OUTSIDE (asymmetric tire)

How to read it

An asymmetric tire has two tread designs, one on the inner half and one on the outer half, and Continental says indicators on the sidewall show the correct fitting. The AA describes the outside edge as large, stiffer blocks for cornering and the inner blocks as smaller, to shift water. MOTOR magazine says the wording varies: either the inboard or the outboard sidewall is marked, with terms such as this side out, this side in, side facing outward or outer. TyreSafe calls it the outer or inner sidewall marking. The tire can roll in either direction as long as the outboard side stays outboard, MOTOR says.

Also searched as: asymmetric tire, outside on tire, this side out.

OUTSIDE or the rotation arrow?

A directional tire carries a rotation arrow instead. The AA notes that some tyres are both directional and asymmetric.

In the MOT test

The MOT inspection manual for Great Britain says asymmetric tyres are marked with fitment information such as ‘outside’, and that one fitted the wrong way round is not a reason for rejection.

The outboard sidewall and the DOT code

In the US, FMVSS 139 requires the full tire identification number, with its date, on the intended outboard sidewall of tires made since September 1, 2009.