You can run the tires backwards just fine. They are asymmetrical, but not unidirectional.

 

Thanks, I got it mixed up with another brand. I'd do it just to event out the eventual tire wear that I'm expecting from the inside. I'm running 3.1 degree -ve camber on the rear so the next brand of tire I'd want to get as directional.

 

with asymmetrical tires, if you have inner camber wear.. switching left and right tires will not do much since the "inside" will still be on the inside. As for directional tires, it will help since the "inside" will be on the "outside" once flipped.

 

Right. I understand that. But I want to treat the asymmetrical tires as if they are directional and run the "outside" side on the inside once switched side to side (crazy, I know).

 

He means actually re-mounting the asymmetrical tires on the wheels backwards (not just switching wheels) to put the outside on the inside.

 

hmm I see what you mean. I personally wouldn't use asymmetrical tires and put inside on the out and vice versa. It's like putting on a directional tire the wrong way lol

 

That only matters if you're driving on water, generally.

 

Exactly my point when I posted on this thread months ago. If you dismount the tires and replace outside side to the inside side the tread pattern on the stock Bridgestone's would push water UNDER your vehicle instead of AWAY from it while driving in wet conditions. Not good.

 

The stock RE050A's don't have an outside and inside. If you go to the dealer and look, you'll notice that the left side of the left tire is the same as the left side of the right tire.

It is asymmetrical.

Tires are not designed to push water out away from the car, but rather outward from the center of the tire in either direction.

See for example:

 

I don't believe you are correct...I suggest you take a look at a picture of the actual tire. The tire you show in your post is not the RE050A stock Bridgestone. There is definitely an outside and an inside. Look for yourself at tirerack website.

 

I misstated. It is not directional.



lets imagine this was the left front tire. Rolling forward, it pushes water "left" right?

Now, flip it around so its the right front tire, with the outside still on the outside. It would still push water "left".

The tire is not directional.


The previously shown R888 is run backwards all the time. It is directional. It only matters when standing water is involved.

 

If the outside of the tire on the left pushes water left, when you flip it around shouldn't it push water to the right?

Suppose, in my crude drawings below, the x's are the outside tread, and the dots are the inside tread. I'm showing tread patterns of the left and right tires:

|x.| |.x|
|x.| |.x|
|x.| |.x|
|L.| |.R|

In this case, if the tires on the left were pushing water to the left, shouldn't the opposite happen on the other side?

 

The sipes run in one direction. if you flip it, and then spin it in the opposite direction, it's a double negative. It still goes the same way.