26/06/2024
What are Directional Tyres?
Directional tyres have a tread pattern designed to rotate in only one direction. When you look at such tyres head on, the lateral voids and channels on the tread all point forward and down.
Directional tyres (also called unidirectional) are better for performance cars — and traveling at high speeds — than tyres with symmetrical or asymmetrical tread patterns. The tyres channel water away efficiently for excellent hydroplaning resistance and deliver sporty performance on dry surfaces.
But directional tyres cannot be easily rotated to as many positions on the vehicle. In order to rotate directionals to opposite sides of a vehicle — not just between front and back on the same side — the tyres have to be dismounted from the wheels and remounted before being installed.
For this reason, most drivers end up just switching directional tyres from front to back on the same side when they get a rotation. This means the tyres will wear less evenly and more quickly, and that’s why you may get less mileage.
How to Identify Directional Tyres
Most directional tyres have a solid center rib, which adds rigidity for high-speed stability. Also, the lateral channels on the tread pattern all point down in a V-shape. Such designs are used on summer or winter tyres.
Here’s a comparison between directional, symmetrical and asymmetrical treads.
The most common tread pattern for passenger cars is symmetric. The left and right tread blocks mirror each other, and the grooves and voids point in multiple directions. Both summer and winter tyres use this type of pattern.
Asymmetric treads combine the above two patterns to offer good grip on dry, wet or snowy roads, making the tread type a better choice for all-season use. The inner side of asymmetric tyres often features lateral voids like those found in directionals, while the outer side uses larger tread blocks.
Installing and Rotating
On directional tyres, there’s an arrow on the sidewall of the tyres — when correctly mounted, the arrow points toward the front of the vehicle. If directional tyres get mounted backward, you won’t get the hydroplaning resistance and other performance driving benefits the tread is designed for.
