Tire Tread Direction
#1
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Tire Tread Direction
Which side of the bike is the label of this tire supposed to be on? A friend and I were having a discussion about this the other day and we have our tires set up in opposite directions. Basically, what's the rolling direction?
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If that is a directional tire it should have an arrow (like this <-----------) on one side of the side wall.
This arrow indicates the direction tire should be moving when you go forward.
Install so that when your bike is level and upright, the arrow is pointing UP when it is on the rear side of the wheel, or DOWN when it is on the front side of the wheel.
OR
Install so that when your bike is upside down, the arrow is pointing DOWN when it is on the rar side of the wheel, or UP when it is on the front side of the wheel.
If there is no arrow then it's not a directional tire, or else it's not DOT approved. Usually all tires except prototypes will have an arrow if they are directional.
This arrow indicates the direction tire should be moving when you go forward.
Install so that when your bike is level and upright, the arrow is pointing UP when it is on the rear side of the wheel, or DOWN when it is on the front side of the wheel.
OR
Install so that when your bike is upside down, the arrow is pointing DOWN when it is on the rar side of the wheel, or UP when it is on the front side of the wheel.
If there is no arrow then it's not a directional tire, or else it's not DOT approved. Usually all tires except prototypes will have an arrow if they are directional.
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I believe it's right hand or drive train side for the label, coinciding with the valve stem.
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/tires.html
There's really no functionality to road treads though.
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/tires.html
There's really no functionality to road treads though.
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This is Africa, 1943. War spits out its violence overhead and the sandy graveyard swallows it up. Her name is King Nine, B-25, medium bomber, Twelfth Air Force. On a hot, still morning she took off from Tunisia to bomb the southern tip of Italy. An errant piece of flak tore a hole in a wing tank and, like a wounded bird, this is where she landed, not to return on this day, or any other day.
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In other words, unlike car tires bike tire treads don't pump water so they aren't directional. It's possible for a carcass to be directional, but that would be well indicated on the tire.
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I disagree with that. Water yea. But what about a patch of sand on a perfectely road like road with black smooth asphalt?
Even if you hit it straight you will go side ways. Threads provide traction. More so when you taking turns over something like that.
Gum, sand, dirt, you see all those things on the road. Threads are important. Besides, often time you don't just ride asphalt or concrete. Sometime you ride some very smooth surfaces, such as rails, red beauty bricks, painted concreate, lane markings. When those are wet, and if you on the slick you gonna slide.
Sliding is reduced when you have treads.
#7
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I put my label on the drive side. I use a kickstand, so the bike leans to the left and I air the tires from the drive (easier) side. Makes sense to have the label there to locate the valve stem quicker with my poor eyes.
I put my label on the drive side. I use a kickstand, so the bike leans to the left and I air the tires from the drive (easier) side. Makes sense to have the label there to locate the valve stem quicker with my poor eyes.
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I never said that they didn't. (Conversely, never said that they did.) The question is, are bike treads directional?
Sand etc. isn't liquid and the treads don't act as pumps as do the directional treads on a car.
Besides, the bottom line is that if manufacturer intended the tire to rotate in only one direction, it would be marked clearly on the tire.
Sand etc. isn't liquid and the treads don't act as pumps as do the directional treads on a car.
Besides, the bottom line is that if manufacturer intended the tire to rotate in only one direction, it would be marked clearly on the tire.
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Last edited by DMF; 07-29-07 at 01:46 PM.
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