There are roughly three types of the most common tire patterns on the market: single-directional pattern, symmetrical pattern, and asymmetric pattern.
Single-directional tires cannot be installed casually
The tread patterns of single-directional tires have obvious directionality, and they can be installed correctly as long as they are installed according to the direction of the pattern. The direction of the pattern is the direction of wheel rotation. However, some car owners still have a headache when facing single-directional tires. It doesn't matter. There will be arrows on the sidewalls and the English word "Rotation" printed on them, which means that after the tire is installed, the direction of the arrow is the direction of wheel rotation.
Installing the tire in reverse will affect the performance of the tire
Once the single-directional tire is installed in reverse, the tire pattern will not play a corresponding role, which will have a certain impact on the drainage, stability, fuel saving and other performance of the tire, and there will be safety hazards in serious cases.
Symmetrical tires
Along the center line of the tire, the patterns on the left and right sides are symmetrical, and there is no distinction between the inside and the outside when installing, that is, you can install it casually and install it however you like. However, it is recommended that you install the side with the production date on the outside, which is convenient for future inspections and does not require the wheel to be removed to check the production date.
Asymmetric tires
Due to the different functions of the treads on both sides, this type of tire is relatively troublesome to install. You must distinguish the inside and outside. The sidewall with the word "outside" is installed on the outside, and the "inside" is installed on the inside. When changing tires, be sure to recognize the corresponding markings and don't be careless. I believe that everyone can understand the meaning of these two simple English words.
Installation in violation of the design principle, the tire performance is unstable
In violation of the installation principle of asymmetric tires, the inside that focuses on drainage capacity is installed on the outside, and the outside that focuses on grip is installed on the inside. First of all, the overall driving experience is uncomfortable, for example, it will lean to one side when turning. Since the wear resistance of the treads on both sides is also different, once installed in reverse, the tire will wear more severely, the grooves will be worn flat, and the drainage capacity will naturally decrease. Some tires will also increase in noise.