Tires Mounted Backwards

nyc_dude · 11-05-2023, 11:57 AM

Just a quick Pro-Tip. Consumer Discount Tire Shops, like Americas Tires, Pep Boys, Walmart, Costco, etc. rely on volume sales and quick installs. So they might install your performance tires backwards on the rim. America's Tire doesn't do alignments, so when I took my BMW to the alignment shop, they noticed it and remounted the tire correctly for me.

Performance Tires and other tire models have the words INSIDE and OUTSIDE stamped on the tire. So when the Techs mount the tire on the rim, before spin balancing, there is a 50% chance of mounting the tire backwards. Back in the 1990s there were Unidirectional Tires on performance cars that had an ARROW stamped on them, so it is mounted correctly. I had Goodyear Unidirectional Tires on my 1994 Mustang Cobra.

This applies to the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires that most of us run. The tread pattern is different on the inside vs the outside of the tires.

This happened to me at America's Tire on my BMW F30 335i. First, the valve stem was defective/leaky, then another tire was mounted backwards.

So mention it when getting tires installed at your favorite tire shop, and double check before driving away. If you are getting an oil change or other maintenance done on your M3, have them double check the tire fitment when your car is on the lift.

Cheers

spammysammich · 11-05-2023, 12:12 PM

Discount has done this to me twice. I always check before driving off.

MineralWhiteF80 · 11-06-2023, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nyc_dude

So mention it when getting tires installed at your favorite tire shop, and double check before driving away.

Hello tire shop, please mount my tires correctly.

sad days when you have to do that.

Brandoch · 11-09-2023, 02:43 PM

When I bought my car in 2022 at a dealership, I had to tell them to swap one of the rear tires around for the same reason.

11-05-2023, 11:57 AM	#1
nyc_dude Captain 403 Rep 754 Posts Drives: 09 //M3 e90 Interlagos Blue Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW F30 335i M ... [0.00] 2009 BMW //M3 [0.00]	Tires Mounted Backwards Just a quick Pro-Tip. Consumer Discount Tire Shops, like Americas Tires, Pep Boys, Walmart, Costco, etc. rely on volume sales and quick installs. So they might install your performance tires backwards on the rim. America's Tire doesn't do alignments, so when I took my BMW to the alignment shop, they noticed it and remounted the tire correctly for me. Performance Tires and other tire models have the words INSIDE and OUTSIDE stamped on the tire. So when the Techs mount the tire on the rim, before spin balancing, there is a 50% chance of mounting the tire backwards. Back in the 1990s there were Unidirectional Tires on performance cars that had an ARROW stamped on them, so it is mounted correctly. I had Goodyear Unidirectional Tires on my 1994 Mustang Cobra. This applies to the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires that most of us run. The tread pattern is different on the inside vs the outside of the tires. This happened to me at America's Tire on my BMW F30 335i. First, the valve stem was defective/leaky, then another tire was mounted backwards. So mention it when getting tires installed at your favorite tire shop, and double check before driving away. If you are getting an oil change or other maintenance done on your M3, have them double check the tire fitment when your car is on the lift. Cheers
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11-05-2023, 12:12 PM	#2
spammysammich Major 1584 Rep 1,104 Posts Drives: 2009 E92 M3 Dakar Yellow II Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: Edmonds, WA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW M3 [10.00]	Discount has done this to me twice. I always check before driving off.
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11-09-2023, 02:43 PM	#4
Brandoch Lieutenant 462 Rep 471 Posts Drives: 2009 E93 M3 DCT Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: BC Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW E93 M3 [9.50] 2011 BMW F25 X3 28i [8.50]	When I bought my car in 2022 at a dealership, I had to tell them to swap one of the rear tires around for the same reason.
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