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Tyres come in various shapes and designs, with differing tread patterns
in contact with the road surface. Tread patterns are designed for specific
jobs. We look at a few of the common ones below.
Rib
shape : Tread patterns dominated by multiple circumferential
grooves.
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- 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
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Lug
shape: with
the groove arrangement perpendicular to the circumference of the
tyre
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- 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 .
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Rib-Lug
shape : A combination of Rib and Lug designs
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- 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.
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Block-shape :
Patterns consisting of independent blocks divided by circumferential
and lateral grooves.
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- 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.
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Asymmetric
pattern : Tread patterns which differ on either side of the tyre.
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- 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 them the right way around.
- Application:
High performance and motorsport tyres.
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Directional
pattern : Tread patterns characterised by lateral grooves on
both sides of the tyre which point in the same direction.
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- 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.
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