A tire can be either directional or multi-directional. Whether you are mounting new tires to your ATV or if you want to make sure the wheels are installed correctly, you need to know if the tires are directional or not.
Directional tires should be mounted in a specific direction for optimal performance, while multi-directional tires work just as well in either direction.
So are ATV tires directional? Some types of ATV tires, like mud tires, are usually directional, while other types like rock climbing tires are generally not. Whether an ATV tire is directional or not depends on what type of terrain and what style of riding the tire is designed for.
The table below tells you whether the different types of ATV tires are more likely to be directional or not.
| ATV Tire Type | Directional / Multi-directional |
| Mud tires | Most are directional |
| Trail (All-Terrain Tires) | Either directional or multi-directional |
| Hard Pack / Rock | Usually multi-directional |
| Sand | Rear are usually directional. Front are multi-directional |
| Racing | Usually multi directional |
How to tell if an ATV tire is directional or not?
There are several ways you can tell if a tire is directional or not. Some are relatively straight forward while others require that you take a closer look at the tire’s design.
Please note that these are general guidelines only and that some manufacturers may offer other guidelines for specific tire models.
Look for directional marking on the tire walls
Most directional ATV tires have markings stamped onto the tire wall’s side, indicating the forward direction of rotation. If there are directional markings, you know that the tire is directional.
These markings come in various styles. Here are some of the more common:
- The word “ROTATION” next to what looks like a slope to a point. The point is the direction the tire should turn when driving forward.
- The word “TRACTION” next to an arrow. The arrow points in the direction the tire should turn when driving forward.
- A stand-alone arrow symbol. The arrow points in the direction the tire should turn when driving forward.
Look for a V-like tread pattern
The treads on directional ATV tires often form a “V”-like pattern, some more prominent than others.
Here are a couple of examples of what to look for:
Note that some manufacturers offer tires with a less prominent “V”-like thread pattern that is marketed as multi-directional regardless. The idea with these tires is that they offer more flexibility.
The less aggressive V-style tread pattern still offers decent traction when mounted as you usually would mount a directional tire. Then, if you want, you can mount the tire backward without being too troubled by the potential downsides.
Inspect if the tread pattern is symmetric
If there are no directional marks on the sidewalls or no clear V-like pattern, the tire is most likely multi-directional, but it can still be directional. To know for sure, you need to inspect the design of the tread pattern.
- Stand the tire in an upright position and look at the tread pattern from the top. Then turn the tire 180 degrees.
- Take notice of whether the thread pattern looks the same in both positions or if it looks different. It may be easier if you compare two similar tires at the same time.
- The tread pattern on a multi-directional tire will look the same no matter which direction it stands.
- The tread pattern on a directional tire looks noticeably different in the two positions.
Read the tire specs or ask the dealer
When you shop for new tires online, you will often find that they include information about tire direction in the listing spec section. If there is no listed info, you should contact the seller and ask, or do a google search on the specific tire you are thinking of buying.
Your local dealer should also be able to tell you which of the tires they offer are directional and not.
How to know which tire tread direction is correct on a directional ATV tire?
If you’ve established that you have directional tires, you must make sure they are installed in the correct direction.
- If there are directional markings on the tire sidewalls, the tires should be mounted so that the arrow is facing the direction of forward-rotation.
- V-style tread patterns should be installed so that the V’s tip hits the ground first when driving forward.
- There is usually no “left” and “right” side on a directional tire. They can be mounted on either side, as long as the arrow is pointing forward.
About ATV Tire
“atv tire brands”
“25x8x12 atv tires”
“atv tire sets”
“25x8x14 atv tires”
“atv tires set of 4”
“wholesale atv tires”
