How on Earth Does Car Tire Tread Work?

You’re a driver.  You spend countless hours on the road to and from work, soccer practice, weekend events and everything in between.  You want to know for a FACT that your vehicle is safe to drive and chauffer in accordingly.  At our dealership, we’re adamant about safety, taking into account all of the features that give you piece of mind when you’re on the open, or in some cases, crowded road.  In today’s blog, we explain the importance of good tires and what tire tread actually does to protect you during your daily routine.  So, buckle up (pun intended) as we provide a quick guide to understanding tire tread. 

Tread patterns, the grooves and contours on a tire that give the wheel its grip and traction, allow performance capabilities. Lugs are the elevated portions of the tire that make contact with the road, while voids explain the space between the lugs that channels water through the tire to avoid slippage.  Common types are:

Symmetric Tread – this is the most common.  There are continuous tread blocks where inboard and outboard sides match

Asymmetric Tread – these are effective in dry and slick driving because the groove pattern varies to accommodate turns, deflecting water and gripping snow.  Common in all-season tires.

Directional Tread – have lateral grooves that form a v shape across a tire’s center.  It reduces hydroplaning potential.  The deeper the grooves, the more efficient a tire is at handling wetter conditions.

Tread works by maintaining grip and decreasing rolling resistance.  Rolling resistance is the physical force that taxes a vehicle to produce more energy.  The tire friction that occurs between the tire and surface also affects fuel consumption, so optimal tire tread patterns can maintain safety and performance while limiting the resistance. 

So, you might be asking: Why do I need to replace my tires?  Two main reasons are safety and mileage. Turning on wet surfaces is safer with the right type of tread and can shorten the braking distance you need for coming to a complete stop.  All vehicles offer different types of tread based on your style.  Visit our dealership by clicking here: