Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 Snow Tires, Directional?

[alex716]

Just purchased a set of 4 - PA4’s from Discount Tire Direct (online). For reference size is 245/40 R18 97V XL

All 4 tires have a tread design which leads me to believe rotation direction is critical. There is an “Outside” to each tire as labeled on the sidewall, but no arrows or rotation direction indications.

That being said, When mounted on the car, it is impossible to get this tread shape to match on the drivers and passenger sides, since all 4 tires are identical.

Any insight on this topic would be great! Pics coming shortly.









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[alex716]

Here are photos of the rear L and rear R tires..


https://m.imgur.com/gallery/4JQiGOQ



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[NixonKB]

A good tire shop should know to mount two one way, and two the other. If not - oh well - you'll probably only lose 5% grip max by running backwards.

[irish07]

They are not directional, they are asymmetric. All 4 tires are mounted with same side facing outward. No they will not all spin forward in same directional pattern.


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[blackfunk]

They are not directional, they are asymmetric. All 4 tires are mounted with same side facing outward. No they will not all spin forward in same directional pattern.


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This...

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[alex716]

They are not directional, they are asymmetric. All 4 tires are mounted with same side facing outward. No they will not all spin forward in same directional pattern.


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Not disagreeing with any of you, as I’m in agreement. But doesn’t it seem odd to have that swooped tread shape opposite on the L and R side of the car?


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[Supra13]

Thinking about getting the same tires. How do they ride?

When you rotate you only go front to back keeping the same side.

Perhaps they designed the swoop like that with cars having more negative camber hence more of a contact patch with more siping and channels.

[irish07]

Not disagreeing with any of you, as I’m in agreement. But doesn’t it seem odd to have that swooped tread shape opposite on the L and R side of the car?


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Nope, doesn’t seem odd at all. This is why it’s a asymmetrical tire, not a directional.

Some of the best street tires are Michelin Pilot Super Sports and Continental DW..both tires and the superseded versions are all asymmetric tire design patterns. If these huge tire manufactures wanted them directional or saw a benefit in these models, they would of designed the pattern in directional pattern.


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[alex716]

Nope, doesn’t seem odd at all. This is why it’s a asymmetrical tire, not a directional.

Some of the best street tires are Michelin Pilot Super Sports and Continental DW..both tires and the superseded versions are all asymmetric tire design patterns. If these huge tire manufactures wanted them directional or saw a benefit in these models, they would of designed the pattern in directional pattern.


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How is this tread not directional? I understand the tire is asymmetrical from the inside to outside of the tire. But I guess what I am hung up on is that The swoop is a directional tread feature from a common sense standpoint. See the photos I posted above.


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[irish07]

I live in Canada, deal with a nice amount of snow, slush, black ice, -35C..etc

In all honesty, I’ve never liked Michelin as a winter tire. They design amazing “summer” tires but for winter they really suck(my own 2cents).

(Completely my own experience) Nokian has by far proven its one of the greats, if not the best..

I used to work for an Aston/Bentley/Land Rover/Jag dealer as a Lead Master Tech. I’ve seen the cheapest and best tires money can buy. So I’ve personally tried all the low and top brands/models/designs. On my own car, over the last years I’ve only settled for Nokian Hakkapeliitta. Being I get a lot of black ice and sub temps, I get the prestudded version.


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[irish07]

How is this tread not directional? I understand the tire is asymmetrical from the inside to outside of the tire. But I guess what I am hung up on is that The swoop is a directional tread feature from a common sense standpoint. See the photos I posted above.


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Yes, your stuck on the pattern thinking the right side tires are swooping forward.

If you flip the tire around, the required pattern that needs to be facing outside will be inside, will now swing snow/slush/water inwards and under chassis versus outwards and away. It’s just the design Michelin chose to create that made this design beneficial. Odds are the inside sidewalk logo/writing/graphics aren’t even the same. On higher brand tires that are asymmetric, the outside graph and sidewall looks different.


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[alex716]

Yes, your stuck on the pattern thinking the right side tires are swooping forward.

If you flip the tire around, the required pattern that needs to be facing outside will be inside, will now swing snow/slush/water inwards and under chassis versus outwards and away. It’s just the design Michelin chose to create that made this design beneficial. Odds are the inside sidewalk logo/writing/graphics aren’t even the same. On higher brand tires that are asymmetric, the outside graph and sidewall looks different.


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I guess my thought would be this design would warrant a left and right version but maybe I’m just over thinking it lol.



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[hilmar2k]

Thinking about getting the same tires. How do they ride?

When you rotate you only go front to back keeping the same side.

Perhaps they designed the swoop like that with cars having more negative camber hence more of a contact patch with more siping and channels.

They are assymetrical, not directional, so they can be rotated normally. No need to keep them on the same side.