(R)S4 SmokedU /-///

would-you-like-to-play-a-game?

S4_Cinci (I S'edTFA)

differences. In other words, the directional tires are optimized for water evacuation and noise dissipation running in the proper direction. Again, if I recall correctly a performance tire running in the wrong direction still outperformed an all season tire in both wet and dry. Bottom line is its best to run in proper direction, but won't cause major problems if reversed. (basically just about what everyone else has posted, but just wanted to point out that there have been actual tests run on this - sorry no link)

s4gonebabygone

nice reference

Indyxtype

The one of the biggest advantages of a directional tire is it's wet grip and hydro resistance. This is because the sipes of the tread design push water to the outside of the tire as it rolls over water, hense clearing a dry spot for the tire to roll on. When running the tire backwards, the sipes point in the opposite direction and would in effect direct all water under the tire to the center of your contact patch. Thus making your car hydroplane at much lower speed that would be safe as well as decreasing your overall grip. Additionally, directional tires are designed to flex in one direction differently than the other (front to back). This allows them to hold the car to the road better under braking conditions and allowing you to stop much more effectivley. While you could get away with running a directional backwards, the safty factors of the tire would be significantly deminihsed. This combined with the fact that one of your four tires would act differently that the other three would alter the balance of the car when turning, braking, and accelerating, thus futher hindering the the way the car behaves. Also more on the asthetic side it would cause the tire to sound much louder as it rolls as well as being anoying as hell having one corner louder than the other.