Thread: spare tyres - actual times you needed a second spare

Directional tyres can be swapped front to rear, keeping them on the same side of the vehicle, and take one off so you can add the spare into the rotation.

Downside is you will have two tyres for one side of the vehicle and three for the other, so occasionally you might ideally remount one tyre in the opposite direction.

I once ran a set of tyres that if ran in one direction were floatation and the opposite mounting direction was traction.

Was amazing how notable the difference was.

Originally Posted by Tombie

I once ran a set of tyres that if ran in one direction were floatation and the opposite mounting direction was traction.

Was amazing how notable the difference was.

Wow, never heard of that, but i think it makes sense? In reverse rotation it will stop material from being ejected out the sides of the tread, it will contain material, and hence aid flotation?

I once thought i saw a comp truck in steep muddy terrain with the front tyres reversed. If so, there could be a thought that maximum traction at the front during hillclimbs isnt quite as important as being able to reverse up part of a steep hill if needed?

Bit off topic, but on a steep hill, the majority of the load is on the rear wheels anyway, so need for traction at the frone is perhaps less. Maybe the advantage was better braking on steep descents where the majority of the load is on the front wheels.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Bit off topic, but on a steep hill, the majority of the load is on the rear wheels anyway, so need for traction at the frone is perhaps less. Maybe the advantage was better braking on steep descents where the majority of the load is on the front wheels.

On a steep hill the need for better traction up front is increased...
It’s can be the difference between making it up vs kangaroo rooting or just digging the arse in and stopping.

Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

I ran directional tyres for quite a while, any rotation has two tyres running backwards.

I remember asking a tyre fitter which way he fitted the spare.

He replied "I fitted it for lhs so you wont be on the traffic side of the vehicle when you have to change a tyre"...I left him with that one.

I know Tombie will get it......

Any good tyre fitter will tell you that LHS rear is the most likely tyre to fail or be punctured,particularly in rural areas.

my tyres get rotated every time i drive....

Originally Posted by shanegtr

I live in the Pilbara and I wouldnt travel anywhere without a second spare. Its just piece of mind for me - especially when your in a remote area with little traffic for any assistance if required. Yes I carry tyre plugs and its normally the first option I look at, but they cannot fix all tyres.
I also rotate through all 6 of my tyres (Im not a fan of the idea of throwing away an unused spare because of its age).

Lovely and harsh country up there.

How many occasions have you needed both spares and what circumstances?