Is it true that you shouldn't run directional performance tires on euro sport sedans?

Question

I have a 2000 328i w/ sport package. I need new tires and was looking at some pretty aggressive directional tires (that's what was on it when I bought it, used) but then was told that european cars, esp. sport sedans, wear them pretty bad and especially on the inside edges(this is where mine are bad, but the shop that told me didn't know this), regardless of how on top of alignment and balancing you are. Any truth to this?

Answer 1

well most performance vehicles will run an alignment setup for better traction wether you run directional tires or not should not matter on it wearing out the inside edges. the lexus IS my buddy owns has the same problem its just how they set them up....

Answer 2

Not true. You can use directional tires on your car without any problems.

The only reason why someone might want to choose a non-directional tire over a directional tire is the ability to "rearward cross-rotate" (see link) the tires. With uni-directional tires, you can only rotate front to back of the same sides.

http://www.pepboys.com/learning_center/car_care/articles/tire_rotation.html

Rotation allows for more even wear on tires - maximizing tire life/mileage. Cross rotation will provide a more even wear especially if you drive in a area with a lot more right turns/curves than left or vice versa, wearing more heavily on one side than the other.

Answer 3

You can run directional tires for BMWs. Some BMW use different tire size for front and rear.

BMW recommend that you do NOT rotate tires. The wear pattern for front and back are very specific, rotating them could reduce the traction. Instead, they recommends that you just replace them.

Answer 4

That sure is news to the 2006 Mini Cooper I autocross with Hankook Ventus RS2's!

Answer 5

Not true. The truth is that you only rotate them front to back and not diagonal like the old days.