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Tread on winter tires

What you need to know about tread on winter tires

Fast facts

Tread and winter tires – the basics

  • Winter tire tread patterns have larger, deeper grooves
  • They increase safety through better brake control and traction when driving in winter conditions
  • You need new tires when winter tire tread is below the legal minimum, at the latest
  • Check the tire tread depth with a gauge or look out for the wear bars
  • Watch out for general damage to your tires

If you were to look at tire track markings left in dirt, the distinctive patterns may remind you of a shoe print. And, just like comparing the prints left by winter boots and summer shoes, you can work out which are snow tires, and which are summer tires. Along with other tire features, the unique patterns designed for winter tires influence your vehicle’s traction, grip and brake performance – especially on ice, wet surfaces and in snow. In this article we’ll investigate why tire patterns are so distinct and why tread is especially important for winter tires.

Elements that make every tire unique

In harsh winter conditions, a tire’s tread pattern enhances a vehicle’s grip and handling on icy roads. It is formed from four main divisions:

  • Tread blocks, raised rubber sections that have direct contact with the road and which eventually wear down over time.
  • Sipes, very thin slots cut into the tread block. They provide extra traction in wet weather, snow and ice.
  • Grooves, continuous ruts that run around the circumference of the tire to effectively channel away water. They are deeper in snow tires to help reduce the chances of aquaplaning and generally create more traction.
  • Ribs, the raised rubber sections that run around the circumference of the tire to help improve steering in snow, on ice covered surfaces and wet roads. 

While these four main divisions help form a tire’s pattern, there’s a fifth element that makes all the difference for winter tires – the tire compound. Winter and all-season tires are made from a specially formulated natural rubber compound that is softer and more flexible than summer tires. It means, they’re able to offer much better grip and traction in lower temperatures. The winter tire tread design offers its benefits especially on roads covered with snow or mud. The snow gets pressed into the wider and deeper tread grooves and by this it utilizes the effect of shear forces on snow for additional grip. The wider grooves can also absorb more slush contrary to summer tires and ensure more contact to the road surface.

You can learn more about the differences between summer and winter tires here. Overall, these 5 elements work together by interlocking and biting into snow and ice to provide additional traction and improved braking.

How is the tread different on snow tires?

As mentioned above, winter tire patterns have larger, deeper grooves and additional thin channels known as sipes. This combination allows greater brake control, traction and safety when driving in snow or icy and muddy road surfaces. Additionally, when snow gets compacted into the deep grooves, this helps create further traction. 

Watch out for tread depth on winter tires

The performance of an all-season or winter tire depends largely on the tread depth. As tire tread wears down over time, its ability to maintain grip on frosted roads reduces. To ensure optimum driving performance and more importantly driving safety, your tires should always have sufficient tread. Always consider the legal regulations of your country and take into account that tire performance decreases with tread depth, especially in winter conditions. 

Winter tires infographic

How to check tread depth

You should aim to check you tire tread depth at least every two weeks, along with your tire pressure. You can do this is two different ways:

Use a tread depth gauge, inserting the probe into the groove and pushing the shoulders down to the surface of the tire. Do this across several sections of the tire and ensure the tread depth meets the legal requirements in the country you are driving in. If it's below this measurement, it's time for new winter tires. In a pinch, you can also use a small ruler to check your tread.

Check your tread wear indicators, sometimes referred to as wear bars. All tires are manufactured with a series of small rubber bars embedded in a section of the tire grooves. Once the tread is worn down, these bars are flush with the level of the tread pattern. This means the tire has reached its limit of winter suitability and it is now time for new tires. Note: you may need to rotate your tire a few times to find the wear bars.  

Woman checking a tire´s tread depth

Watch out for damage on your winter tires

When checking your winter tire tread, look for any damage such as unusual bulges, small scoops and divots in the tire. They could indicate that your tires are misaligned or that there may be other problems with your vehicle. If you do find any damage, visit your local tire specialist as soon as possible for a thorough check. You should also closely check the conditions of your winter tires when you prepare your vehicle for the cold season.

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