Revealing the pros and cons of 7 types of tire patterns

We will find that the tires of racing cars in F1 and other events have no pattern. This is what we call "smooth tires". The reason for no pattern is to ensure that the tires have more contact with the ground, so that better grip can be obtained.

Ensure that the car can be faster when cornering. The tires we use daily are designed to adapt to wetlands. On rainy days, the pattern can help drain water.

The design of the tire pattern and groove has a great influence on the drainage performance. At the same time, the pattern groove largely determines the comprehensive performance of the tire, traction braking, wear resistance, control, drainage, etc. Different pattern grooves meet the driving needs of different road surfaces.

Pattern drainage increases tire resistance
The road adhesion coefficient of rainy or slippery roads is less than half of that of dry paved roads. The braking force will also decrease as the coefficient becomes smaller, causing the vehicle to slip easily and the braking distance to become longer accordingly. If the tire's drainage is not good, it will make it difficult for the tire to fit the ground, but slide over the waterlogged road surface, resulting in an out-of-control accident.

At the same time, the accumulated water will also cause resistance to the movement of the tire, so the design of the tire pattern groove is very important for drainage! So, what is the role of different tire patterns?

7 types of tire patterns
1 Single directional pattern:
The pattern grooves are connected to each other, presenting an independent pattern block structure. Mainly suitable for sports cars and sports SUVs.

Advantages: The pattern has obvious directionality and the tire blocks are large. When a car uses this tire, it will reduce resistance, increase speed and have good handling performance.

Disadvantages: High noise, only suitable for sports models, the installation direction must be the same as the driving direction, and it is not suitable as a spare tire.

2 Stripe pattern:
Also called longitudinal pattern, a tire arranged according to the circumference of the tire and mainly with longitudinal patterns. The pattern of this tire is consistent with the direction of rotation of the tire, and it is wrapped in one or more continuous circles. Mainly suitable for the front wheels of trucks and buses.

Advantages: Longitudinal pattern tires have good front directionality and drainage performance, good noise control when driving at high speed, which is conducive to tire heat dissipation, and the forward resistance caused by friction is relatively small.

It is not easy to slide sideways, can provide good handling stability and high-speed performance, while ensuring driving comfort and low noise.

Disadvantages: The single longitudinal pattern leads to poor grip, poor braking performance and wetland stability, and is prone to cracking under long-term driving under high load.

3 Symmetrical pattern:
From the center groove of the tread as the axis, the same or similar tire patterns are distributed on the left and right sides, or the patterns can be completely overlapped after rotating 180 degrees. Mainly suitable for general economical family cars, urban SUVs and off-road SUVs.

Advantages: Good quiet comfort, by reducing tire rolling resistance, fuel saving has become a highlight of this pattern, mostly suitable for choosing economical and wear-resistant models.

Disadvantages: Symmetrical pattern tires suitable for sedans, the pattern design is relatively small, the grip is weak, and the sports performance is poor.

4 Asymmetric pattern:
Tire pattern with inconsistent patterns on the left and right sides, with the center groove of the tread as the axis. Most of them are a combination of comprehensive single-guide and block patterns. Different pattern structures and different rubber materials are used on the left and right sides of the tire to enhance the performance of the tire. Mainly suitable for sports performance cars and sports SUVs.

Advantages: The pattern blocks are larger than the symmetrical pattern, the contact area between the tread and the ground is larger, the grip is stronger, and the sports performance is more outstanding.

Disadvantages: Due to the large pattern blocks, the noise is also loud, and the quiet and comfortable driving experience is poor.

5 Block pattern:
The pattern grooves are interconnected, presenting an independent pattern block structure. Mainly suitable for snow tires, rear wheels of commercial vehicles, etc.

Advantages: Superior braking and handling performance, good drainage, better handling and stability on snow and wet roads. The driving force and braking force are particularly strong.

Disadvantages: Independent pattern block structure, poor wear resistance, short life, and high driving resistance. Suitable for snow and muddy roads. Generally used for engineering vehicles and off-road vehicles.

6 Claw pattern:
Also called transverse pattern, the direction of the pattern groove is perpendicular to the circumferential direction. Claw pattern can provide excellent grip and has great advantages in braking ability and traction. It is mainly suitable for the rear wheels of industrial vehicles and buses, agricultural machinery, such as harvesters, tractors, etc., as well as some engineering machinery and large tractors, all use transverse pattern tires.

Advantages: good braking and handling performance, good traction performance.

Disadvantages: easy to wear, high fuel consumption, poor high-speed performance. The noise is large when driving at high speed, the rolling resistance is large, and it is not suitable for driving on highways.

7 Composite pattern:
Also called mixed pattern, longitudinal and transverse groove pattern or comprehensive pattern. It combines the advantages of comprehensive strips and croquet patterns. It is mainly suitable for vehicles such as trucks, buses and SUVs.

Advantages: The strip pattern in the center of the tire surface provides good handling performance and prevents side slip. The croquet pattern on the shoulder of the tread provides good traction and braking performance. It is a tire pattern that is currently used more frequently.