I was looking at my new rubber and noticed something. On rear tires, the tread pattern is a V shape with the center of the V on the leading edge of the tire rotation. I understand this is to channel water from the center of the contact patch to the outer edge of the tire to improve traction.

But the front tire is the opposite, seeming to channel water into the center of the tread. I thought the tire was mounted backward, but the directional arrow is correct. I've looked at other tires and noticed the same pattern.

Anyone know why?