Understanding Tread Patterns With TIRECRAFT’s Experts

What Are Tire Tread Patterns?

If you look at your tires. You will be able to see a pattern on the outer rubber, the part that rolls over the road. If you see no patterns because your tires are bald, please visit a TIRECRAFT location near you immediately so we can help you purchase a new set of new tires. All tires wear down eventually, and as they do, their tread patterns disappear, rendering them less effective.

Why are these tread patterns so important? What do they actually do and how do they do it? Tread patterns provide you with traction as you drive, helping you control your vehicle better. Different tread designs are suited for different conditions.

How Do Tire Tread Designs Work?

Tire engineers design tires with the intended use of the tire in mind. They think about weather conditions, as winter tires require different tread patterns than summer tires. Different types of vehicles need different tread designs to achieve optimal performance. An example, the tread design on an SUV tire differs from the pattern on a tire designed for a two-door coupe.

The tread is the outermost layer of a tire, the part that makes contact with the road. Tread patterns allow for proper traction and handling, and some patterns are better at resisting wear than others. Tread patterns affect the following tire qualities:

Traction

Tread patterns are key to providing traction. The tread grips the road. Tire designers use different patterns to deal with water, snow, or mud, as different weather conditions present different impediments to the tire maintaining contact with the surface.

Longevity

The best tread patterns wear down evenly over time. The specific arrangement of grooves and blocks helps distribute the forces and stresses on the tire, thus reducing uneven wear and maximizing the tire’s longevity.

Weather Performance

Weather-specific tires have different tread patterns designed for different conditions. Winter tires have deep grooves and small slits to deal with snow and ice. Off-road tires have aggressive, chunky patterns to grip rough terrain.

Water Evacuation

Water is present on roads when it’s raining, hailing, snowing, or flooding, so it’s key for tires to be able to provide traction even in the presence of water. If a layer of water builds up between the tire and the road, then your tires can lose traction and your vehicle will hydroplane. Grooves and channels in the tread direct water away from the vehicle, thus improving wet-weather performance.

Siping

Sipes are narrow channels or slots in the tread blocks. They increase traction on slippery surfaces, such as icy and wet roads, by providing additional biting edges. Sipes can also improve tire flexibility and adaptability to different road conditions.

Handling

Different tire designs produce handling characteristics. Tire engineers install different tread patterns to optimize performance in different driving conditions. Some tread patterns are ideal for high-speed handling, others maximize cornering stability, and some are specially designed for off-road performance. The stiffness and size of tread blocks affect how the tire responds to steering inputs.

Noise Reduction

Perhaps lesser known than other effects of tread design, noise reduction is becoming more important to tread patterns. Tire manufacturers have figured out which tread patterns can reduce noise. This is becoming increasingly important as hybrid and electric vehicles become more popular, as these engines are much quieter than internal combustion engine vehicles. With these quieter vehicles, many drivers are discovering just how loud standard tires are as they roll across the road at high speeds. That’s why tire engineers use different groove shapes and sizes to reduce road noise, providing a quieter and more comfortable ride.

“Which Tire Tread Pattern Is Right For Me?”

As you can see, a different tire tread pattern can create a remarkably different tire. Unless you’re a tire expert, you probably can’t tell if a given tread pattern is perfect for providing excellent cornering on hot summer roads or if it’s designed to maintain contact with the road in wet conditions. The experts at TIRECRAFT can tell, though, and we can give you all the information you need to pick the best tires for your vehicle.

We carry tires from some of the most famous tire brands in the world. We sell all-season, all-weather, summer, and winter tires. We also have tires available for SUVs, crossovers, light-trucks, vans, passenger vehicles, and commercial vehicles.

Contact TIRECRAFT

You can trust TIRECRAFT for all your tire and automotive needs. Please contact your local TIRECRAFT location to find out which tire tread design is perfect for your vehicle and driving needs.

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