Running directional tyres in reverse???

[nstacey]

I just remembered something this evening when I was swapping my Mudzilla's over on to the hilux this evening.

I saw an article in one of the aussie 4wdaction mags a while ago. Where some guy has a great truck and shows it off and all the mods. Anyway, he was running Micky Thompson Claws, (the ones the Mudzilla's rip off) but in at least some of the Pics was running them against the direction of the tread...



Would there be any benefits to running the tyres like that?? I guess they'd wear atrociously.

[Smurf]

See the Mickey T tyres run backwards quite often in Auxtralian 4wd vids ??

[turoa]

Directionals are designed to push material from the inside out. Eg flinging out mud and water etc. By running them backwards they try and suck the terrain inwards (which gives you more grip in rocks). Good for hard shit but no good for soft stuff

[suzukisport]

I know mudzillas work well in reverse in sand Ask suzookyman, he knows all about that.

[Ralfie]

A directional tyre in fitted the wrong way round tends to dig down rather than keep forward traction going.
With the old Firestone SAT's to stop the edges being worn off on tarseal we would swap them around while on the road and then back again when we were off road.

[suzookyman]

I know mudzillas work well in reverse in sand Ask suzookyman, he knows all about that.

Yeah, was trying to get up a big as sand dune at Mitimiti ( across the water from Omapere ) but the Mudzillas just dug big holes.So
I slapped it in reverse and it went all the way to the top like it was on the road!.I have heard of guys who launch boats off beaches with tractors reversing their tyres but havn't seen it myself.
Al

[wjw]

If you run them in reverse on the road as the tire wears you get your nice sharp leading edge back for next time your off road.

[albundy]

Ok, legal thought shere. What does this mean for insurance and if your in an accident? Someone has got to ask.
Al

[Cameron]

if it's got a stipulated direction on the tyre then you must run it that way to be wofable. thus insurance wouldn't cover you if you were running them backwards