A multi-stage tire tread having a contact surface and a plurality of wear layers, each said layer being located at a different depth of the tire tread, the tread comprising: one or more tread elements including a contact surface and having a first wear layer and a second wear layer, wherein the second wear layer is located below the first wear layer; a submerged longitudinal groove extending in a longitudinal direction within the second wear layer of the tread element, wherein said longitudinal groove becomes exposed after a depth of the first wear layer has been worn; a longitudinal sipe extending within the first wear layer between the contact surface and the longitudinal groove; one or more submerged lateral grooves extending from the longitudinal groove in a lateral direction within the second wear layer of the tread element; one or more lateral sipes extending within the first wear layer between the contact surface and one of the one or more lateral grooves; the tread being characterized in that: the longitudinal sipe extends longitudinally in a laterally alternating path and/or radially in an alternating path to define a width of the sipe, at least one of the one or more lateral sipes extends laterally in a longitudinally alternating path and/or radially in an alternating path to define the width of the sipe and in that a sipe-intersecting groove having a length extending lengthwise through a depth of a thickness of the tread along an intersection between the lateral sipe and the longitudinal sipe, the sipe intersecting groove having a width greater than both a width of the lateral sipe and a width of the longitudinal sipe, the sipe-intersecting groove comprising a radial groove. one or more tread elements including a contact surface and having a first wear layer and a second wear layer, wherein the second wear layer is located below the first wear layer; a submerged longitudinal groove extending in a longitudinal direction within the second wear layer of the tread element, wherein said longitudinal groove becomes exposed after a depth of the first wear layer has been worn; a longitudinal sipe extending within the first wear layer between the contact surface and the longitudinal groove; one or more submerged lateral grooves extending from the longitudinal groove in a lateral direction within the second wear layer of the tread element; one or more lateral sipes extending within the first wear layer between the contact surface and one of the one or more lateral grooves; the tread being characterized in that: the longitudinal sipe extends longitudinally in a laterally alternating path and/or radially in an alternating path to define a width of the sipe, at least one of the one or more lateral sipes extends laterally in a longitudinally alternating path and/or radially in an alternating path to define the width of the sipe and in that a sipe-intersecting groove having a length extending lengthwise through a depth of a thickness of the tread along an intersection between the lateral sipe and the longitudinal sipe, the sipe intersecting groove having a width greater than both a width of the lateral sipe and a width of the longitudinal sipe, the sipe-intersecting groove comprising a radial groove.