Michelin Pilot Super Sports: Thread Pattern Question

I recently got a set of these Michelin Pilot Super Sports. Their website states these as 'Directional' tires. However, the only sign on the tire in regard to this is 'Outside' indicating which side should be facing outside.

If you look at the picture above, you can see the outside shoulder has a different thread pattern; however, the cuts are angular. So if I switch rear wheels (as an example), tires still be facing correctly to outside, but the thread will be rotating opposite. This doesn't seem right to me. Any input?

They are Asymmetrical not Directional. Asymmetrical are always marked with an 'outside', Directional with a direction arrow. Symmetrical may or may not have and outside. Asymmetrical and Symmetrical can be cross rotated where Directional can/should not.

Originally Posted by sle39lvr

I recently got a set of these Michelin Pilot Super Sports. Their website states these as 'Directional' tires. However, the only sign on the tire in regard to this is 'Outside' indicating which side should be facing outside.

If you look at the picture above, you can see the outside shoulder has a different thread pattern; however, the cuts are angular. So if I switch rear wheels (as an example), tires still be facing correctly to outside, but the thread will be rotating opposite. This doesn't seem right to me. Any input?

I'm not sure where you found the information that these are directional tires on the Michelin website. I looked and their website has very little information about the tire. It doesn't mention whether they are directional or asymmetrical although they are clearly asymmetrical. I have these tires on my Z4 M and they do have "Outside" molded on the tire, an indication of asymmetrical tires.

This information is from the Tire Rack website and clearly states that they are asymmetrical and makes no mention of their being directional:

The Pilot Super Sport features an asymmetric design molded of Michelin’s Bi-Compound tread rubber featuring a Le Mans-inspired dry compound outboard side-by-side with their latest generation of wet compound inboard. The low-void outboard shoulder features a track-type compound to withstand the stresses of high performance cornering while the notched center ribs and inboard shoulder feature a compound designed for superior performance at very high speeds and in wet conditions.

Originally Posted by sle39lvr

I recently got a set of these Michelin Pilot Super Sports. Their website states these as 'Directional' tires. However, the only sign on the tire in regard to this is 'Outside' indicating which side should be facing outside.

If you look at the picture above, you can see the outside shoulder has a different thread pattern; however, the cuts are angular. So if I switch rear wheels (as an example), tires still be facing correctly to outside, but the thread will be rotating opposite. This doesn't seem right to me. Any input?

If you take note of most new tire offerings in the past 10 years or so, most are "asymmetrical" rather than "unidirectional." So-called "directional" tires have lost favor with tire manufacturers in recent years due to their propensity to develop horrible "pattern noise." They had no rotation options whatsoever (although, in fact they COULD be run in the "opposite" direction without harm)...the world would NOT end.

The current "vogue" is certainly "asymmetrical" tires and everyone is piling on to this trend. As noted, the sidewall indicates: "this side out." They do offer another rotation option (unless you have a staggered fitment). If you're lucky, you have the same size all around.

The "benefit" of asymmetrical" tires is the handling aspect as the outside shoulder will have a lower "void ratio" thus accommodating higher grip in dry cornering. This harks back to the famous Michelin ASX tire of many decades ago, perhaps the first asymmetrical tire and "OEM" on many famous European cars.

Thanks for the replies.

I see what they are now. I did email Michelin, let's see what they say.