Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Misc Tech => Topic started by: stuntmannick on April 27, 2006, 02:39:59 PM

Title: Directional tires on backwards?
Post by: stuntmannick on April 27, 2006, 02:39:59 PM
Ok, bored as hell, got to thinking about it.  Would putting directional tires on backwards on the drive wheels net better traction?  Directional tires offer less rolling resistance (when mounted correctly), so in theory it would work, right?
Title: Directional tires on backwards?
Post by: 5.0willgo on April 27, 2006, 02:44:20 PM
Wouldn't that cause the tread to separate? Hence the importance of keeping directional tires going in the proper direction.
Title: Directional tires on backwards?
Post by: stuntmannick on April 27, 2006, 02:55:42 PM
It might, but that could give more "bite". 

BTW I'm not thinking of driving around like this, just at the track.
Title: Directional tires on backwards?
Post by: Tbird232ci on April 27, 2006, 03:46:31 PM
Since theyre designed to work that way, i doubt that it would work any better going the other way.

Similar to guys who burn tire tread off to make slicks, youd think it would give more traction, but it doesnt.
Title: Directional tires on backwards?
Post by: SLEEPER T-BIRD 87 on April 27, 2006, 10:38:56 PM
I would buy some sticky tires , short of chemicly  softening them there not going to HOOK any better,  running a directional tire backwards will cause lots of road noise bad wear , and possible seperation of the belts.
Title: Directional tires on backwards?
Post by: stuntmannick on April 28, 2006, 03:40:14 AM
Wasted-

I suppose, I was thinking of a g-hetto way of picking up some traction at the track, but google search owns me.  Best bet is to keep them tires the way they were designed to.
Title: Directional tires on backwards?
Post by: the_intimidator03 on April 28, 2006, 09:48:41 AM
I personally thought directional tires were due to tread pattern for water chanelling etc?
Title: Directional tires on backwards?
Post by: SLEEPER T-BIRD 87 on April 29, 2006, 05:23:54 PM
Quote from: the_intimidator03
I personally thought directional tires were due to tread pattern for water chanelling etc?


thats one of the reasons, reduced road noise is another feature.
Title: Directional tires on backwards?
Post by: BCA on April 30, 2006, 08:21:50 PM
Quote from: stuntmannick
Ok, bored as hell, got to thinking about it.  Would putting directional tires on backwards on the drive wheels net better traction?  Directional tires offer less rolling resistance (when mounted correctly), so in theory it would work, right?


Reading your post reminded me of something I saw in my Cougar's owners manual many years ago so I dug it out and on page 141 it says:

"Snow traction can be improved with the P225 tires by reversing the direction of the rear tires (right tire and wheel on the left side, left tire and wheel on the right side) and lowering the rear tire pressure from 30 to 26 psi."

Brent