Rib shape: The major tread features are multiple circumferential grooves.
Advantages include lower rolling resistance
plus good directional stability and steering control thanks to lateral
resistance. Rib type patterns are suitable for sustained high speeds
thanks to their low levels of heat generation.
Key disadvantages are poor braking & acceleration grip
on wet roads.
Application: For paved road surfaces and truck or bus steer
axles
Lug shape: Tread
patterns with the groove arrangement perpendicular to the circumference
of the tyre.
The main advantage of lug patterns is excellent braking power
and traction.
The biggest disadvantage is a tendency towards high noise
when driven at high speed. Indeed, lug patterns are not suitable for
high speed driving due to their high rolling resistance.
Application: For dirt roads, rear wheels of buses, industrial
vehicles and dump trucks.
Rib-Lug shape: A combination of Rib and Lug designs.
Key features are a rib in the centre providing directional
control whilst a shoulder lug gives good braking & driving power.
Application: Good for both paved and dirt roads. Usually used
in both front & rear wheels of trucks and buses.
Block-shape: Patterns consisting of independent blocks divided by circumferential
and lateral grooves.
Block patterns provide good steering control and stability
on snow covered and wet roads as well as good water dispersal properties
in the wet.
However, because the tread blocks are smaller, tyre wear tends
to be heavy.
Application: Suitable for winter or all-season passenger car
tyres as well as for the rear wheel use in ordinary applications.
Asymmetric pattern: Tread patterns which differ on either side of the tyre.
Asymmetric tyres have been designed to optimise the opposing
requirements of dry grip and water dispersal. They are good for high
speed cornering due to the greater contact area which helps reduce
treadwear on outside of tyre.
Asymmetric tyres must be positioned the right way around.
Application: High performance and motorsport tyres.
Directional pattern: Tread patterns characterised by lateral grooves on both
sides of the tyre which point in the same direction.
Advantages of directional tread patterns are good driving
force and braking performance. In particular directional patterns
provide good water dispersal meaning stability on wet roads.
Directional tyres must be mounted in the direction of the
tread pattern.
Applications: Passenger car tyre for high speed use.
