Question: Bridgestone RE001. directional or non-directional?

Steampunk · Postby **Steampunk** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 10:41 am

For those who run Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin RE001:
Do the tread pattern on the left and right sides all go the same way? :roll:

I have noticed that, whilst the left-side faces what I believe to be the correct direction, the right side doesn't because all the tyres have the same tread pattern, and therefore, the right-hand side is backwards.

I looked carefully, and I didn't find any markings on the sidewall that states the direction of rotation. The only thing I found was where it states "outside".

To illustrate:

Going by the picture above, these are the tyres for the left side of the car, but since all the tyres are the same:

These are the tyres for the right-hand side:

Is everyone elses' the same?

philz · Postby **philz** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 11:04 am

They are asymmetrical tyres.

So they have dedicated left and right tyres.

so Tyre treads face the same way- directional

AJ · Postby AJ » Sat Oct 04, 2008 1:12 pm

Philz is correct.
they'll also be marked to show the "outside" of the tyres

d-mag · Postby **d-mag** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 2:46 pm

Makes tyre rotations a bit tough when you have a left and right tyre.

PUR157 · Postby **PUR157** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 3:40 pm

Is it just me or is the second picture andrew showed an "upside down... upside down" of the first? (by rotation not flip)
Oh wait... was that your point...?

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 3:47 pm

philz wrote:They are asymmetrical tyres.

So they have dedicated left and right tyres.

so Tyre treads face the same way- directional

Huh

The RE050A is an asymmetric pattern but is non-directional. The tyres, as fitted to our NC by Mazda, are the same all round and are not directional. Yes the pattern is facing a different way on the left side compared to the right side.

If the RE001 is just an asymmetric pattern (as I understand it to be) then there is no left and right tyre and they can go on any corner of the car......but they must be correctly fitted (outside out) on the wheels.

philz · Postby **philz** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 5:46 pm

I stand corrected, they are non directional.

I should have just checked both sides of my Re001's :wink:

Steampunk · Postby **Steampunk** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 5:51 pm

PUR157 wrote:Is it just me or is the second picture andrew showed an "upside down... upside down" of the first? (by rotation not flip)
Oh wait... was that your point...?

Yup, that was my point

I copied the first pic from the Bridgestone website and just flipped it in paint.

Ok, so we're all in agreement, they are non-directional.
Good. *relieved expression*

d-mag · Postby **d-mag** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 6:26 pm

If that's the case, then it's a dumb ass tyre as it would channel water into the centre of the tyre causing one side of the car to be more susceptible to aquaplaning than the other. :?:

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 7:14 pm

They work fine d-mag. The idea is to put the grip where it's needed - towards the outside for better cornering. The tread pattern (apparent) direction has no effect on aquaplaning or water dispersion. Aquaplaning, for a given tread depth, is generally only a function of tyre pressure.

d-mag · Postby **d-mag** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 7:42 pm

You've got it the wrong way around. The whole idea of tread is to disperse water and avoid aquaplaning. Not for grip.

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 8:30 pm

I did say "tread pattern (apparent) direction..." i.e it doesn't matter which way it is oreinted. Yes, of course the tread disperses water and yes a slick will grip better in the dry.......but you can't use a slick on the road and be roadworthy. I figure the Bridgestone designers know a fair bit about tread patterns, grip and water dispersion. Click me

d-mag · Postby **d-mag** » Sun Oct 05, 2008 8:58 am

1. Inside Offset Twin Rib which delivers sharp, smooth response and stability with superior traction and braking characteristics
2. New 3D Centre Block which reinforces the response and stability characteristics
3. Multi-curved Slant Groove for superior wet weather performance
4. Semi-slick Shoulder Design for maximum cornering grip

It's #3 that I'm having issues with. Again we see the left hand side Tyre only that would be doing a good job of dispersing water as the tyre rolls forward.
But, it's on the right side of the car that water wouldn't be channeled out. I don't see how you can say it does? The picture seems to prove my point not dis-prove it.

It's just a healthy debate, not a bitch.

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Sun Oct 05, 2008 3:11 pm

It won't matter which way the pattern "V" faces if that's what you're getting at. I doubt that Bridgestone would make a tyre, arguably their best road tyre, that only works on one side of the car in the wet. :shock: