"Why do passenger tyres have a tread pattern, unlike slick tyres?"
"SummerTyresBirmingham Tyres Leamington Spa (750+ words)"
[ "Why do passenger tyres have a tread pattern, unlike slick tyres?We normally see treaded tyres on roads but racing tyres are quite different from these passenger tyres. If you have seen a racing tournament, you must have observed their smooth surface. This smooth surface of racing tyres is also a tread pattern and it is called racing slick.Slick tyres do not have a grooved tread pattern like Summer Tyres Birmingham because the users of these tyres want maximum grip and traction with these tyres.The matter of tractionAccording to racing professionals, a superior level of grip is the key factor in racing tournaments.A common car race driver would like to go straight faster than other drivers. Moreover, he will wish to achieve improved cornering power from their tyres. Additionally, he wants a shorter braking distance to enhance control over the vehicle. It all means a powerful and quick ride that completes the lap rapidly.A fixed level of temperatureSlick tyres, nowadays, come with a certain level of temperature. At this level, they become stickier, providing a superior level of grip on roads. To maintain the required level of temperature, these tyres come with a cover of tyre warmers.Widen contact areaSlicks are optimum to increase the contact area between the road surface and tyres. High speed and increased contact area will, however, cause more heat but slick tyres overcome the effects of heat because of their broader size.Is it dangerous to drive a car with slick tyres?Slick tyres will provide improved grip and traction on a clean and dry surface. However, this advantage is valid for only dry roads. Suppose the same tyres run on a wet road in rainy weather, the chances of hydroplaning will be higher with these tyres. Racing tyres do not have tread. So, they would not be able to channel the extra water on a wet surface.Experts do not recommend racing tyres in normal driving conditions due to the matter of road safety. The tread pattern you see on normal passenger tyres is there with a specific purpose. Look at a racing track and then consider daily driving conditions.Racing drivers drive their car without fear of traffic, other road users, bumps, potholes, varied road materials, and many more problems. All they need is only extreme speed and perfect grip. Thus, slick tyres would work in a racing track.On the other hand, a driver has to maintain optimum speed considering road traffic. Moreover, he has to face varied road conditions as well.Conclusively, normal drivers need treaded tyres and slick tyres are beneficial for only racing champions.Tyre tread and hydroplaningIf you drive with tyres with a smooth surface, they would not save you from wet conditions. Standing water and the wet surface is known to cause hydroplaning that is a dangerous phenomenon for car drivers.While your tyres run on a wet surface, water will create a layer between the tyre and road surface. As a result, the vehicle will skid in the middle of the road because of a lack of friction.Hydroplaning can be more dangerous if you drive with slick tyres. Tyre treads are designed to channel water effectively in wet conditions. With optimum tread design and tread depth, tyres keep extra water away to decrease the chances of aquaplaning.Types of tread patternsAs car drivers face varied road conditions, tyre manufacturers make multiple patterns for tyre tread.The most common tread patterns are explained below:Directional tread pattern:You can easily recognize this pattern with the help of its arrow-shaped construction. You can see this pattern in high-performance tyres. Tyres with this tread pattern are acclaimed for their anti-aquaplaning ability because their tread blocks channel extra water very efficiently. The same pattern is useful for snowy and muddy surfaces as well. According to the recommendations of experts, you cannot change the sides of these tyres while you rotate your tyres.Symmetrical tread pattern:You can see this common pattern in most passenger tyres. This is a symmetrical pattern. It means both the outer and inner edges of the tyre have similar tread designs. These tyres are comparatively cheaper and most car drivers prefer them due to their cost-effective nature. It is possible to change the sides of these tyres because of the symmetrical design. Tyres with this pattern are not effective for wet surfaces.Asymmetrical tread pattern:These Tyres Leamington Spa have two different tread patterns on the inner and outer sides. These different designs are effective for both wet and dry road conditions. These tyres are available with less road noise in comparison to symmetrical tyres." ]