Tyres may look like simple round objects, but indeed, they come with different features. You may observe different designs on the outermost surface of tyres. These patterns are not for style and design. These grooves are called tread patterns. They play a vital role in your car’s performance, efficiency, and safety.
Car tyres with a suitable tread pattern decide how well your car connects with the road surface. Tread is responsible for various performance factors, from grip to braking and from fuel efficiency to noise levels.
In this blog, we will explain everything you need to know about tyre tread patterns.
Why Tyre Tread Matters
The tread on a tyre is the part that touches the road. Racing tyres generally come with smooth tread, but passenger tyres have grooves to manage water, improve grip, and handle different driving conditions. Without the right tread pattern, a car may slip on wet surfaces at any moment. Moreover, tyres without proper tread depth do not provide optimum braking distance. Absence of a suitable tread pattern makes it difficult to take turns.
Types of Tyre Tread Patterns
Not all tyres are made with the same tread pattern. They are different because car drivers do not have similar needs, and they drive their vehicles in varied driving conditions.
The most common tread patterns in tyres are:
- Symmetrical Tread Pattern
This is the most basic type of tread patterns. In tyres with this pattern, both halves of the tyre have the same design. You can easily see these tyres installed in a passenger car.
Symmetrical tread pattern provides long life, good stability and low rolling resistance, and it is best for everyday city driving. You can go for long trips with these tyres as well.
These tyres are suitable for dry surfaces, but their performance is limited on wet roads.
- Asymmetrical Tread Pattern
As the name suggests, the inner and outer sides of these tyres have different designs. The inner part handles water drainage, while the outer part manages grip during cornering.
These tyres are costlier than the tyres with a symmetrical pattern. They provide a strong grip, better handling, and excellent performance in wet and dry conditions.
- Directional Tread Pattern
Tyres with Directional Tread patterns come with a V-shaped or arrow-like tread design. The grooves are arranged in one direction to channel water away quickly.
These tyres provide excellent grip and proper resistance to aquaplaning. Moreover, they are more stable at high speeds. These tyres are best for sports cars, wet regions, and driving enthusiasts.
How Tread Patterns Affect Performance
The design of your car tyre’s tread directly affects how your car behaves on the road.
Let us look at the main factors to understand the tread pattern’s role in performance.
Grip and Handling
More grooves and blocks mean better grip on roads. Asymmetrical and directional tyres usually provide stronger handling compared to basic symmetrical tyres. This is why asymmetrical and directional tyres are used in sports cars and high-performance vehicles.
Water Drainage and Wet Safety
On wet roads, tyres need to scatter water efficiently. Directional tyres win in this case because their V-shaped grooves act like channels. Without proper drainage, tyres can float on water, causing aquaplaning.
Noise Levels
Some tread patterns are noisier than others. A symmetrical tread pattern is a quieter option, while aggressive directional or off-road tyres may produce more road noise.
Tyre Life
Symmetrical tyres usually last longer because of even wear. Asymmetrical and directional ones may wear quicker, but they give better performance in return.
Matching Tread Patterns to Driving Needs
Every tread pattern may have some advantages and disadvantages. The behaviour of your car tyres depends on driving conditions and your driving goals.
So, first think about how and where you drive, and then think about buying new tyres.
A symmetrical tread pattern is economical, and it is a good choice for passenger cars. These tyres do not perform on wet roads, but they provide optimum stability on dry roads. You can use these tyres for city driving.
For long highways, symmetrical tyres can be used if you are sure that you will only drive on dry and smooth roads. If you are going to face rainy roads, you need directional or asymmetrical tyres.
Legal Tread Depth and Safety
The rubber of tyres wears out over time. As a result, they lose their tread depth and reach the minimum legal limit. The minimum legal limit for tread depth is 1.6 mm in the UK. Anything below this limit leads to fines and unsafe driving. However, the legal tread depth limit is 1.6 mm, but experts recommend 3 mm tread for wet roads.
You do not need to visit a garage to measure the tread depth. You can use a tread depth gauge to perform this essential task. Moreover, you can use a 20p coin as well. Additionally, tyres come with tread wear indicators. If these indicators are visible, your car tyres have certainly lost most of their tread.
You Should Change Your Car's Bald Tyres
You should change your car tyres as soon as possible if they have reached the legal limit. Moreover, using the same tyres is unsafe. Therefore, you need new tyres for your vehicle.
You should replace your car tyres if:
Tread depth is below 1.6 mm.
The tyre shows uneven wear.
Cracks or cuts are visible.
You feel reduced grip on wet roads.
Conclusion
Tread patterns in Car Tyres Aberdeen are more than just designs on rubber. They decide how your car runs in wet and dry conditions. Choosing the right tread depends on your driving style and the roads you use most. Tread is not a stable feature of tyres. They lose their tread with time. Therefore, regular checks and timely replacements keep you safe and comfortable.