Clearly I’ve been running contis which indicate which direction the tyre should be mounted depending on whethers it’s front or rear. Looking at my new onza ibex I can work out whether the direction arrow is for front rear or both.

Help, please help!

If there’s only one arrow, it’s for both.

Tyres that are directional should have a knobble pattern that forms a “v” shape, some more noticable than others.
This V should point forward on the front and backways on the rear (looking at the top of the tyre, standing above the bike), if that is any help?
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Tyres that will go either way are a symetrical pattern which has no distinguishable “v” pattern in either direction.