Tread Patterns: Why are there so many?
What do the different tread patterns mean?
If you look at different tires on the market you will notice different tread patterns.There are three different types of tread patterns, each available at Paul Campanella’s Auto and Tire Centers.
- Symmetrical Tires—Deliver a smooth drive, high directional stability, and low rolling resistance. Symmetrical Tires are the most common and the most flexible for the vehicle owner.
PROS: They are quiet, long lasting and fuel efficient.
CONS: They are less adaptable to changing conditions on the road and will not be as effective in wet conditions as other tires.
- Directional Tires—Provide high protection against aquaplaning, excellent handling on snow and mud, and very good road-holding a high speed. Directional Tires make a great “all-season” tire.
PROS: The V-shaped grooves featured on Directional Tires are more capable of resisting aquaplaning (hydroplaning) at high speeds by displacing water more efficiently through the tread pattern. The tread on these tires also offers extra traction which helps when driving in snow and mud.
CONS: Tire rotation becomes a bit more complicated as they can only be rotated vertically, meaning from the front of the car to the back of the car only and not from side to side.
- Asymmetric Tires—offer excellent handling, high curve stability, and good grip in wet conditions. Asymmetric Tires are especially popular for use on ultra-high-performance cars.
PROS: This type of tire features two separate tread designs, one inner and one outer. The inner pattern helps with water displacement and protects against hydroplaning. The outer tread pattern provides high grip when driving on driving on dry surfaces and a quieter interior noise.
CONS: just like a directional tire pattern, care must be taken with tire rotation. Vertical rotation between front and back are the options here.
NOTE: To maintain optimal safety, performance, and longevity of your tires, avoid mixing tire tread patterns, sizes, brands etc. It is recommended to replace your old tires with ones that are identical to the make and model of the tires you have on the rest of your vehicle. If this isn’t possible, we advise to select tires with at least the same tread pattern as the others. Mixing patterns will impair the wearing and handling characteristics of your car.
