Offset Tread Pattern (Passenger Car)

[Diggin It]

I was in a tire store recently getting new shoes on one of my cars. I noticed these. Can't say as I've ever seen this before. No, I didn't get this style.

 

[CobyRupert]

???
I don't get it either.
Appears to be a directional tire, or at least one side of it does. That is, it appears the tire would be mounted so the "wide side" of the tread would be on the inner side of the vehicle....but why?

 

[bcp]

Each section of the tread explained here, about 1/2 down the page:

Nokian WR G4 - All-Weather tires / Nokian Tires

and here:

Nokian Tyres launches new all-weather performance tire: Nokian WR G4 combines high-performance, all-season handling and reliable winter grip / Nokian Tires

Bruce

 

[coldsteelva]

Also known as an asymmetric tire.

 

[shovelmike]

Interesting, the asymmetry looks a bit odd to the eye, but it makes sense when explained by the manufacturer.
I have seen tire technology come a long way through the years (I'm 67), the bias ply tires I drove on offered little traction compared to modern radials, and talk about tread life....we used to get 10,000- 15,000 per set (when not hot rodding), now 50,000- 60,000 is common. Every Fall meant switching to snow tires and Spring meant back to conventional tires. Modern all season tires put an end to that ritual.

 

[zzvyb6]

An asymmetric tread pattern (and compound). Some of these tires are uni-rotation, too (Only supposed to turn in the indicated direction). The idea is to have a smooth good riding tire with low rolling resistance in play while driving straight ahead. As you corner or brake harder and need some extra force capability, the grip compound(s) come into play. That being said, this tire looks like it's intended to have some deep snow and ice capability, too.

Goodyear has a Triple-Tread design with 3 types of tread blocks and compounds. (Triple tread, get it ?) . There are several others.

 

[CobyRupert]

Interesting, the asymmetry looks a bit odd to the eye, but it makes sense when explained by the manufacturer.
I have seen tire technology come a long way through the years (I'm 67), the bias ply tires I drove on offered little traction compared to modern radials, and talk about tread life....we used to get 10,000- 15,000 per set (when not hot rodding), now 50,000- 60,000 is common. Every Fall meant switching to snow tires and Spring meant back to conventional tires. Modern all season tires put an end to that ritual.

...maybe in Missouri!
I agree that tires are a lot better now days....but...
Last week, I took off 16 "all seasons" and put on 16 snow tires (32 total) on wife's, son's, daughter's and my cars. Whew! 8 of the 16 snow's have studs. IMHO, there's no comparison of studded to non-studded, no comparison of snows to all seasons.

 

[ruffdog]

I have these on the wife's car for the winter....big difference.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=General&tireModel=Altimax+Arctic+12&partnum=16TR6AA12XL&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&autoMake=Chevrolet&autoYear=2012&autoModel=Malibu%204cyl&autoModClar=1LT&cameFrom=WinterSection

 

[Industrial Toys]

Seems like a tire with a bipolar disorder.

You would have a hard time convincing me that tire tread design doesn't often have something to do with marketing (kool factor). Kind of like boot and Athletic shoe treads.

 

[CADplans]

Also known as an asymmetric tire.

I had asymmetric tires on a 1984 Oldsmobile before 1990,, They were Goodyear,
The dual tread pattern was supposed to raise the mileage that the tires would wear,,,

 

[Texasmark]

Interesting, the asymmetry looks a bit odd to the eye, but it makes sense when explained by the manufacturer.
I have seen tire technology come a long way through the years (I'm 67), the bias ply tires I drove on offered little traction compared to modern radials, and talk about tread life....we used to get 10,000- 15,000 per set (when not hot rodding), now 50,000- 60,000 is common. Every Fall meant switching to snow tires and Spring meant back to conventional tires. Modern all season tires put an end to that ritual.

When my local Sears debuted the Allstate Radial (Michelin origin) they had a set in the store with a notation that the previous owner had put 60k miles on the tire......and there was more than 2/32 rubber left. Was impressive for the reason you mentioned....but the price at the time required a hard swallow....or better yet, GULP!

 

[Texasmark]

One advantage of this type of pattern is quiet ride. If you own a box for a vehicle,like a crew cab truck or Honda Element, or back in the 70s a full size station wagon, road (tire) noises can be a nuisance. Couple that with the type of road maintenance Texas uses.....layer of hot asphalt (emulsified oil) called a "sealer" where a thin layer of small stones (Granite) are embedded in it, it makes for a rough surface (but a great topping otherwise for country roads) as compared to concrete or smooth asphalt. This kind of irregular tread pattern should run much quieter since there is less of a repetitive pattern, even when compared to quiet ride "cruising-touring" patterns that are deliberately varied in their more normal pattern.

I recently put new shoes on my Element and looked the www far and wide for such a pattern for that reason and the only one I found was in a 60 aspect ratio and I needed a 70. I have seen similar to this posted, mounted on a car in a parking lot, stimulating my curiosity. In studying them for a bit, there was no particular mounting position.

 

[Texasmark]

...maybe in Missouri!
I agree that tires are a lot better now days....but...
Last week, I took off 16 "all seasons" and put on 16 snow tires (32 total) on wife's, son's, daughter's and my cars. Whew! 8 of the 16 snow's have studs. IMHO, there's no comparison of studded to non-studded, no comparison of snows to all seasons.

Agree...gotta have something that will grip the ice when encountered. Problem in Texas that they're pretty much outlawed. Back when I was wanting to stud my tires I checked into it. I had ice in my subdivision for about 3 blocks from the house to the main thoroughfare. Getting through it required chains but they had to come off because the thoroughfare was maintained and they would mar the hard surface. I figured studs would solve that problem....nada!

 

[goeduck]

When my local Sears debuted the Allstate Radial (Michelin origin) they had a set in the store with a notation that the previous owner had put 60k miles on the tire......and there was more than 2/32 rubber left. Was impressive for the reason you mentioned....but the price at the time required a hard swallow....or better yet, GULP!

Are you talking about the ones Sears first came out with in the 60s?

 

[goeduck]

I have seen the asymmetric tire but was not sold on them. If not the asymmetric tire, what are people putting on their passenger cars for summer use? One of my cars needs new shoes and we do not get enough snow out here to worry about snow tires. Anyone use the Goodyear Eagle Sport AS?

 

[5030]

I run Firestine's. The stop on a dime and pick it up for you.....:laughing:

 

[npalen]

I was flabbergasted to learn that my '08 Cadillac STS uses different size tires on the front and rear which prevents rotating them for even wear. How dumb is that? The front and rear both use 18" but 45's and 55's IIRC.

 

[oosik]

I've seen these assemetric tread tires. They do not impress me at all. I have a good set of Wrangler Duratrac 8 ply M&S on the Power Wagon. If conditions get tough - I simply slow down. Works every time. Let the idiots zoom by with their assemetric tires. I'll meet them on up the road and I WILL NOT pull them out of the ditch.

 

[5030]

Actually, I run Firestone Winterforce studdable snow tires year around on my wife's buggy and my pickup truck. Wear like Iron, give excellent tread wear life (70K miles) and excellent traction in snow, rain or anything in between and are made in Canada, not Chineseum tires. On the downside they do howl a bit on the highway but I usually have the windows up anyway.

Not impressed with Chineseum tires like Hankook or Nexium or the ones in the thread here.

 

[oosik]

This is the first time for the Wrangler Duratrac tires. They are a HARD tire when inflated to their recommended 65psi. Probably due, in part, to the two polyester belts, two steel belts and one nylon belt. However, they do well in the mud and snow.