I bought a new Michelin X-Ice tire from Tire Rack because the current one has a slit in the sidewall. While bringing it to the installer today, I wondered if the new tire was made to rotate in the same direction and the damaged one. Of course it wasn't. The new one is for the passenger's side, but the old one is for the driver's side. I hope I can just exchange it for the correct one. At $181, I don't want to have to buy another tire.

Update: the tire is not asymmetrical, so they can go on either side.

 

I'm not familiar with the X-Ice except for reading reviews. My impression from pictures that I have seen (including just now) is that it is a directional tire, meaning it's meant to spin in one direction only, but not an asymmetrical tire, meaning it has to mount on a specific side of the car. If you're wondering, there are also directional, asymmetrical tires, commonly for sports cars.

Directional tires should have a rotation arrow on the sidewall. Asymmetrical tires usually have "inside" and "outside" printed on the respective sidewall.

As far as the tread pattern goes, it's not uncommon for tires to change over time. Also note the some tires have multiple versions. For example, Tirerack lists both an X-Ice Snow and X-Ice Snow SUV with each having a slightly different but obviously related tread pattern. I think the previous version was just called the X-Ice, and it had a different tread pattern from either of the current versions of the tire. So, if you have X-Ice tires and you replaced one with the updated X-Ice Snow the tread pattern will be different, but I still don't think either version would be asymmetrical.

 

I run those tires. They work great!

And yes they are directional.

 

Do you mean this model or do you have different model in North-American markets?
I have now used those for three winters, about 30 000 kms (about 20 000 miles). They've been pretty good, but already begin to be close the end of their life in winter use. Friction is remarkably worse than when they were new. I'll probably consume the rest of the tread next summertime.

 

As it turned out, all is well. The installer knew just by looking at the tread which way it had to be installed. The tread is the same on old and new tires. I took a quick look as I was putting them into the car, and it looked like the tread patterns were different. That's why I deleted that comment from my post.

 

Yes, but in 16" on original wheels. When I replace them, I'll by 15" on alloy wheels. My son has that setup with Blizzaks on his 2020 Fit.

Do you watch The Hydraulic Press Channel on YouTube? It's from Finland. There's also Beyond the Hydraulic Press. Entertaining.

 

As it turned out, the tread is the same on the old and the new. When I take the snows off the cars, I label them for where they will go next winter.

 

I know the channel and might have seen a video or two years ago. I didn't know - or maybe just don't remember - him being from Finland.

 

My father used similar lables, but I find it easier and quicker to do labeling by writing on the tread with marking wax crayon. It will then wear off when tires are used. Just two letters, like LR=left rear. Except that I'm of course using Finnish words 😄.

 

Easier and quicker, but I get to use the computer, the printer, the laminator, and the big slicer! 😁

 

I just use a paint brush to put small blobs of white paint on the inward side of the rim. One dot is the drivers tire, two dots the passenger etc going around the car in a clockwise motion. Since I never rotate my tires the markings always hold true and the paint is still there and visible after 6 years and so far hasn't had to be touched up.

 

For me it's must to rotate the tires to keep wear of the tires even. Every year switching front and rear tires.

 

Tire wear is irrelevant for me since I put on so little mileage. Running winter tires also helps spread out the wear. In the end my tires are usually replaced because of age, not wear.

 

My daily driver needs new tires every 3 to 6 years due to the wear. Both summer and winter, and even when rotated annually.

I never replace due to the age, and I mean never. I use the tires ss log as they last. I've used over 20 year old tires in secondary cars until they wear out or fail in other way. In steel belt radial tyres the fail has never been sudden or dangerous. My experience is that a 20 year old good premium tire is still better and safer than a new Chinese crap tire.

 

Isn't it a good thing that those are not our only two choices!

 

That's I've been doing for years, about every 6,000 miles.