Tyre Treads: Your Guide to Understanding and Caring for Them

Did you know, by using a 20p coin you could save up to £2500? No, we are not referring to stock markets and investment. Rather, we are advising you to maintain your car tyres by checking tyre treads regularly. A common method for tread checks used by drivers and car owners include using the 20p coin. If your tyre treads are anywhere near the legal minimum depth of 1.6 mm, you could be fined up to £2500 for each tyre, with three penalty points added to your licence. So, if you are a car owner in the UK, you would want to gain better insight into your Tyres Huntington. Well, you have reached the right page, as we have prepared this comprehensive guide on the most significant parts of a tyre, its treads. Here, you can easily learn about what makes up the treads of a tyre, the type of tread patterns you should choose from, and the ways to maintain them for longer-lasting tyres. 

Major components of a tyre tread. 

If you observe your tyres closely, the pattern or designs found on the surface of the tyre, is called the tyre treads. They are crucial for the traction, grip, steering ability, and the durability a tyre provides. These major components make up a tyre’s tread: 

Tyre lugs: This is the backbone or principal element of the tread. Every additional feature a tyre possesses is added or carved into the tyre lugs. Its primary function is to offer sufficient traction on the road. 

Sipes: On the tyre lugs, you will find narrow voids or passageways, called sipes. Their width usually ranges between 0.3 to 1.5 mm. The sipes serve a major function of channelling the water while driving on wet surfaces. This improves the traction and protects against hydroplaning. 

Tread ribs: Found encircling the tread, these ribs are circumferential or contact bars. They are also recognised as transverse voids. 

Tread groove: Highly similar to sipes, grooves are also a hollow part of the tread. Although, unlike sipes, they are much sunken and longer. Based on the shape and size of the pattern these grooves form, they can enhance the quality of a tyre. All tyres Oldbury usually possess these grooves that enhance the braking efficiency and steering control of a tyre. Besides, the depth and pattern of the grooves also determine a tyre’s rolling noise level. 

Tread voids: Tread voids are also similar to sipes in a way that they perform the same functions. Voids, too, help in dispersal of water from the tyres while driving on wet surfaces and rainy conditions. Ultimately, tread voids are also an important contributor to your tyre’s excellent traction. 

 

Dimples: These are included in tyres to increase cooling, but not every tyre will possess dimples. So, research your tyres accordingly.

Tread patterns to choose from. 

Every tyre type has a unique pattern of tread components, that is, grooves, sipes, blocks, and ribs. They are adjusted according to the performance requirements. Keeping in mind features such as dry handling, wet braking, hydroplaning resistance, and snow or ice grip, manufacturers commonly develop tyres with three patterns: 

 

• Directional: Tyres with directional patterns have horizontal grooves that are arranged at same angles on either sides of the tyre. The pattern resembles V-shape or arrow shape, which provides better prevention against hydroplaning, while driving at higher speeds. These tread patterns also offer improved traction and handling on snowy or muddy surfaces. Their features make them adaptable for high-performance sports cars. But, you should remember that these tyres could be rotated vertically only, so a wrong positioning on the wheel could make it useless. 
• Symmetrical: These patterns are most commonly found in passenger car tyres Huntington. Tyres with symmetrical patterns have the same design on both halves. Their key benefits are smooth driving, fuel-efficiency, durability, low rolling resistance, and low noise. Besides, symmetrical tyres are the best choice for day-to-day performance. Although these tyres offer sufficient grip on dry roads, their performance lowers in wet conditions. Hence, they are not as easily adaptable to changing road conditions. 
• Asymmetrical: In asymmetrical tyres, the outer and inner half possess two different patterns. These varying tread patterns serve their particular functions: the inner tread plays a major role in dispersing water for protection against hydroplaning; and the outer tread improves tyre grip on dry surfaces and causes less rolling noise. Asymmetrical patterns are suitable for high-performance vehicles, with their improved handling and turning and cornering stability.

Caring for your tread patterns. 

These three simple tips will ensure your treads last longer, improving your safety and comfort on the road: 

 

• Ensure that you attach tyres with the same tread patterns on all wheels. Fitting tyres with identical construction and features results in your car’s optimal performance. Mixing different tyre types could also lead to dangerous situations or mishaps on the road. 
• Maintain the UK’s legal minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm. Tyres with tread depth level beyond 1.6 mm not only lose their functionality, but might also result in penalties and punishments. While purchasing new tyres, check that they have 8mm tread depth. 
• Check that your tyres are properly aligned, balanced, and fitted. Any misalignment could lead to faster tyre tread wear, and increase risks of slipping or skidding. 

Your safety on the road depends on your tyres’s correct functioning. Regularly maintain and service your tyres, with timely replacements if the need arises. For genuine Tyres Oldbury, visit our centre to choose from a wide selection of tyre types and brands.