[ricerraper33]

this might sound like a dumb question but i believe the nitto NT555's r directional tires. Im only looking at ordering 2 back tires how will American muscle know that i want two back ones? i hope im not confusing u guys?

[poindexter18]

Directional face the same way. Think of a v and the bottom of the v pointing at the ground as the tire spins. If that makes sense ya got it. If not, well I'm too lazy. Regardless, there's no diff. All directional tires can be mounted on any point of the car. It's just how you put them on the rim that matters.

[BWAL]

+1 ^

[MIA]

if you order 2 they will make it left and right.
you could call them or leave an email if you need otherwise.

[oldernewbie]

Originally Posted by poindexter18 Directional face the same way. Think of a v and the bottom of the v pointing at the ground as the tire spins. If that makes sense ya got it. If not, well I'm too lazy. Regardless, there's no diff. All directional tires can be mounted on any point of the car. It's just how you put them on the rim that matters.

+1....there's no outside/inside mounting proceedure.

[dgt_mustang]

huh......i was wondering why the garage guy putting my tires on the rim was asking if its going on the passenger or driver side.

[JASonic]

I think it was consumer reports actually did a scientific study on directionals. They put them all on "backwards" and the car handeling only decreased by 5%. The driver said he didnt even notice the difference. I think thats funny.

[ricerraper33]

alright thanks guys im just worried that am will send me two rights or somthin and ill have to send them back.. but im probably going to send them an email.

[oldernewbie]

Theres are no right or left directional tires. They will have arrows pointing in the rotational direction in which to be mounted on the wheel. Any good tire shop should know this, but once mounted you can only rotate them front to back and back to front...no crisscrossing or right to left rotations.

[MWWarlord]

Originally Posted by oldernewbie Theres are no right or left directional tires. They will have arrows pointing in the rotational direction in which to be mounted on the wheel. Any good tire shop should know this, but once mounted you can only rotate them front to back and back to front...no crisscrossing or right to left rotations.

+1
However, If your front and rear tires are a different width like mine are...then once they are mounted you can't rotate them at all.

[AMNick]

Directional tires only become a "left" or a "right" tire when they are mounted on the wheel. Before they are mounted they can go on either side. The guy at the garage would want to know what side it was going on before he mounted it so he would know what way to face the tire on the wheel.

I haven't read the Consumer Report study about the handling only going down 5% when mounting the tire backwards, but I would have to think that would vary greatly from tread pattern to tread pattern. Plus, going "against the grain" would probably cause excess heat and wear the tire down much quicker. But even if the only downside was the 5% handling deficit, when you drive like me (which is most of the Mustang community) that extra 5% can mean a lot.

Also the majority of the tread pattern on directional tires has to do with water channeling, anti-hydroplaning, and handling in wet conditions since in perfect dry conditions you would be even better off with more contact area like on a racing slick. I would have to say that running directional tires backwards in the rain would be down right dangerous.