The markings on your vehicle’s tyres are called tread designs or tread patterns. The tread pattern on the tyre is not for aesthetic purposes but it provides grip and traction. The tread pattern determines your vehicle’s performance in various road and weather conditions. Hence, having a basic knowledge of Tyres Crank tread patterns is vital for all car owners.
Furthermore, there are different tread patterns, each serving several purposes. In this article, our professionals discuss the different tread patterns available in the industry and their uses.
Symmetrical Patterns:- It’s the most common tread pattern design. You can see the symmetrical patterns on most of the passenger vehicles. These patterns are similar across the entire tyre and usually comprise continuous grooves and independent lugs. Tyres with symmetrical tread patterns ensure excellent fuel efficiency and are longer-lasting. Symmetric car tyres have high directional stability, low rolling resistance and deliver a smoother ride. These units are suitable because of their unlimited rotation, fuel economy and durability.
Pros of Symmetrical Tyres:-
- These tyres are cheaper to buy than their other counterparts, providing good value for money and durability
- Low rolling resistance
- Outstanding handling and straight-line stability, ensuring a smoother and comfortable driving experience
- Easy to fit: these units can be fitted in any way and rotated without any issue
- Less noisy than other
Cons of Symmetrical Tyres:-
- Not that sophisticated as their other variants
- Inadequate performance in wet weather conditions
- Not suitable for sports and other high-performance vehicles
- Not preferable for motorway use or long-distance journeys
Asymmetrical Pattern:- Most high-performance and sporty vehicles feature asymmetrical tread patterns. These tyres combine a variety of patterns to deliver brilliant grip on dry and wet surfaces and excellent overall performance of the car. The first thing that’ll catch your eyes in asymmetric tyres is their different tread patterns on the outer and inner shoulders. The inner treads offer exceptional water evacuation, mitigating the chances of hydroplaning in wet conditions. The outer tread provides superior lateral stiffness and stability, allowing the tyre to grip better on dry surfaces and corners. The even stiffness of asymmetrical tyre tread pattern blocks delivers a quieter ride throughout the tyre’s entire lifespan.
With asymmetrical tyres, it’s essential to have the correct tyre fitting. The word “inside” must be facing the car’s inside at all times. Asymmetrical tyres can be rotated only in the back-to-front or front-to-back, formation as the tread designs roll in a single direction.
Pros of Asymmetrical Tyres:-
- Excellent cornering stability and handling on dry and wet surfaces
- Quieter than other tread pattern tyres
- Highly aquaplane-resistant, ensuring maximum safety on wet surfaces
- Outstanding traction in all conditions
Cons of Asymmetrical Tyres:-
- Expensive than their symmetrical counterparts
- Have a shorter service life due to their soft rubber compounds
- Only appropriate for front-to-rear and rear-to-front rotation
- Requires extra care
Directional Pattern – Directional tyres are difficult to locate. However, they provide the best performance among them all. Tyres with directional tread pattern design feature an arrow-shaped pattern that minimizes the risk of aquaplaning. They also offer the same level of wet and dry grip as asymmetrical tyres. Directional car tyres are ideal for high-performance vehicles like sports cars that frequently drive on wet terrains. This tread pattern is especially suitable for mud- and snow-covered surfaces. Hence, winter tyres and all-weather tyres usually have directional tread patterns.
Directional tyres can work only in a single direction of rotation. Hence, when installing the tyres, they must be fitted accordingly. You can find an arrow on the tyre’s sidewalls.
Pros of Directional Pattern:-
- Rapid water evacuation in wet conditions, reducing the chances of hydroplaning
- Firm road handling ability even at high driving speeds
- Offers a lot of traction when driving the car on snowy surfaces
- Ideal for high-performance cars
Cons of Directional Pattern:-
- Higher price tag and reduced lifespan because of their softer tread compound
- Single direction rotation only
- Makes loud noises when spinning, especially when their lifespan comes to an end
Can We Mix Tread Pattern?
Ideally, it’s not recommended to mix tread patterns on one axle. For example, a directional tyre will not offer the same dry and wet grip if its counterpart is different.
For best results, replace Tyres Haydock with the same tread pattern you already have, it ensures the tread design of all four tyres matches exactly. But if it’s not possible – ensure to have an identical tread pattern on a single axle.
If you have an asymmetrical tyre, you should avoid changing them with a directional or symmetrical one unless you’re willing to replace both the tyres of an axle.
