I'm getting Toy prepared for her Safety Test, & that means I'll have to shuffle some tires around. This means using the spare, and a wheel from my pile-o-parts.
I don't know which side these were used on...so...
How important is radial tire set?
If it is important, is there some way of telling just by looking?
Thanks.

 

Not sure I understand your question completely.

Are you asking how to tell the difference between a bias ply and radial tire? Most all street tires are going to be radials. Unless you have a super swamper bogger or something like that.

Or....????

 

Sorry, I should explain...
New radial tires take a "set" after driving a while.
Its not recommended to run radials in the opposite rotation once "set".
This is why radials are rotated front to back, and not side to side.
Hoo Gnu

 

I've never heard of that. I know that DIRECTIONAL tires (radial or bias ply) cannot be rotated side to side.

 

I looked up on goodyear's site. They mention that only directional tires cannot be crossed side to side, and recommend crossing your tires to promote even tire wear.

Taken from http://www.goodyeartires.com/faqs/Rotation.html




Should I rotate my tires?

Regular and proper tire rotation promotes more uniform wear for all of the tires on a vehicle. All season tires should be rotated in a "modified X" pattern, meaning only the tires being moved to the drive axle are crossed to the opposite side of the vehicle.

The remaining two tires are moved from the drive axle to the free rolling axle, remaining on the same side of the vehicle. This method of rotation helps promote a more even and uniform treadwear pattern for all four tires.

The only exception to this would be the use of "directional" tread design tires such as our Aquatred II or some of our Eagle line high performance tires. These tires would remain on the same side of the vehicle and be rotated straight forward and straight back.

 

More sites with the same info

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=43


http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...GT!830298!NONE

 

This was true with old bias ply radials, not anymore.. Only directionals..