are continental winters directional?

[jboucher]

I bought four continental ts790 winter tires yesterday. Today I opened the bags and it looks to me like they gave me 4 right tires. Other than the obvious inside/outside markings on the tires, the treads look like they should be on the passenger side of the car.

Can anyone confirm if it is ok to run these on both sides? tia

[TackleburyUk]

I have the same question, but on different tyres.....

I think they might be asymetrical but if you ask me they just look wrong!

My post is here: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3766046#post3766046

[jboucher]

Thanks TackleburyUk, I agree, it just doesn't look right :confused:

I had summer tires for my 325 that were specific to right and left (see pic) and was expecting the same for these winters. Maybe Continental doesn't make a driver side tread :dunno:

I left a message at the tire store and should here back from them on Monday. I will post their officical response.

[Gary@Tirerack]

I bought four continental ts790 winter tires yesterday. Today I opened the bags and it looks to me like they gave me 4 right tires. Other than the obvious inside/outside markings on the tires, the treads look like they should be on the passenger side of the car.

Can anyone confirm if it is ok to run these on both sides? tia

Even though that may not appear to be quite right, these tires are designed to be run on either side of the car and are not directional.

[pistolpuma]

Even though that may not appear to be quite right, these tires are designed to be run on either side of the car and are not directional.

Gary,do you have any idea why they are designed that way? Not only do they look weird but in the case of my old Michelins, they seemed to channel water to the center of the tire rather than the outside and away. Thanks.

[Gary@Tirerack]

Many Continental had designs like this. Asking why their design engineers made this decision is a good question for someone at Continental. Their consumer relations dept can be reached at 800-847-3349.

[Tanning machine]

Asking why their design engineers made this decision is a good question for someone at Continental.

Will the answer be anything other than "it's cheaper to produce one tire than two different versions of the same tire"? From an engineering perspective all you do is create a mirror image, so hardly an issue. (it's not like nascar where the right tires take more abuse so are different from the left tires).

[pistolpuma]

Will the answer be anything other than "it's cheaper to produce one tire than two different versions of the same tire"? From an engineering perspective all you do is create a mirror image, so hardly an issue. (it's not like nascar where the right tires take more abuse so are different from the left tires).

What you say is true. But what is the point in designing an asymmetrical tire whose tread channels water out on one side and in on the other. I'll give them a call just for yucks and let you know...

[pistolpuma]

Wait a second, I just looked again at JBoucher's pics. If tires 1,3 are mounted on the passenger side and 2,4 are mounted on the drivers side they will have the same directional pattern if looked at from the front--correct?

[djfitter]

Wait a second, I just looked again at JBoucher's pics. If tires 1,3 are mounted on the passenger side and 2,4 are mounted on the drivers side they will have the same directional pattern if looked at from the front--correct?

Looks that way to me. Where is the problem? :dunno:

dj

[Tanning machine]

Looks that way to me. Where is the problem? :dunno:

dj


I think he said those are his summer tires, which are directional, and the winter ones (not pictured) are not directional.

[pistolpuma]

Now look at Tacklebury's Vreds...he's got a problem :tsk:

[pistolpuma]

I think he said those are his summer tires, which are directional, and the winter ones (not pictured) are not directional.

You're right.

[Tanning machine]

What you say is true. But what is the point in designing an asymmetrical tire whose tread channels water out on one side and in on the other.

I agree . . .

I should take it a step further . . . the business people didn't communicate to the engineers that they need to come up with a tire that is not directional because sales wouldn't support it.

You can imagine the conversation:
"Hey engineers, make us a new winter tire"
[engineers go away to design asymetric winter tire]
"Okay, great job. But we don't have a big enough market to have two moulds . . . which one is better, the left or the right"
"Uh, the left?"
"Done . . . let's sell some tires!"

[Tanning machine]

Now look at Tacklebury's Vreds...he's got a problem :tsk:

I think all he needs to do is move the mudflaps to the front of the wheel well.

[pistolpuma]

I looked up pics of the Conti's on Tirerack's web site. I guess I am not as bothered by the pattern as I would if I had the Vreds or my old Michelin's.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Continental&tireModel=ContiWinterContact+TS790

[jboucher]

I think all he needs to do is move the mudflaps to the front of the wheel well.

:rofl:

thanks for all the replies. I feel better about putting these on now!

[pistolpuma]

I think all he needs to do is move the mudflaps to the front of the wheel well.

Problem solved:rofl:

[TackleburyUk]

:rofl:

thanks for all the replies. I feel better about putting these on now!

I don't!!!

I emailed Vred and they replied with loads of pictures and a nifty little .gif showing how with asymetrial tread patten always has 4 contact points to remove water.

They assure me that they are correct.

I've not fitted them yet as i'm trying to get the most out the michies i have at the moment.

I'll report back in a month or two, if i'm still alive......