Understanding Tire Types and Patterns
Tire Patterns and Classification
Block Pattern Features
- The block pattern offers improved braking performance and traction.
- The block pattern reduces skidding and hydroplaning on muddy or snow-covered roads.
- These tires tend to wear faster than rib or lug patterns.
- Resistance to wobble may decrease over time.
- The tread is susceptible to abnormal wear, especially on hard surfaces.
Important Tire Information
Unidirectional Tire Patterns
These are tires that have tread patterns with directionality relative to the direction of rotation. The lateral grooves in the tire tread have directionality to improve performance on wet surfaces, making it easier to drain water from the tires. The performance of these tires is significantly reduced if they are mounted in the wrong direction.
Tire Classification Methods
There are several methods for classifying tires, as shown below:
Classification by Construction
Classification by the method of tying the cord material that forms the tire casing:
- Bias tire
- Radial tire
- Edged tire
Classification by the method used to hold air within the tire:
- Tubeless tires
Classification by Use
Classification according to vehicle type:
- Tires for passenger cars
- Tires for light trucks
- Tires for trucks and buses
Classification according to track surface:
- Snow tires
- Studded tires
- Tires for all types of weather
- Sand tires
- Compact spare tires
- Low profile tires
- Other
Here we describe the functions and features of each tire with emphasis on the classification of tires based on the track surface they will be used on.
Snow Tire Characteristics
The snow tire is designed to maintain maneuverability on muddy or snowy roads. This is achieved by incorporating deeper and more widely spaced blocks, combining the block pattern, which effectively transmits motive force, with a pattern of sipes that minimizes lateral skidding.
The snow tire has deeper grooves and a tread 10 to 20% wider than normal tires. The ratio of the contact area of the tread blocks to the total tread area (including grooves) is called the contact area ratio. The lower the value, the more flexible the tread and the better the tire performance on snowy roads. Consequently, snow tires have a much smaller contact area ratio than normal tires. They also use a specially formulated rubber compound for the tread that maintains flexibility at low temperatures.
Snow Tire Features
- Reduced skidding, improved traction and steering stability during braking.
- Increased maneuverability when turning and changing lanes.
- Easier escape from wheel ruts.
- Reduced resistance to wobbling.
- Reduced vibration and noise.
Since the tread of snow tires is less rigid than normal tires, it is less capable of stabilizing the vehicle at high speeds on a dry surface. Cornering performance is particularly affected by this characteristic. All four wheels must use identical snow tires. Mixing snow tires and normal tires should be avoided.
Snow Tire Operation Principle
The snow tire adheres to the snowy road surface through the deeper grooves molded into the tread that penetrate the snow and the blocks that form tightly compressed pillars. The tire moves forward using these blocks and leaves compressed snow pillars behind.