Directional Tread on Tire-Am I mounting this right?
02-04-12, 02:10 PM
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 349
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 45 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
10 Posts
Directional Tread on Tire-Am I mounting this right?
See photo.
When the portion of the tire shown is in contact with road ("Where the rubber meets the road") the directional tread points to the front of the bike as shown?
Click on the thumbnail for a larger image
When the portion of the tire shown is in contact with road ("Where the rubber meets the road") the directional tread points to the front of the bike as shown?
Click on the thumbnail for a larger image
02-04-12, 02:13 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 2,745
Bikes: S-Works Roubaix SL2^H4, Secteur Sport, TriCross, Kaffenback, Lurcher 29er
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Looks right as long as it's a top view.
Are there arrows on the sidewall that indicate the preferred direction of rotation?
Are there arrows on the sidewall that indicate the preferred direction of rotation?
02-04-12, 02:24 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,713
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5781 Post(s)
Liked 2,578 Times
in
1,429 Posts
Easy way to know without arrows. The logic of the directional tread is that the center hits first, then pushes water outward in the channels as they come into contact with the pavement until it leaves out the side. That's very important for flat bottomed car tires that otherwise would plane up on the water film (hydroplaning) like a racing boat.
In reality it doesn't matter on bike tires, because the small contact patch, and curved profile acts like a wedge, cutting through water and pushing it out sideways, regardless of tread direction or even if there's any tread at all.
In reality it doesn't matter on bike tires, because the small contact patch, and curved profile acts like a wedge, cutting through water and pushing it out sideways, regardless of tread direction or even if there's any tread at all.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
02-04-12, 02:38 PM
#6
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 349
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 45 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
10 Posts
Thanks! Somehow I thought it probably didn't matter a whole lot, at least at my non-Tour de France level of biking.
And, of course, having the valve stem centered at the tire logo is of the utmost importance. And fortunately the wheel logo isn't on backwards.
And, of course, having the valve stem centered at the tire logo is of the utmost importance. And fortunately the wheel logo isn't on backwards.
02-04-12, 02:49 PM
#7
Really Old Senior Member
pointy part of the "chevron" is supposed to hit the ground first.
It's handy to have the logo useful as a reference point when you are trying to find that tiny piece of wire in the tire casing.
It's handy to have the logo useful as a reference point when you are trying to find that tiny piece of wire in the tire casing.
02-04-12, 09:39 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 428
Bikes: 2003 Lemond Zurich; 1987 Schwinn Tempo; 1968 PX10; 1978 PX10LE, Peugeot Course; A-D Vent Noir
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Does it really make a difference which way these "directional" treads are mounted on road bikes? I always mount them the way the manufacturers say I should. I guess the "proper" tread direction helps with wet weather road handling and such potential problems as hydroplaning, but I read somewhere that unless you are riding your bike at speeds over 50mph it doesn't really matter. Some of the best road bike tires are smooth...
02-07-12, 01:00 AM
#9
Subjectively Insane
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Saint Louis, Missouri
Posts: 801
Bikes: '09 Rodriguez Adventurer Custom, '08 Trek 7.3Fx
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Unless you're riding with knobby tires on a soft surface, tread does nothing. I find, when using fenders, having my tires (which have syping for water/marketing also) "backwards" results in less water being shot/flung out the sides and onto my feet, until I hit a large puddle, then it's spashpocalypse.
02-07-12, 07:52 AM
#10
Senior Member
Raleigh71, Put another way... Viewed from the top the 'arrow head' pattern points forward.
Brad
Brad
02-07-12, 08:57 AM
#11
Ha ha ha ha ha
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Gold Coast; Australia
Posts: 4,554
Bikes: 2004 ORBEA Mitis2 Plus Carbon, 2007 Cannondale Bad Boy Si Disc, 2012 Trek Gary Fisher Collection Marlin WSD 29er Aldi Big Box (Polygon) 650b
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
7 Posts
Sometimes the tyre will have an extra logo on one side. That side goes on the drive side.
02-07-12, 09:24 AM
#12
Senior Member
Brad
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
southpawboston
Bicycle Mechanics
11
07-12-12 09:39 PM
