How to Determine the Correct Side of a Tire
2 Answers
Methods to determine the correct side of a tire are as follows: 1. For the vast majority of tires, the side with the production date should face outward. 2. Observe whether there are two dots on the sidewall of the tire: Typically, one dot is a solid red circle, and the other is a hollow yellow circle; the side with the dots should face outward. 3. Judging by letters: This method is not fixed because it varies by brand. For example, Dunlop tires have the word "outside" on the outward-facing sidewall, while other brands may not have these letters.
I think you can determine the correct side of a tire by looking at the sidewall markings: Many tires are marked with 'Outside' or 'Inside,' where 'Outside' indicates the outer side, so make sure it faces outward when mounting the tire. If there are no such markings, check for an arrow indicating the rotation direction to avoid mounting it backward. Why is this important? Because I once made the mistake of mounting a tire backward, which resulted in increased noise while driving, uneven tire wear, and a shorter lifespan, forcing me to replace it prematurely. Now, I perform a quick tire check every six months, cleaning the sidewalls to ensure the markings are clear. For new tires or modified vehicles, I recommend checking the vehicle manual to confirm the specific requirements for the tire model—sometimes, directional tread patterns must be installed correctly for safety.
