Side by side tire tread direction

[jmc]

Dealer Pic below looks like the front tread direction is consistent with tractor tires (pushing the dirt away from the tire somewhat) but the rear direction looks opposite from the front. Is one of these pairs on backwards?

Thanks.

 

[Shaneard]

I'd say the rears are, swap sides and roll on.

 

[jmc]

Thanks. Before I ask them to correct it before I buy it, I just wanted to confirm it's backwards.

 

[Code54]

yep - needs switched side to side in the rear as Shaneard mentioned.
Someone mounted them on the machine too quickly and didn't pay attention im guessing.

 

[LouNY]

Before asking for them to be swapped look for a rotation arrow.
Most tires with a directional track will have an arrow showing rotation direction.

 

[jmc]

Before asking for them to be swapped look for a rotation arrow.
Most tires with a directional track will have an arrow showing rotation direction.

OP here.

You were right about the arrow and the tires were properly mounted after all.

Just brought it home and hope to be riding it tonight.

Thanks.

 

[Threepoint]

OP here.

You were right about the arrow and the tires were properly mounted after all.

Just brought it home and hope to be riding it tonight.

Thanks.

Interesting. I'm guessing the fronts have the chevrons pointing toward the front of the vehicle to channel water outward, aiding steering. And that the rears have them inverted for traction. :scratchchin:

Since the tires are directional, I'm then wondering how you should rotate them, if ever you did. Would you swap them front to back, so they continued to rotate in the same direction? Or swap them diagonally so that the tread orientation remains the same? :confused3:

 

[Gary Fowler]

OP here.

You were right about the arrow and the tires were properly mounted after all.

Just brought it home and hope to be riding it tonight.

Thanks.

Are you sure you read the arrow direction right. The rears sure seem to be on backward and if used in the mud they are going to load up rather than shed the mud. Any tire with chevron pattern is always ran with the chevrons pointed up and to the front when viewed from the back.
I dont suppose it will make much difference as long as you dont get into a thick mud.

As to one post mentioning rotation, you dont. Fronts are different size so cant swap front to rear. UTV owners dont generally have to worry about uneven wear that would need rotation. The tread should wear down evenly and need replaced in about 600-800 hours if you keep off the asphalt with them.

 

[Threepoint]

Gary, except that jmc's side-by-side is the new Wolverine X2, so I looked at some pics and videos on the Yamaha website. They, too, all seem to show the rears with the chevrons inverted, as in jmc's pic.

You are right about the fronts and rears being different sizes, at least stock: Fronts: 26x8-12, rears: 26x10-12.

Top speed is reported to be 50 mph, stock. Aftermarket accessories are available that claim to make it street-legal. IMO, life is already too short to drive one of those that fast on anything other than a speed track. :laughing:

 

[jmc]

Gary, except that jmc's side-by-side is the new Wolverine X2, so I looked at some pics and videos on the Yamaha website. They, too, all seem to show the rears with the chevrons inverted, as in jmc's pic.

Top speed is reported to be 50 mph, stock. Aftermarket accessories are available that claim to make it street-legal. IMO, life is already too short to drive one of those that fast on anything other than a speed track. :laughing:

OP again.

Up close, those rear chevrons aren't that aggressive laterally, and some of the tread near the tire edges are oriented in the opposite direction. Might be a compromise tread pattern for traction in reverse too.

Dealer warned to take it easy at first to break in the CVT belt. I did run it up my driveway (pic below) at 30 MPH. Although it seemed like about 60 MPH with the grade, dips, curves and no windshield, the ascent was effortless and stable.