The main function of tire tread is to protect the inner tire from damage and to provide for maximum traction in these or those weather conditions. That’s why there’re different types of tread patterning designed for various weather conditions and different road surfaces.
Any tread picture is aimed at ensuring your vehicle’s safety on the road. In should be worked out in a proper manner as it can influence a such factors as your car’s fuel efficiency and road holding ability, noise build-up, braking distance, and speeding up ability.
We can single out the following types of tread pictures: directional and non-directional, symmetric and asymmetric. Each of these types has its own peculiarities, advantages and disadvantages, that’s why let us have a closer look at them.
Some time ago there were non-directional tires only. Non-directional symmetric tread pattern was the most widespread as it doesn’t depend on the direction of tire rotation. Such tires are affordable, “budget,” as a rule, and are often used by car manufacturers as Original Equipment for their new cars. Their main advantage is the price-quality ration they offer as well as their universality with regard to the direction of tire rotation.
Symmetric tread patterning is usually used on summer tires and on high-speed tires for sports cars. Its title speaks for itself for tread picture is symmetric or in other words the same on both side, on the outer and on the inner tread.
At the same time tire-producing companies did their best to improve car handling with the help of proper tire and tried to stabilize the ride on irregular road surfaces. The researches came to the conclusion that directionally patterned tires provide for more precise steering as well as have better self-cleaning ability.
Now directional symmetric tires are most frequently seen. The direction of grooves on such tires must coincide with the direction of tire rotation. If a tire is mounted in a proper way the water is pumped out of the footprint area with the help of its grooves. But if you violate this rule, the water will move in the opposite direction towards the central tread area and will create hydroplaning effect even at slow speeds. But if you are attentive, you’ll never make a mistake as there must be an arrow pictogram on the tire to show the direction of its rotation.
Earlier directional tread picture was used only with summer high-speed tire, but nowadays it is seen on winter tires as well. Such a feature considerably improves performance of the latter, which was repeatedly proved by tests of various kinds and sorts. That’s why directional tread picture has almost replaced non-directional, though it requires more accurate processing to make such tires and hence they come with a higher price tag.
Asymmetric tread picture consists of two parts covering inner and outer tread respectively. It is aimed at universal use under any weather conditions all the year sound. As a rule, inner tread picture ensures safe and reliable performance in the wet as well as provides for predictable handling at high speeds and when going round corners. The outer tread, in its turn, improves performance on dry roads and on irregular road surfaces. That’s why asymmetric tread pattern is believed to give you more powerful control over your vehicle.
The sides of asymmetric tires are marked for your convenience. Outer tire is marked by “Outside” or “Side facing out” lettering while the inner tread domes with “Inside” or “Side facing in” inscriptions. You should mount the tire in accordance with these marks as t manufactures often make the inner sidewall less durable than the outer one. It is done to enhance traction as the outer side is subject to higher loads especially when cornering.
In conclusion, let us classify all the types of tread designs and name their main features:
1. Road tread picture – it consists of tread blocks and ribs separated from each other by grooves;
2. Road directional tread picture - it is non-symmetric relative to radial wheel plane;
3. Road asymmetric tread picture – it is non-symmetric relative to the plane of wheel rotation;
4. All-season tread picture – it is an intermediate type between road and winter tread tincture;
5. Winter tread picture – it is peculiar by biting edges for reliable grip on ice and snow;
6. Winter tread picture designed for inserting studs in it;
7. Universal tread picture – it consists of blocks and ribs in a central tread area and features lugs on shoulders;
8. Off-road tread picture – it is comprised of lugs divided by notches.
|
