Anyone an expert on asymmetric Pirelli tyres - query!!
Hi Guys,
I`ve posted below a picture of two Pirelli P-Zero (yellow) Simmetrico tyres I have been supplied. The picture is a little wonky, but they are exactly the same size and type.
Now these things are asymmetric, ie the tread pattern changes across the tyre.
Because of that there is a large embossed "Inner" and "Outer" on the tyre sidewalls to show the right way to mount them.
In this photo I`ve put them next to each other as they would be on the car, with the inner and outer labels correctly postioned.
My query is that shouldn`t there be two different tyres, a left and a right one, rather than just two the same??
Look at the outermost pattern, almost like a flattened chevron. This goes "up" on one tyre and "down" on another.
Now look at the third pattern in from the outside, an arrowhead pattern. Up on one tyre, down on another.
So, has anyone a definitive answer on whether I`ve been mistakenly supplied two of the same tyres instead of a "pair" of the units, one left and one right??
Pirellis website makes no mention of this anomaly, nor does a casual search of the web on reviews of this model tyre.
Hmm, i see what you're saying Ivan, i do, but i guess that
the alternate outer tread blocks do go some way to compensating for this difference...
And afterall, any bog standard road tyre with a patern across its width would suffer the same arrangement Left vs. Right fitment.
I had always logically assumed that directional tyres would hold
clear advantages over non directional, however this does not always seem to be the case...
How did you arrive at the choice of Pirelli Ivan ?
I think you should pick up a copy of Autocar Jan 29th !
The guys I know well at the tyre place swear by them. The fronts which are Pirelli P-Zero Rosso Simmetrico were wonderful when I had them fitted after wearing out the front two Avon ZZR1s.
They don`t make this size in the Rossos, so I went for the "Yellows" version, slightly different pattern and some waffle on the Pirelli brochure about a little less resistance to aquaplaning and wet handling traded for more grip in the dry.
Well I drive like a girl in the wet in a four ton M5 with no traction control and too many horsepower, so this didn`t bother me.
I remember as a nipper wanting the P-Zero name, sad huh, plus you really can`t go wrong with a manufacturer like Pirelli with such a long and distinguished history in making err... girly calenders.
I liked the pattern of Eagle F1s, but heard bad reports about them.
I liked the idea of Yokohama AVSs, but couldn`t find a local stockist, plus world + dog kept telling me they wear out too fast.
Michelin don`t make their Pilot Sport in the sizes I wanted according to their website, and the fat white bloke in their adverts irritates me.
I didn`t want the cheaper brands like Toyo (could find any to compare), Continental, Rallye something, Avon (tyre blokes said wouldn`t put round their boat, lol).
The Pirellis cost me £125+VAT each with valves.
I hear they don`t last forever, but I only do 8000 ish miles a year.
Ivan.
PS.
Everyone slates those Avon ZZR1 tyres, but I`ll tell you I had a set on in 235/45/17 all round on the 535i when I got it, plus the M5 had them as fronts, and Bibbya did me a deal on the two 255 rears that I just had replaced (split and bad puncture on one).
They squeal a little on the limit, (handy for novice drivers), but I never complained about the grip, they were nicely progressive, but the best thing is they lasted crazy time, something like 30,000 miles on the 535i. For the money they were great. Note all the tests I`ve seen that slagged them off were all on wet weather performance on thin tyres on small FWD cars like Saxos. I never had an issue with them on the 535i, and visually the tread pattern looks nice.
I have Dunlop SP9000 sports all round and they too are Directional and have a MIRROR image when side by side so i would guess that you have two offside tyres
A simple call to Pirelli would put your mind at rest (192)
This is what gets me. The Simmetrico series are *not* directional, but must be mounted with the indicator on the outside.
They do another tyre in the P-Zero system , the Direzionale.
The Pirelli "this is how we do it" gumf says the "P-Zero System" is that you use Direzionale up front for water clearance and anti-aquaplaning, and Simmetrico on the rears for grip in the now clear channel, or Simmetrico all round for less wet performance but better dry.
The Direzionale are obviously directional and can be mounted any way, but obviously have to go round in the correct direction of travel to make the tread work.
The Simmetricos have an asymmetric tread pattern, but are mounted with an "outer" indicator, but my query was that the tyres therefore have a semi-contrasting pattern, so is there a "missing" mirror tyre I don`t know about?
I was asking this so a few people who might have Pirellis on can check so we get an answer that way, then I`ll check with Pirelli.
Another thing. Pirellis marketing information is completely arse over tit when it comes to choosing a tyre or finding out about them.
Check this;
The P-Zero Rosso is a different tyre to the P-Zero Asimmetrico.
The printed Pirelli brochure lists Simmetrico, the Pirelli UK & US web shows them and says they are called Asimmetrico.
P-Zero Rosso tyres come with P-Zero embossed on them.
I bought P-Zero Asimmetrico for the front, they come with P-Zero Rosso embossed on them, and nothing about Asimmetrico/Simmetrico on the tyre at all.
Yes I checked the tread pattern, and it`s right, it`s a Asimmetrico aka Simmetrico pattern and not the Rosso shown on the web, which does match the Rosso in the brochure with the nice red faux chinese symbol
P-Zero "yellows", (the printed brochure has a stupid faux chinese symbol instead of a name, evidently "Yellow" doesn`t sound good in Italian when you`re not in Italy. Probably sounds like something rude.), as I was saying P-Zero "yellows" don`t have P-Zero embossed in the tyre sidewall, they have a nice yellow sticker which will come off in a few miles.
When you order P-Zero "yellow" Simmetrico from the brochure, (and the UK suppliers my tyre people use call them "Simmetrico stupid yellow sign" like the brochure), you get delivered tyres with the right tread pattern, but Asimmetrico embossed on the tyre wall and the nice P-Zero sticker we mentioned before.
How on earth do they stay in business?????
Ivan.
PS. That is just what I`ve experience. Bear in mind they also show on the Pirelli website that they make P-Zero Direzionale and P-Zero Rosso Direzionale too. God only knows what form you have to fill in to get them....
They are the exact tyres I used to have on my M5 (before they went up to £180 in my size), before swapping to AVS-Sports (were cheap, but are now standard on some new car so price has gone up as well), and now using ContiSport Contact 2.
They are indeed asymmetric, not symmetric. They can be used on either side of the vehicle as long as they are used with the correct side out. If they were symmetric they could be used either way round - and AFAIK Pirelli don't do a totally symmetric one!
The directional ones are great, but you can't rorate them left to right to balance the wear - you can only rotate them front to back.
that you have two offside tyres
Linear Mode
