All this chatter and I didnt see much about tire direction.

If you look directly at the tread and see a caret ^ or arrow head in the tread it is directional. When looking at the tire from the back or front the "point" should be facing up. If there is a directional arrow, that will match what I just wrote. It will be the opposite for the front.

HOWEVER many of the better quality tires will have a two sided arrow on the sidewall which will have front and back marked on either side of the arrow. This DOES match what I have described. Another conventional marking is POWER with an arrow that will also match.
The power scenario matches why the tire is mounted rotating one way for the rear and the opposite for the front. Rear has forces transmitted from the chain. Front has the most force from braking.

Got it figured out now?

-SP