Big influence the type of tire tread pattern affects the movement of the car and its behavior on the road. If the car always drove on dry paved roads, then a tire without a tread pattern would provide the least noise and more mileage until completely worn out. The main task of the tread pattern is to remove water from the contact patch. If the tire is smooth, then at a certain speed for wet road This is a phenomenon called aquaplaning. With this phenomenon, the water does not have time to be forced out of the contact patch and the tire, as it were, floats above the road, losing contact with it. The vehicle loses control, which can lead to an accident. That is why it is not allowed to operate the car if the tread is worn out more than a certain amount.
Tire wear indicator. The protrusions in the grooves of the tire tread are 1.6 mm high and indicate complete tire wear.
for tires cars the minimum tread height is 1.6 mm. All modern tires have so-called wear indicators (Fig.) - small protrusions in the grooves of the tread. When the tread is worn to the level of these protrusions, they appear on the tread surface, indicating that the tire is unsuitable for further operation. Some winter tires have two different wear indicators - one for summer operation and the other for winter. Some manufacturers use special wear indicators. For example, on some Nokian tires, as they wear out, numbers appear on the tread indicating the remaining tread value expressed in millimeters.
Tires with different tread patterns
The tread of some tires is specially designed to provide best grip when moving in specific road conditions. In domestic practice, several types of tread pattern are distinguished: road, all-weather, universal, off-road, winter and career.
Road tread pattern have tires that provide good grip with improved pavement predominantly in summer period time.
All season The pattern is intended for tires used all year round on paved roads. It must provide good grip on both dry and wet roads, as well as on roads covered with ice or snow.
Universal the tread pattern usually has a road pattern structure in the middle part of the tire tread, and separate lugs closer to the edges. This tread allows the car to move off the hard road and drive on dirt roads.
Tread pattern off-road
provides the ability to drive the car on the road, snow and mud. The tread of such a tire has dissected lugs that seal the soft environment and provide required grip with base surface.
Tires with career pattern tread applied on trucks who work on rocky surfaces, in quarries where the road is covered with gravel and crushed stone. The tread pattern must be very sparse so that individual stones do not get stuck in the tread grooves.
Studded winter tire without studs
winter drawing The tread should ensure the possibility of confident movement of the car on snow-covered roads and during ice. The tread of winter tires has areas for installing anti-skid studs in them.
Abroad, for passenger car tires, a slightly different classification is used and tires are divided into road, winter, all-weather, high-speed and all-weather high-speed tires.
Highway (HIGHWAY) The tires are designed for driving on wet or dry paved roads. The use of such tires in winter on ice or snow is unacceptable, since they do not have the necessary traction properties characteristic of winter or all-season tires.
Winter (SNOW or MUD+SNOW–M+S) tires provide maximum traction when driving on snow and ice. Their tread has a characteristic pattern that ensures the removal of snow from the contact patch area, and is characterized by increased grip properties, and the use of special components in rubber compounds helps to preserve their properties during low temperatures. However, the improvement in traction is usually accompanied by a decrease in dry handling as a result of increased internal friction, rather rapid wear of the tread, as well as a higher level of noise when driving.
All season (ALL SEASON) tires combine good traction on wet or snow covered road with sufficient handling, driving comfort and tread wear resistance.
Speed (PERFORMANCE) The tires are designed for installation on highly dynamic vehicles. Such tires are designed to provide increased traction and more high level manageability. In addition, due to the special operating conditions, high-speed tires must withstand significant thermal loads. When using high-speed tires, there are certain inconveniences associated with less ride comfort and rapid wear.
All-season high-speed (ALL SEASON PERFORMANCE) tires are specifically designed to provide improved speed characteristics during year-round operation of the car on different road surfaces, including driving on ice and snow. The creation of such tires became possible only thanks to the introduction modern technologies that have emerged in the past few years.
For more information about tire classification, see the chapter
The main quality indicator of tires is, first of all, reliable grip on the road. Moreover, direct contact does not fall on the entire surface of the tire, but on its tread. The comfort and safety of the trip largely depends on the pattern and condition of the tread. With what tread should you buy tires, our article will tell.
If you can choose the right tread, tires will serve you for a long time and effectively. But the choice good tires doesn't mean you have to buy expensive brand tires with a nice pattern. It is necessary to choose a protector, taking into account climatic and road conditions, driving style, type vehicle and much more.
Tire tread classification
Tread geometry
Tire tread patterns are symmetrical directional, symmetrical non-directional and asymmetric.
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Symmetric tread pattern, as the name implies, is located symmetrically with respect to the conditional longitudinal center line running along the entire tread. symmetrically directed The tread pattern is the most common due to its good driving qualities. The arrangement of the herringbone wicking grooves increases the stability of the tires even during heavy rain, at high speed. Directional tires also make very little noise. When installing the tire, pay attention to the direction of rotation indicated by the arrow. If you install a directional tire in reverse, there will be negative effects when driving a car. |
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Tires with symmetrical non-directional tread pattern universal. It makes no difference how to put them - in any case, the wheel rolls great. At a cost, these tires are cheaper than directional ones, and even more so, asymmetric ones, therefore they are in steady demand. These tires perform best on dry asphalt or concrete road. When driving on a wet primer, the pattern quickly clogs and cannot be cleaned, which negatively affects handling. In rainy weather, driving at high speed is not recommended, since water is not discharged in one direction, as in directional tires, but in all, and this worsens traction. |
 Asymmetrical tread pattern differs on both sides of the center line. It allows you to combine different useful qualities. Usually, one side of the tread has dense blocks for confident driving on dry roads, and the other side has branched grooves for driving in the rain. Inner side asymmetric tires are usually soft, for smoother and more precise entry of the wheels into turns. |
Operating conditions and tire tread design
Summer protector characterized by deep longitudinal grooves and less deep transverse ones. Tires with a summer pattern are ideal for driving on concrete, asphalt, dirt roads, and it doesn’t matter if it’s wet or dry. pros summer tires- they are resistant to wear, produce little noise. special group summer tires —
All season tire tread designed for climatic conditions where winter is not too frosty, but more often - snow and slush. The all-season tread pattern connects the elements of summer and winter - sparse elements, high height, the presence of microgrooves. In winter, an all-weather tread may not be able to cope on ice and packed snow, and in summer there is increased wear and noise.
Tires with universal pattern designed for driving different quality roads. Compared to the summer tread, this tread has a more complex, branched and deep pattern. Checkers are located in the center for driving on the highway, and at the edges there are large lugs for off-road driving. The disadvantage of these tires is a high level of noise and increased wear when driving on high speeds.
Specialized drawing - career, recommended for vehicles that move through the forest, fields and quarries. Career tires have a very deep pattern, the grooves are arranged longitudinally to support exchange rate stability car.
Reading this article:
Tire marking - what do the letters, numbers and color marks on tires mean
How to replace a tire yourself
› Tire treadSince the summer tires were erased after the courses of counter-emergency driving
I had to look for new ones, but I couldn’t decide on a protector, studying the topic I came across interesting article which I present to you:
TYPES OF Tread Patterns
Tires are divided into:
According to the type of treadmill pattern - directed, non-directional and asymmetric;
According to the type of road surface - for highway (road), universal and off-road;
By seasonality of use - for summer, winter and all-weather;
The need to create different tire tread patterns arose due to the heterogeneity of the road surface (asphalt, sand, dirt roads, dirt, etc.) and the influence of weather conditions (rain, snow, ice). The dimensions and configuration of the tread blocks, the width and depth of the grooves determine the suitability of the tire for different road conditions and the ability of the tire to self-clean.
Classification of tires by type of treadmill.
Symmetrical non-directional pattern
Symmetric non-directional pattern - the most common tread pattern, which differs low level noise and good performance comfort. Tires with such a tread pattern usually have a fairly soft sidewall, are easy to drive, and do not have pronounced sports performance and are more designed for measured driving (although sometimes they have quite high speed indices). The focus is on ease of use and comfort. Usually symmetrical non-directional tires belong to budget class. Quite often, they come as factory equipment on many cars (with the exception of the segment sports cars and expensive prestigious cars). When mounted on a disk, such tires are installed in any way (either side), because they have no direction of rotation.
Asymmetrical non-directional pattern
Asymmetrical non-directional pattern. Tires with this tread pattern have inner and outer sides and are mounted on the rim in accordance with the INNER (inner) and OUTER (outer) markings, which are indicated on the sidewall of the wheel. The asymmetric non-directional tread allows you to maintain stable contact with the road surface under intense loads, especially during sharp turns and lane changes. These tires have good lateral stability. Quite often they are found in the segment sports tires for which good controllability is very important.
Symmetric directional tread pattern
Symmetric directional tread pattern. The arrow and the word "ROTATION" on the sidewall indicate the direction of rotation, and the installation of such tires on the wheel is made in accordance with these requirements. The main advantage of symmetrical directional tires (as well as asymmetric directional tires) is excellent hydroplaning resistance, which is very important when driving on wet roads. Wide symmetrically diverging tread grooves contribute to the effective removal of water from the contact patch with the road surface. best effect can be achieved for rear wheel drive car: front wheels divert water from under the contact patch, "drying" the roadway for rear wheels, which makes it easier to transfer engine power to the prepared roadway. In addition, on dry pavement, the symmetrical directional tires provide excellent handling and lateral stability and have fast and precise responses. Very often these tires are found in the segment of high-performance sports tires.
Asymmetrical directional pattern
Asymmetrical directional pattern. Tires with this pattern have the direction of rotation, which is indicated on the sidewall of the wheel by an arrow labeled "ROTATION". Installed on the disk in accordance with the arrow. An asymmetric directional tread pattern is much less common than an asymmetric non-directional tread pattern. In addition, there are asymmetrical tires, in which, in addition to the direction of rotation, the inner (INNER) and outer (OUTER) sides are also indicated. They are divided into left (marking L) and right (marking R).
IMPORTANT! Any non-directional wheels (correctly beaded on the disks) can be interchanged on the car in any sequence (from left to right and vice versa). In contrast, directional wheels can only be interchanged on one side.
Acoustic comfort depends on the tread configuration. Typically, directional tires differ from non-directional tires by a slightly higher level of noise. In addition, the noise level depends on the size of the tread blocks. The larger the tread pattern, the higher the noise level, but the better the self-cleaning characteristics.
Classification of tires according to the type of road surface
(mainly applies to off-road tires)
road tires
H / T (H / P) - Highway Terrain (Highway Performance) - road tires (translation: highway terrain, highway performance). Tires are designed mainly for driving on dry or wet paved roads, they are characterized by excellent grip on asphalt, very low noise level, effectively remove moisture from the contact patch with the road surface, but have very mediocre tread self-cleaning characteristics. Off-road properties are weak. The use of such tires in winter on ice or snow is unacceptable, since they do not have the necessary traction properties characteristic of winter or all-season tires.
Universal tires
A / T - All Terrain - universal tires (translation: any terrain).
/ Not to be confused with all-weather! Read more about all-season tires below./
Tires are designed for both paved roads and off-road (gravel roads, dirt), on the one hand, they combine a relatively low noise level and sufficient handling, on the other hand, excellent off-road properties and comfort. The tread pattern of these tires tends to be much more aggressive than road tires; the tread blocks are larger and the distance between them is greater (this contributes to better self-cleaning from dirt).
mud tires
M/T - Mud Terrain - specialized mud tires designed for extreme off-road, deep mud and rocky roads. The tread of such tires has a large depth and consists of large checkers (there are no sipes) with large distances between them, for better self-cleaning. Some models of mud tires have so-called side lugs (partially transferred tread from the shoulder to the sidewall), which allows you to increase pulling force when driving through mud. The disadvantage is a very high noise level on the pavement.
Sports tires
S/T-Sport Terrain- sports modification. According to the classification, something between H / T and A / T. The tires are designed for an active driving style and can be used both for driving on asphalt (the main application), and for rough terrain and non-extreme off-road. Recommended for use in urban areas with partial trips out of town. The tires are a kind of hybrid road tire, which has a medium-sized and non-aggressive center tread pattern (respectively, low noise levels) and at the same time large enough, developed shoulder blocks to help off-road driving.
Types of tires by seasonal applicability
The need to separate tires according to seasonal applicability arose due to the large temperature difference in summer and winter time of the year. In addition, to ensure the grip properties of a tire on asphalt and on snow (or ice), completely different technological solutions are required. Too much a big difference external temperatures leads to the fact that the tire cannot fully meet the requirements for it during year-round use. Therefore, the composition rubber compound summer and winter tires are very different.
Summer tires - designed for use in summer time year, or at positive temperatures in spring and autumn. Depending on the model, they can be used either for paved roads (mostly passenger cars) or in off-road conditions. The construction of summer tires uses high-strength cord materials that can withstand extreme temperature overloads to protect the tire from overheating and carcass deformation. In addition, summer tires usually have higher speed tolerances. This is the most important requirement, since in the summer, as a rule, a higher speed is implied, and especially in hot weather, when driving at high speed for a long time, the tires get very hot. The rubber compound used is stiff enough to provide the most better handling, it contains components that allow you to maintain the grip properties of tires even at very high temperatures and speeds.
Winter tires - designed for operation at low temperatures, provide maximum grip when driving on snow and ice. They are also quite suitable for asphalt (in winter), but they are not recommended to be used at temperatures above +5°С +10°С (it is allowed to use them in spring and autumn during the transition period, when the temperature is above zero during the day, and frosts and ice are possible at night). IN winter tires a soft rubber compound is used, which does not lose its elasticity and grip even at very low temperatures. The requirements for cord materials are not as stringent as for summer tires, since the speed regime in winter is usually calmer. The tread blocks of any winter tires have a large number of lamellas, usually located at different angles of inclination. Their function is to provide grip on ice and snow. The disadvantage is some reduction in handling on hard surfaces, as well as a higher noise level on asphalt. More details - on our website in the article "Spikes or Velcro?"
All-weather tires are a rather narrow segment of tire models suitable for operation both in summer and in winter. For the most part, these are models designed for mild European winters with less significant difference temperatures by season. The creation of all-season tires is rather an attempt to combine the incompatible, too different requirements are imposed on tires in summer and winter (the difference in external temperatures in Siberian conditions is 60-80 ° C), so they have very mediocre characteristics, both for summer and for winter. Due to technical reasons, it is impossible to create a rubber compound that will allow tires to behave equally reliably all year round and at the same time show decent results on asphalt, off-road, on ice and on snow. From all of the above, it follows that full-fledged all-weather tires do not exist, in relation to the Siberian region. In any case, they are inferior to specialized tires (in summer they behave worse than summer tires; in winter - worse than winter ones). Also, with a big stretch, we can talk about the all-weather use of off-road tires of category A / T (some customers mistakenly consider them all-weather). But this is a separate segment. In this case, the grip properties are positively affected by a significantly large mass of the car, the presence of all-wheel drive and all kinds of blockages and a wider tire tread (respectively, the contact patch area is larger).
A common myth is the claim that so-called "Velcro" or "Suckers" are "all season". Usually Velcro in everyday life is called winter non-studded tires. Many customers consider them all-season, but they are not, this mass delusion. They are simply not intended for all-weather use.
There are several reasons why winter tires should not be used in summer:
Too soft rubber compound; at high temperatures ah drastically worsened braking properties and exchange rate stability; there are problems with handling on dry surfaces as a result of increased internal friction, the tires overheat greatly, the reactions become sluggish and delayed; tires wear out intensively.
Winter tires have sipes on the tread blocks, they serve to improve traction on snow and ice, but in summer they have a very negative effect on braking properties and lateral stability.
The cord materials of winter tires are not intended for operation in conditions of high temperatures and high speeds; due to overheating, the tire can get a deformation of the cord or simply burst on the track at high speed.
The noise level of winter tires in summer on asphalt is significantly higher than that of summer tires.
Belonging to the class of winter tires can be determined by the presence of the sign "*" (snowflake). The presence of this mark on the sidewall indicates that this is a specialized winter tire. In addition, almost all winter tires have the “M + S” (Mud + Snow) marking, but this does not mean that they belong to all season tires! This means exactly “mud + snow”, there is no mention of asphalt here.
The fact is that the “M + S” marking itself is not an officially registered mark that guarantees the compliance of the tire with certain operational properties. Therefore, none of the tire manufacturers bears any responsibility for its presence on the wheel (unlike the “*” icon). Sometimes there are summer road tires marked "M + S" on the sidewall. In this case, it is simply absurd to assume that such a tire can be recommended for use in mud + snow conditions.
Issue price: 0 ₽ Mileage: 3700 km
depends on the tread pattern operational properties tires, as well as driver confidence on the road. It is this parameter that provides optimal grip on the road surface. The main task of the relief pattern is to remove liquid from the contact patch. Therefore, “smooth” tires are only suitable for driving on dry roads, while models with a pronounced tread pattern are necessary when maneuvering on rough terrain. Below we will consider in detail the types of tread patterns and their purpose.
Symmetrical non-directional tread
Tires with this tread pattern are classified as universal. They are great for driving in urban areas, but require the driver to be careful and comply with speed limit. Inexpensive tires with a symmetrical non-directional pattern are produced by Roadstone. Recently, products have become very popular among Russian and foreign motorists. You can buy Roadstone tires at Torgshina.
Benefits of non-directional tires:
- Independence of tire performance from the direction of rotation.
- Low noise level.
- Ease of installation.
- Low cost.
Symmetric directional tread
This tread provides reliable hydroplaning resistance. Such tires are often used for equipment of high-speed and sports cars.
Advantages of this protector:
- Reliability when driving on wet roads.
- stability while driving.
Asymmetric directional and non-directional tread
Tires with an asymmetric pattern are among the most reliable. They provide increased directional stability and safety when performing maneuvers. There are separate models with deep grooves - this rubber is suitable for driving in rainy weather. On it you can see the Rain or Aqua markings. You can buy tires with an asymmetric tread in the Torgshina online store: popular summer, winter and all-season models are presented here.
For rubber with an asymmetric tread, it is especially important competent installation. Subject to all the necessary installation conditions, such models have better performance than other well-known analogues.
When should tires be changed?
This is not about the seasonal replacement of summer tires with winter ones and vice versa, but about replacing rubber due to wear.
The minimum tread height must be 1.6 mm. If it is less, then on a wet road the tire may lose grip on the surface, which will lead to an accident.
On modern models installed so-called wear indicators - protrusions in the grooves of the tread. If they are clearly visible on the tread surface, the tires must not be used. All-season models can have two indicators: one for winter, the other for summer.
So, the choice of tires for a car is a question that relies primarily on the operating conditions of the car. Worth considering weather region, also important role plays and driving style. And of course, we must not forget about safety: as soon as it becomes clear that the wear of the tire has reached an acceptable level, it must be replaced.
We will tell you about the main types of tread for summer and winter tires.
By itself, the tread on the tire is necessary primarily to reduce the risk of hydroplaning and for off-road use (hydroplaning is a loss of control when the car hits a puddle at speed, when the car "floats up" and loses contact with the road, more here:).
On ideal dry pavement, the so-called "slicks" - tires without a tread - have the best performance and maximum contact patch. These tires are used in many racing disciplines. But on road cars their use is impossible, because even in the lightest rain, slicks become incredibly slippery due to the complete lack of protection against hydroplaning.
Consider the types of existing tire treads and their need in real road conditions. These conditions may vary different roads and at different times of the year. And, accordingly, protectors car tires also differ greatly depending on their purpose.
Winter tire tread
In winter tires, the tread is always larger and with many cuts (lamellae).This is done to better drain water and snow porridge from the contact patch, thereby improving wheel traction and increasing safety in difficult winter road conditions.
Summer tire tread
At summer tires the tread is made not as deep as in winter ones, and without numerous cuts on the blocks.
For high speeds the largest contact patch is important for better handling. In addition, for summer tires, the rubber itself is made harder, so that at high speeds and temperatures it softens and wears out less.
Off-road tire tread
The off-road tire has a tread made with large blocks for better grip on the road surface and for better cleaning of the tire from sticking dirt.
Directional tires
A directional tread pattern can provide excellent water evacuation from the tire's contact patch with the road. This tread, unlike asymmetric wheels, actively ejects water (or slush) in both directions, thereby significantly reducing the risk of aquaplaning.
The directional tread has been used with great success in summer rain tires and is also very popular in winter wheels. Directional models of winter tires are widely used by manufacturers such as:, etc.
Of the minuses of such tires, one can name their installation on disks, since at the tire fitting they need to be beaded as: two right and two left, so that the direction of rotation of the wheel is observed. Observance of the direction of rotation is a strict condition for the operation of tires with a directional tread pattern. The direction is indicated by an arrow on the sidewall of the tire and the inscription Rotation (from the English. "rotation").
Released not too long ago Nokian tires NRHi and Nokian NRV, which were both directional and asymmetric, but due to frequent confusion, additional warehouse complications and high cost, these tires were discontinued.
Based on the information received and the characteristics of the place and time of operation of the wheels, you can easily decide which type of tread suits you best.
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