Technique to Determine Which Side of a Car (Driver or Passenger) That a Runflat Tyre Has Been on

Ltjg on 14/09/2023 - 13:27
Last edited 14/09/2023 - 13:47 by 1 other user

Is there a technique to determine which side of a car (driver or passenger) that a runflat tyre has been on?

Some background … my car servicer recommended that a NSR (that is, driver side rear) tyre be replaced. Note that the low tyre indicator would come on about once a month and we would have to put air in the NSR tyre. We had the tyre replaced (by mycar in Brookvale) and I believe that they rotated the rear tyres. That is, they put the new tyre on the passenger side and moved the tyre that was on the passenger side to the driver's side (that is, the NSR side). They disposed of the original NSR tyre.

About a month later the low pressure indicator comes on for the NSR tyre. I am thinking that they replaced the incorrect tyre. If I can determine that the NSR tyre is the original NSR tyre, then they replaced the incorrect tyre.

Any thoughts?

Automotive Tyre

Comments

  • singlemalt72 on 14/09/2023 - 13:31
    +1

    Tyres degrade, sensors too, could be just a coincidence.

    • tjg on 14/09/2023 - 13:51

      I believe the sensor is ok as the tyre pressure on the updated NSR tyre was about 170 kpa (rather than 200+ kpa as expected).

  • Hybroid on 14/09/2023 - 13:31
    +5

    That was confusing to read. Tyres have a manufacturing date code on them as part of the mold.

    If 3 tyres are 2018 and the new one is 2022 then good chance it's new. If all 4 tyres are 2018 then possibly they disposed of the wrong one. It's not foolproof or definitive at all as could be multiple variations, but might help.

    Example: https://www.toyotires.com/media/1636/image-dot-full-label-r1…

    There could also be something wrong with the sensor itself if the tyre seems fine.

    • tjg on 14/09/2023 - 13:52

      I believe the sensor is ok as the tyre pressure on the updated NSR tyre was about 170 psi (rather than 200+ psi as expected).

      • Hybroid on 14/09/2023 - 13:56

        You're probably right, but that doesn't really mean anything in terms of potential sensor defect. Try the tyre dating trick.

      • mapax on 14/09/2023 - 14:02

        What the heck kind of car tyre takes 200+ psi?
        NVM I see you meant kpa

    • John Kimble on 14/09/2023 - 13:54
      +2

      The tread should be more on the new tyre too?

  • racer1234 on 14/09/2023 - 14:34
    +3

    NSR refers to the passenger rear tyre assuming you are in Australia. Near side rear is side nearest curb. Did you ask the tyre shop to change NSR or driver's side?

    • GordonD on 14/09/2023 - 16:58
      +3

      Hopefully the OP didn't tell them the problem was with the NSR tyre, when it was actually the drivers side rear. If he did the wrong tyre might well have been thrown away.

      • mapax on 14/09/2023 - 17:30
        +4

        Absolute gold if that is the case.

        • ozbjunkie on 15/09/2023 - 16:25

          My money is on this, given the evidence in this thread officer.

  • JimB on 14/09/2023 - 16:21
    +2

    Why was the original run flat deflating?

    Damage or a puncture?

    How much tread was left on the existing tyre?

    Good practice to replace both tyres on the same axle unless it's one is near new.

  • Gunnar on 14/09/2023 - 16:30
    +1

    As above, check the manufacture dates of all tyres the one that is newest is the one that was replaced

  • Brian McGee on 14/09/2023 - 17:00
    +7

    NS = Near Side to kerb
    OS = Off Side - furthest from the kerb

    Just make sure you don't blame anyone before you check the loose nut behind the steering wheel.

    • Seraphin7 on 14/09/2023 - 17:53

      100% correct. The whole post is invalidated based on OP's incorrect use of NSR.

      Beyond that, one month down the road, I'd be surprised if they gave you a new tyre based on the story presented … anything could have happened in that month.

      • Gunnar on 14/09/2023 - 23:01
        +1

        Non car people trying to speak car is never going to end well … for them

        Reminds me of my uncle, wouldn’t know a CV boot from an actual boot but that doesn’t stop him from idiotically arguing with a mechanic to save money

  • Switchblade88 on 14/09/2023 - 17:09
    +2

    It's a lot less ambiguous to say Right Rear tyre, for both us OzBargainers as well as the mechanic. The use of 'NSR' means there is a good chance of the wrong tyre being replaced, solely due to lack of user clarity.

    If they turfed the incorrect tyre, they will directly blame the OP for using bad wording.

  • brendanm on 14/09/2023 - 17:19

    Instead of this near side rear garbage, right or left hand front/rear is a lot easier.

    • Euphemistic on 15/09/2023 - 05:46

      Agree. Near side is confusing. Left or passenger is not.

  • gbarlett on 15/09/2023 - 08:26
    +2

    'my car servicer recommended that a NSR (that is, driver side rear)'
    Near side is passenger side, nearest to curb
    In the auto industry we don't use left or right as it can be confusing ie left side looking at the vehicle or left side sitting in the car.
    No confusion with near side, nearest curb regardless of how you view the vehicle.
    Passenger side, drivers side also works as a laymen's term.

    • Euphemistic on 15/09/2023 - 10:53

      I don’t get it. To me ‘near side’ is a confusing industry term (I understand it, but others don’t). Near side means the opposite in left hand drive places as does passenger and driver. Imagine being in Europe where there’s a lot of vehicles from both LHD and RHD. Left and right of vehicle is the standard for naming car parts and all relative to facing forward in the car.

      If you’re looking at the front and you’re confused which is which you might have to turn the other way to imagine you’re in the drivers seat to figure out where your left is.

    • mattmel96 on 15/09/2023 - 11:14

      Really, is it that hard. Left or Right is always taken as being from the Driver's seat looking forward.

      If you look at a car side on do you also get confused if you are looking at the Left or Right side of the car? Maybe from that position the side closest to you is the front?

  • azero on 15/09/2023 - 10:19
    +2

    Just use driver side and passenger side! even left right can be confusing (are you in the car looking forward or in front looking at it)

  • 2esc on 15/09/2023 - 17:08

    Drivers side or Passenger tyre is how problems are usually described in Australia to mechanics/ tyre outlets failing that left or right.

    I have never heard of NSR before is this American terminology i have a uncle whose a mechanic but also i have nearly daily contact with a mechanics workshop.

  • tjg on 16/09/2023 - 09:25

    This issue has been resolved. The car servicer recommendation was based on tyre wear (rather than the issue indicated by the low pressure indicator). Since mycar was using the car servicer report, they replaced the worn tyre on the NSR side. Subsequently, I had the other rear tyre checked and there was a nail embedded in it, which probably resulted in a slow leak and the low pressure indicator.

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