrow width, but having said that I always mount tyres that have them accordingly.

Have a look at the various results in the link below if you want to lose an hour or two.

https://www.google.ie/#hl=en&output=search&sclient=psy-ab&q=continental+gp+4+season+direction&oq=gp+4+seasons+directiona&gs_l=hp.1.0.0i22i30.1117.6078.0.8791.23.19.0.4.4.0.145.2403.1j18.19.0...0.0...1c.1.7.psy-ab.AKf9qMZfxEs&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.44158598,d.ZGU&fp=835e5cf9a82e9463&biw=1366&bih=673

macnab

Coming from a motorcycling background I always mount tyres as per directional arrows. As Holy boy said the layering of the tyre carcass comes into play, the layers tighten when a rotational force is applied to the wheel.
The problem with bicycles is because there is no difference between front and rear tyres the forces act in two different ways i.e. the rear tyre will suffer from forward motion force due to actual cycling, while the front tyre will suffer from reverse motion force due to braking.
So assuming that the rear tyre is subject to almost constant force due to forward motion, I would make sure to have the arrow in the correct direction. For the front tyre, well to be really anal about it it probably should be fit with the arrow pointing backwards as this will make the layers tighten under braking.
Personally, if the tyres have arrows I fit both facing forward i.e. in the direction of rotation.

sconhome

The direction of the tyres is also to do with the thread pattern throwing surface water out from under the tyre rather than forcing it inwards and under the tyre, breaking contact with the road. Its why the V points forwards on all vehicles, cars, bikes, trucks, tractors etc.

Having said that the 4 seasons on my wheels have no directionality whereas the GP4000 do.