directional or asymetrical

[benwalden Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close benwalden]

hey guys, im looking at either Kumho KL71 or Hancook RT03 slippers for my truck. i love the look of the kumhos and have mates who love them. i also like the look of the Hancooks and again have clients with them on the farm trucks and they rave about them.

the only thing that is going to sway me either way is working out how well a directional tyre like the kumho would work.

the big problem is that i can only carry one spare. so so i have 4 kumhos and an old ball spare or do i have 5 Hancooks (asymetrical) and rotate them and be done with it.

pros and cons for both would be much appreciated.


cheers Ben

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: directional or asymetrical

Those Kumho KL71 looks awesome. but from reading the 120 section, it appears the front passenger tyres get higher tread wear. Not sure about the 90 series. So if you wanted to do a proper rotation, you would have to unmount the tyre from the wheel and reverse it. As for carrying only one spare, I guess it's OK to have one tyre going the wrong way temporarily until the flat tyre got fixed.

I personally would not go for a directional tyre no matter how nice it looks. I'll consider it if I was driving a WRX, but not for the Prado.

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

Re: directional or asymetrical

Those Kumho KL71 looks awesome. but from reading the 120 section, it appears the front passenger tyres get higher tread wear. Not sure about the 90 series. So if you wanted to do a proper rotation, you would have to unmount the tyre from the wheel and reverse it. As for carrying only one spare, I guess it's OK to have one tyre going the wrong way temporarily until the flat tyre got fixed.

I personally would not go for a directional tyre no matter how nice it looks. I'll consider it if I was driving a WRX, but not for the Prado.

The front passenger tyre will always wear out quicker than any other tyre, this is due to roundabouts, as we turn more right hand corners than left, so tyre rotation is parramount to longevity of a tyre set.
A couple of things you need to know if your going to go for directional tyres, your spare needs to be non directional or asymectrical, and that directional tyres are noisier than non directional or asymectrical.

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: directional or asymetrical

The front passenger tyre will always wear out quicker than any other tyre, this is due to roundabouts, as we turn more right hand corners than left, so tyre rotation is parramount to longevity of a tyre set.

Yep, that and probably also due to the fact that we turn right at higher speeds than when we turn left.

[benwalden Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close benwalden]

Re: directional or asymetrical

cheers guys, interesting about the differences. i had directional boots on my Subaru GTB. they were racing development tyres and were the best aye. stuck like sh*t to a blanket.
i like the idea about Asymetrical tyres for the fact that each tyre can be put on either side, front or back, but i love the look of the kumhos and mates swear by them but for the functionality of a asymetrical tyre makes its hard to decide.

[Taresk Member Find all posts View Profile Close Taresk]

Re: directional or asymetrical

I've had directional tyres on mine for 4yrs, (ProComp XTerrain) If possible I would always have directional tyres, their handling and braking on gravel, and cleaning ability in mud are so much better. I mounted my spare to suit the drivers side because that's the only side I've ever had flats on since I got my licence (haven't had a flat with the ProComps though), and I rotate them front to rear every 12 months and they've been wearing fairly evenly.

I also had Maxxis Mudzillas on my previous car, but only for the last six months I owned the car, so wear wasn't a factor then.