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Tire Patterns and What They Mean

posted on 1/30/2020 3:25:32 PM
Tires are one of the most important safety and performance features of a vehicle. These specialized tools are the only part of your car which maintains direct contact with the road. This means there is a lot of planning and design put into the functionality of your tires.
 
Look at your tires, what do you see? A mesmerizing pattern, since performance is key. The design of the tread on your tires isn’t only for aesthetic purposes. The arrangement of cuts into the rubber is done with the purpose of increasing traction, grip and overall functionality. The last time you bought tires, you probably heard terms like “symmetrical,” “directional” and maybe you were introduced to “seasonal tires” or even “all-weather tires.” These tires each gain their classifications because of the tread design they have.

Tire Tread Patterns

 

Tire Patterns Explained

 
Most brands of tires use a variety of tread designs for each of the tire lines they produce. These designs are carefully designed to serve different functions. These specializations are what classify tires into different categories. There are four main types of tread patterns on tires:
 
 

Directional Tread Patterns

These tires can be spotted by their obvious patterns. The grooves and cuts on these tires go from the edges of the tires to the center, typically in an angled (or “v”) pattern. These tires are better for performance cars.

Pros
  • Anti-Aquaplaning – Due to the design of their treads, these tires provide excellent water displacement. This means you’re protected from aquaplaning and you get better handling. 
  • Fuel Efficiency – This design helps with fuel efficiency as they have less rolling resistance.
  • Wet Terrain – These tires perform great in snow and mud.

Cons

  • Cannot Rotate – Because of their specific design, these tires work in only one direction of rotation and must be fitted accordingly. 
  • Cost – Due to the rubber compounds used in these tires, this means the tires are more expensive to purchase.
 

Symmetrical Tread Patterns

This is the most common tread pattern you can find on most tires. This type of tire is easily distinguished due to the pattern of continuous grooves or blocks across the tread. If you flip a symmetrical tire around, it will give you the same tread design.

Pros
  • Affordable – Due to this tire being in high demand and large production numbers, the tires are relatively cheap to purchase.
  • Rotation – Because the tread is the same in any direction you put it on, these tires can be rotated with ease.

Cons

  • No Water Performance – Since these tires are meant for daily use on dry weather, they lose performance in rainy weather.
 

Asymmetrical Tread Patterns

Easily noticeable due to their strange pattern. These tires have two different tread designs on either shoulder of the tire. This is because each side serves a different purpose.
 
Pros
  • Handling – Because of their design being for both wet and dry performance, these tires offer a great handling experience on both.
  • Road Noise – Due to the tread design, there is less road noise when compared to symmetrical tires.
Cons
  • Tire Life – These tires don’t have a long lifespan, meaning that replacement is needed sooner.
  • Cost – Due to their specialty design and because of low availability, the costs are a bit higher.
  • Specific Sizes – These tires are typically available for wheels which are seventeen inches (17”) or above.
 

Flow Optimized Asymmetrical Tread Patterns

These tires are a hybrid of asymmetrical and directional tires. These tires have a half “v” design.
 
Pros
  • Aquaplaning – These tires provide a high level of protection against aquaplaning with their designs. 
  • High-Performance – These tires provide great handling, curving and overall performance.
Cons
  • Accessibility – These tires are a bit more difficult to find.
  • Cost – These tires are a bit more expensive due to low availability.
  • Cannot Rotate – Just like the directional tires, these tires work in only one direction of rotation and must be fitted accordingly.
 
Be it for a road trip, your daily commute or a visit to another city or state, each tire has a specific purpose. Because of this, they each have specific designs for them. So whatever purpose you may have for your car, there’s a tire tread designed to help with that. Stop by our tire shop near you today and let us help you find the perfect tires for your vehicle!
 
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The GOODYEAR FALL PROMOTION EVENT is a manufacturer’s online rebate. This is a consumer tire rebate event for select Goodyear tires. To qualify for this event, you must purchase your eligible tires between September 9, 2024 and the expiry date of December 31, 2024. One (1) rebate form per sales receipt/invoice. Limit one (1) online rebate per qualifying purchase, per visit. Limit four (4) rebates per individual consumer, per promotion period. Federal and provincial taxes are calculated on the selling price before the rebate. Minimum purchase of a set of four (4) tires is required to receive the full rebate amount. Rebates are also available per tire on a prorated basis with a minimum purchase of four (4) tires and a maximum purchase of six (6) tires per sales receipt/invoice. The consumer must submit the rebate form online along with a copy of the sales receipt/ invoice on or before January 31, 2025. Offer is only open to residents of Canada and is only valid for tire purchases from a participating Canadian retailer that operates a retail location in Canada. This rebate offer cannot be combined with any other Goodyear rebate offer. This is a consumer rebate that also applies to business-to-business purchases, excluding tires sold to national accounts, government accounts, P&R accounts, secondary supply points, other retailers or any other delivery for the account of Goodyear. All sales receipts/invoices submitted must include detailed product and customer sold-to information to be eligible for rebates. The participating retailer is solely responsible for determining the selling price of the tires without direction from Goodyear. Visit goodyear.ca or see a participating retailer for more details.

Aditional terms and conditions: Goodyear reserves the right to substitute a cheque of equal value in lieu of a Goodyear Prepaid Mastercard® or Virtual Account at its discretion. Fraudulent submissions will not be honoured and may be prosecuted. Goodyear is not responsible for non-complying rebate submissions. Non-complying rebate submissions will not be honoured, acknowledged or returned. Void where taxed, restricted or prohibited by law. All decisions made by Goodyear (or its authorized representatives) relating to the validity of any submissions are final and binding. This promotion is subject to all federal, provincial, and local laws and regulations. Retain copies of the materials you submit.

Tire rebate will be issued in the form of one (1) Goodyear Mastercard Prepaid Card or Virtual Account. Card/Virtual Account is issued by Peoples Trust Company under licence from Mastercard International. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. No cash access or recurring payments. Card can be used where Mastercard is accepted. Virtual Account can be used online or for phone/mail orders where Mastercard is accepted. Card/Virtual Account valid for up to six (6) months; unused funds will be forfeited after the valid thru date. Card terms and conditions apply.

2Service rebate: Offer valid with a minimum qualifying service addition. Minimum purchase of $150 required to get $50 rebate on qualifying service, including tire installation, parts and labour. Qualifying service purchase must be made with the purchase of a set of four (4) qualifying Goodyear tires from September 9, 2024 to the expiry date of December 31, 2024 and only at participating Canadian Goodyear Tire & Service Network retailers. Offer is only open to residents of Canada with mailing addresses in Canada. Tire purchase, shop supplies, disposal fees and taxes are excluded from this offer. Cannot be combined with other Goodyear service offers.

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