cmyachtie

So I'm getting ready to put on my winter rims with the Dunlop winter sport tires yesterday and just happened to notice that the front and rear were mounted differently, directional tires have an arrow on the side for correct mounting and the set I had were all 4 Dunlop 3D and two yrs ago My rears were worn and was unable to get anymore 3D's. And got two Dunlop winters port 4D instead (same basic tire just newer model I was told). Just never noticed that the tire guy mounted them wrong ....maybe that is why they are almost done after only two winters.

Question is are they safe to drive on and should I keep driving on them in wrong direction or should I have it fixed at this point?
Currently I just cross rotated the rears to the front so the run now in the right direction.

Can't really blame tire guy too much as the new arrow Dunlop choose for the 4D is rather ambiguous, to see pic of this here for the 4D
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/BigPic...wall=Blackwall

Here for the 3D
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/BigPic...wall=Blackwall

JayArras

Umm, why would you come to a forum like this and ask a question like that? I think you know the answer to your question. If they're shot, it probably doesn't matter. But if new, get it addressed.
I wouldn't let them off the hook that easily. That's their business. Besides, the rotation direction is clearly marked on the sidewall.

rice_rocket88

Other than what was said before.. In my experience and knowledge you can certainly run them in opposite direction of indication. With the caveat that the tire isn't going to actually "work" for rain/snow channeling because.. the channels etc are in the wrong direction. So performance wise you're really at a less than optimal situation. Can you drive around on it, sure.. it won't explode or kill you. I might see if you have the receipts etc and go back to the shop to question it..

KyleB

Unless the tires are severely/unevenly worn I'd remount them in the proper direction and roll on with your life. The car might feel a little wonky at first, but the tires should eventually wear in to the proper 'normal' wear pattern, and by then it might have been new tire time anyway.

my $.02

cmyachtie

Thanks for the feedback, just to add what I should have mentioned earlier they wore exceptionally down the centre of the tires both of the despite that I only inflate them 4lbs below recommendation.
The reason I was concerned was that the loading on the internals (belts) would be different from design and maybe damaging?

cmyachtie

Drove the car for the first time with correctly mounted tires and no wonky feeling at all smooth as butter....
Now after driving car for two trips into town around 200 miles later, developing a rather nasty shake/shimmy.
So maybe tires do not like to be driven in in reverse for two winters.......