A heavy truck tire tread , comprising: a longitudinal direction , a lateral direction , and a thickness direction , wherein the tread is a directional tread and has a rolling direction that is in the longitudinal direction ; a circumferential sipe that extends in the longitudinal direction completely around the tread , wherein the circumferential sipe does not bound a sacrificial rib (66; 68); a plurality of micro sipes in a rib defined by two circumferential grooves that engage the circumferential sipe and are located on opposite sides of the circumferential sipe in the lateral direction , wherein the micro sipes extend from the circumferential sipe so as to terminate within rubber of the tread at a terminal end , characterized in that the plurality of micro sipes include a first linear micro sipe that extends from the circumferential sipe at a non-zero angle to the lateral direction so as to have a component of extension in the longitudinal direction opposite to that of the rolling direction , wherein the plurality of micro sipes includes a second linear micro sipe that extends from the circumferential sipe at a non-zero angle to the lateral direction so as to have a component of extension in the longitudinal direction opposite to that of the rolling direction , wherein the first and second micro sipes are both blind and both engage the circumferential sipe at a common location in the longitudinal direction , the length of extension of the micro sipes in the lateral direction is from 2 millimeters to 10 millimeters, more preferably from 4 to 6 millimeters, the micro sipe widths are from 0.1 to 2.0 millimeters, and preferably from 0.4 millimeters to 0.6 millimeters. a longitudinal direction , a lateral direction , and a thickness direction , wherein the tread is a directional tread and has a rolling direction that is in the longitudinal direction ; a circumferential sipe that extends in the longitudinal direction completely around the tread , wherein the circumferential sipe does not bound a sacrificial rib (66; 68); a plurality of micro sipes in a rib defined by two circumferential grooves that engage the circumferential sipe and are located on opposite sides of the circumferential sipe in the lateral direction , wherein the micro sipes extend from the circumferential sipe so as to terminate within rubber of the tread at a terminal end , characterized in that the plurality of micro sipes include a first linear micro sipe that extends from the circumferential sipe at a non-zero angle to the lateral direction so as to have a component of extension in the longitudinal direction opposite to that of the rolling direction , wherein the plurality of micro sipes includes a second linear micro sipe that extends from the circumferential sipe at a non-zero angle to the lateral direction so as to have a component of extension in the longitudinal direction opposite to that of the rolling direction , wherein the first and second micro sipes are both blind and both engage the circumferential sipe at a common location in the longitudinal direction , the length of extension of the micro sipes in the lateral direction is from 2 millimeters to 10 millimeters, more preferably from 4 to 6 millimeters, the micro sipe widths are from 0.1 to 2.0 millimeters, and preferably from 0.4 millimeters to 0.6 millimeters. <EOS>