So I spent $415 on new tires, $180 for mount balance and alignment.... I even had the self control to keep my driving style grandma enough to break them in properly. 500mi of easy acceleration and braking. I drive halfway to DC today and my friend says, "Dude, I think this tire is on backwards." I say no way and check and initially thought he was wrong, but he wasn't....



Questions:

How bad is it for my tire to have been mounted backwards for 500mi +/- on soft acceleration, braking and nothing above 90mph (I know... )?
Do they need to re-align the car when they dismount and remount the tire?
How will this effect the life of the tire?

Don't think it matters but, 225/45/17 Kumho Ecsta SPT

 

take it back, tell them to remount it, no need for alignment. chances are nothing is wrong with the tire but if there is irregular wear, they should replace it since it's their fault it wasn't mounted correctly, not yours.

 

as long as there is no uneven wear (like your car is lowered,so your tires wear on the inside) then your fine. The main reason for "directional" tires is mainly for the water ducts. On directional tires,the water ducts are a certain patern,usually driving water from the center of the tire,to the outside. When they are on backwards,in rain,it would be driving water from the outside of the tire,in twards the middle. bad because obviously water being driven to the middle of the tire will increase the chance of hydro plane. Other then that your fine,go back and get the shop that did your tires to fix his mistake.

 

You're fine, 500 miles isn't going to affect wear from the backwards tread blocks, and you obviously haven't run into any traction or standing water problems.

Make sure they do it for free.

 

Most likely you will be fine and have no issues. Just have them remount it correctly.

 

That one tire will lead to a fireball of death. I'd sue.

 

take them back and tell the company that they mounted them on backwards... they have to replace them.



i just fixed a single tire that was put on in MAY of 07 that was on backwards and the owner JUST noticed it... the tread left was about 50%......

brand new tire. for free. mounted the right way.

 

GOOD SHIT CALEB!!!

Glad i gave you the receipts then!!!

 

So that's all I have to do? get new tires take em to a friend rotate them after 30,000 miles the take them back to original shop?

 

hmmm, shouldn't be a problem with that few miles and driven gently. Once it's fixed, I bet it will sound quieter. Did you have an excessive tire noise? That's usually your first clue when this happens...

BTW, I take it you went to the Auto Show? It took me 6 hours to get through all of it in detail... Good times!!!