tire mounted backwards

[flinter]

Hi,

I had a new tire installed on my 2017 Hyundai Elantra last November due to a flat that could not be repair. This morning, I just noticed that the tire was installed backwards, with the "inner side" showing. Should I go back and have them remount, or does it not really matter?

Thanks
Michael in NJ

 

[Dave Hess]

No when it’s dry.

Yes when it’s raining.

I would go back and have tire remounted.

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

Yes. You paid for their service with an assumption it would be done correctly. It obviously was not. Be polite about it but firm.

It was probably a simple mistake, but mounting tires isn't difficult.

 

[opus1]

Take it back and ask that they remount properly. The tire manufacturer wouldn't have spent the money to mark the tire that way for no reason.

I had that happen when I got the current set of tires on the Sonata, only they did two tires improperly. I noticed when I got home and went right back. They redid the job with no hassle.

 

[SC Maintenance]

You need to determine if its a directional tire.

If it is directional it needs to be changed.

If its non directional they may have mounted it that way to put white letters inside, but it should not matter either way.

What tire exactly?

 

[flinter]

You need to determine if its a directional tire.

If it is directional it needs to be changed.

If its non directional they may have mounted it that way to put white letters inside, but it should not matter either way.

What tire exactly?

Tire is Vredestein HiTrac All Season 205/55/16

 

[ka9mnx]

I always have my tires mounted "backwards" I hate free advertisement for the manufacturer.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Tire is Vredestein HiTrac All Season 205/55/16

It doesn't seem to say. It doesn't look uni directional but not my area of expertise. Maybe @CapriRacer will weigh in?

https://www.vredestein.com/car-suv-tires/products/1788-HITRAC/

 

[dbias]

They are asymmetrical so they definitely have an inside and outside. I would have it corrected. Tire rack show a definite difference between the inside and outside shoulders.

 

[GSCJR]

Correct @dbias, an asymmetrical tread pattern has to be mounted correctly.

 

[CapriRacer]

First, if we have correctly identified the tire, I am surprised as it seems like it is both symmetrical and non-directional. But if it is marked, by all means, go back so they learn a lesson from this.

Lastly, the asymmetry may be there, but it seems slight enough to ignore.

 

[OX1]

They are asymmetrical so they definitely have an inside and outside. I would have it corrected. Tire rack show a definite difference between the inside and outside shoulders. View attachment 334064

Even if tread looks identical, some of the higher perf tires use different material compounds through the tire tread.
Especially outer edge that takes most of the load cornering. Possible this is trickling down to "non-performance" tires now.

Heck, they could be going the opposite way, make the outer edge wear better, for overall life under "moderate" performance use.

 

[flinter]

Went back to the shop this morning and remounted tire correctly, honest mistake.

 

[Finklejag]

It isn’t a honest mistake. Their job is to install tires, they did it wrong.

 

[flinter]

It isn’t a honest mistake. Their job is to install tires, they did it wrong.

What would you have wanted me to do? Scold them for it?? People make mistakes. This is a highly regarded tire shop in my area.