Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: bob.dent on 26 April 2007, 10:32:29

Title: A question about tyres
Post by: bob.dent on 26 April 2007, 10:32:29
I had 2 new Westlake tyres fitted yesterday and I've noticed that on one side the "V" tread pattern points forward and on the other side points backwards. I know some tyres have to be fitted in a certain direction but there is nothing on these tyres that suggests it should be fitted in a particular direction. I phoned the garage this morning and asked them, but they said it's best to bring the car in so they could check.

Any idea's anyone?
Title: Re: A question about tyres
Post by: ClarCE on 26 April 2007, 10:40:09
Sounds like they put them both on the same way round to me - which would be wrong..
Title: Re: A question about tyres
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 26 April 2007, 10:47:17
Some have a direction and some have an inside/outside marking...and some are not directional...
Title: Re: A question about tyres
Post by: bob.dent on 26 April 2007, 10:55:00
Quote
Some have a direction and some have an inside/outside marking...and some are not directional...

That's what I thought too, but because the tread pattern on these tyres has a > pattern it looks wrong that the > pattern on one side goes backwards.  :-/
Title: Re: A question about tyres
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 26 April 2007, 10:59:43
.....and if a directional tyre is an MOT failure.....sounds wrong to me.....does the one that is correctly fitted have outside written on the tyre wall any where....
Title: Re: A question about tyres
Post by: bob.dent on 26 April 2007, 11:05:13
Quote
.....and if a directional tyre is an MOT failure.....sounds wrong to me.....does the one that is correctly fitted have outside written on the tyre wall any where....

Just had another look and I can't see any indication of direction on the tyre wall.
Title: Re: A question about tyres
Post by: ClarCE on 26 April 2007, 11:30:51
If the top of the 'V' is hitting the road first then the water will be pushed into the tyre, rather than being dispersed away from it..

They have put one on the wrong way round, I'd almost put money on it..
Title: Re: A question about tyres
Post by: bob.dent on 26 April 2007, 11:40:43
Quote
If the top of the 'V' is hitting the road first then the water will be pushed into the tyre, rather than being dispersed away from it..

They have put one on the wrong way round, I'd almost put money on it..

That's what I thought. I'm going back to the garage this evening so I'll get them to put it on the right way round.

Thanks for the advice guys. :y
Title: Re: A question about tyres
Post by: smoothomega on 26 April 2007, 11:46:34
Just spoke to a mate of mine who owns a tyre garage and he says that it has been fitted the wrong way round irregardless of them having direction arrows on them and want changing PDQ before it rains. Hope this helps, Jez.
Title: Re: A question about tyres
Post by: bob.dent on 26 April 2007, 12:04:38
Quote
Just spoke to a mate of mine who owns a tyre garage and he says that it has been fitted the wrong way round irregardless of them having direction arrows on them and want changing PDQ before it rains. Hope this helps, Jez.

Many thanks for that Jez. :y Funnily enough it was raining driving to work this morning, but can't say I really noticed any signs of bad handling, but it wasn't heavy rain. I've also just noticed that the same garage fitted a new Westlake tyre on the rear a couple of months ago, and that's on backwards too! :-? I'll get them to change both tonight.

The garage I use for tyres is the same one that does all my servicing and repairs and are usually excellent. I suspect that as I turned up just before they closed last night, they probably rushed it and didn't check the tread direction.
Makes you wonder how many people are driving around with their tyres fitted the wrong way round! :-?
Title: Re: A question about tyres
Post by: Elite Pete on 26 April 2007, 12:51:13
Quote
If the top of the 'V' is hitting the road first then the water will be pushed into the tyre, rather than being dispersed away from it..

They have put one on the wrong way round, I'd almost put money on it..

What about a gonad (its an old joke) ::)

I think they will turn it around tonight.
Title: Re: Tyre update
Post by: bob.dent on 27 April 2007, 11:37:22
Well, went back to the garage last night and boy, was I red faced!! My mechanic pointed out that the tread pattern I could see on the outer edge of the tyre went in the other direction on the inner edge so the tyre is uni-directional,  something like this:-

>>>>>>>
_________

<<<<<<<

Did I feel an idiot or what!! :-[ :-[ :-[

Just to make matters worse, I had a blow out in the offside rear on the way to work this morning. This tyre was only 2 months old and is gashed beyond repair, so another new tyre will have to go on.  >:( Changing the offside wheel in the road with lorries thundering past was not pleasant experience despite having my red triangle out back down the road.  :(
Title: Re: Tyre update
Post by: ClarCE on 27 April 2007, 14:30:08
Quote
Well, went back to the garage last night and boy, was I red faced!! My mechanic pointed out that the tread pattern I could see on the outer edge of the tyre went in the other direction on the inner edge so the tyre is uni-directional,  something like this:-

>>>>>>>
_________

<<<<<<<

Did I feel an idiot or what!! :-[ :-[ :-[

Just to make matters worse, I had a blow out in the offside rear on the way to work this morning. This tyre was only 2 months old and is gashed beyond repair, so another new tyre will have to go on.  >:( Changing the offside wheel in the road with lorries thundering past was not pleasant experience despite having my red triangle out back down the road.  :(

Not quite the 'V' I had in mind, like mine:

(http://www.marshaltyre.co.uk/images/ku17.jpg)

Glad I didn't put money on it in the end then, or even a Gonad EP.. ;)

Good to see you weren't seriously hurt or maimed while risking your life on the side of that road!
Title: Re: A question about tyres
Post by: spurno on 27 April 2007, 14:44:08
sounds like one has been put on incorrectly but you can get some tyres with three different tread patterns on one tyre.pirelli's for instance.
Title: Re: A question about tyres
Post by: Markjay on 28 April 2007, 00:12:23
Never heard of Westlake tyres before...  :o

But looking at eBay:

http://motors.search.ebay.co.uk/Westlake_Tyres_W0QQa10244ZQ2d24QQa39118ZQ2d24QQa39543ZQ2d24QQa39546ZQ2d24QQa39698ZQ2d24QQalistZa3801Q2ca39698Q2ca39543Q2ca39118Q2ca39546Q2ca10244QQcatrefZC6QQcoactionZcompareQQcoentrypageZsearchQQcopagenumZ1QQfgtpZQQfposZPostcodeQQfromZR2QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQftrtZ1QQftrvZ1QQga10244Z10425QQgcsZ1794QQlopgZQQpf_queryZWestlakeQQpfidZ2576QQpfmodeZ1QQreqtypeZ2QQsacatZ9891QQsadisZ200QQsaprchiZQQsaprcloZQQsargnZQ2d1QQsaslcZ3QQsbrftogZ1QQsofocusZbs

They all seem to have a obvious unidirectional tread which should be easily spotted without looking for mysterious marking on the side wall?

And just before you put it all down to running over foreign object, new tyres have warranties and if you had a blow-out then the seller/manufacturer should prove to you that it was not a manufacturing defect...