A Comprehensive Guide to Tyre Tread

It goes without saying that finding the right tyres for your vehicle is an important part of the tyre selection process. After all, Dunlop Tyres Liverpool are the only point of contact between our car and the road. Tyre tread selection affects the vehicle's handling as well as the performance of a particular tyre.

Tyre Tread Characteristics

Sipes: These are narrow gaps and channels in the tyre tread, usually 0.3 - 1.5 mm wide. Their main purpose is to increase tyre performance on wet roads, including snow, by evacuating water from under the tyre. This helps prevent aquaplaning.

Tread lugs: This is the main part of the tread that has more features and is shaped. The main purpose of the treads is to provide good traction.

Ribs: Also called lateral cavities, these are the ribs or contact lines surrounding the tyre.

Tread Grooves: These are sections of the tyre tread that are similar to sipes, but are usually longer and deeper. These grooves create a unique pattern; The shape and size of the parts are calculated to improve the quality of the tyre. Generally speaking, these features are used to improve tyre and steering performance. The depth and structure of the grooves also affect rolling noise.

Dimples: Although uncommon, dimples are often added to increase the coldness of the tyre.

Tread voids: Similar to grooves, these voids create the space needed to drain water from under the tyres when driving in the rain. This provides good traction when water passes over the broad axis.

The relationship between tread cavities and tread protrusions directly affects the entyre area of ??the tyre. For example, large gaps may provide better performance on wet roads, but they also reduce the tyre's grip on dry roads. Therefore, the amount of clearance depends on the purpose of the tyre; Some wet or "wet" tyres have more tread.

Tyre Tread Pattern

Symmetrical Tread Pattern

The most common tread pattern for passenger vehicles is the symmetrical tread pattern. In this model, the outside and inside of the tread are parallel, meaning the outside and inside are mirror images of each other. You'll also notice that the tread blocks of symmetrical tyres have fixed treads around them.

Tyres with a symmetrical tread pattern can use any type of rotation, front to back, back to front or in an X-pattern (transverse). You may sometimes hear tyres with symmetrical tread patterns referred to as "omnidirectional" because the tyres can connect and rotate in any direction without affecting performance.

Asymmetrical Tread Pattern

Another type of tread pattern found on passenger tyres is the asymmetrical tread pattern. In this model, the inside and outside of the tread are made with different lines and tread blocks. The design is designed to increase performance in dry or wet weather by improving water dispersion.

Tyres with an asymmetrical design can be turned in a variety of ways - front to back, back to front or in an X pattern (rear) - but always make sure the side is facing outwards. You can see that in this model, the outer part of the tread has thick tread blocks that provide more contact area for better stability and grip on dry roads, while the inner part of the tread has a high-angle blade groove pattern to reduce impact on the road. surface. The journey is quiet on the road.

Directional Tread Pattern

Another type of tread pattern used for passenger Cheap Tyres Liverpool is the directional tread pattern. In this model, the tread is designed to rotate in a unidirectional manner; that is, it rolls in one direction only. The "V"-shaped tread pattern often found in performance tyres allows water to flow better under the contact patch, thus helping to increase resistance to aquaplaning at high speeds.

Directional pattern tyres can use only one direction of rotation; a pattern forward, back to front. This ensures that the "V" tread pattern is oriented correctly and functions as intended. Directional tyres have an arrow on their sidewall that indicates the direction they should roll when mounted on the vehicle.

How to Measure Tread Depth

A few of the most common ways to measure this are: use tread guide strips, a penny test, or measure the gauge with a tyre tread depth measurement. Whichever method you use, you'll want to thoroughly inspect various spots around the tyre. You should base your tyre replacement decision on the smallest measurement.

Tread Wear Indicator

Perhaps the easiest way to check tread depth is to check the tread wear indicator strip. These strips are strips of rubber that pass through tread grooves at different points around the tyre.

Their height is 2/32 inch above the bottom of the trench, which is the depth of the trench at its lowest point. The US Department of Transportation recommends replacing tyres. If your tyre has worn down to the same level as one of the tread guide strips, it's time to replace them, even if the tread is still higher than the strips on the other side of the tyre.

Tyre grooves serve the primary purpose of forcing water or slush out from under the tyre or biting into snow-packed roads; deeper grooves perform this function far better than shallow ones. According to studies, tyres with 4/32nds of an inch of tread have much less traction and stopping power than those with 2/32nds of an inch. As a result, most experts advise replacing tyres when they dip below the bigger of the two depths. This is especially true if you frequently drive in situations that are muddy, slushy, or damp. Enough tread depth is especially more crucial when it's snowing.