Tyre Maintenance Guide

Tyres are an integral component in a vehicle. Simply put, they make it possible for us to drive our vehicle through a variety of road conditions. No matter if we are driving our car in a bumper to bumper traffic on cruising on the highway at 100 kmph, the tyres always play a huge role in ensuring our safety and comfort. When looking at a tyre, what intrigues you the most is the design or pattern you see on it, unless of course you are looking at a slick. This design is actually called tread pattern

But, what purpose does the tread serve? First of all, let us get a basic knowledge about tyre tread. Think of tread as the pattern or knobs that you see on that section of the tyre that touches the road. Tread includes various components, most important of which are tread blocks, sipes, rib and grooves.

Let’s know more about each of these

1. Tread Block

They are the large pieces of rubber that stick out from the tyre’s surface.It means that the surface of the tyre that actually comes in contact with the road is the tread blocks. Tread blocks are mostly responsible for ensuring confident traction over dry surfaces. They offer the ‘bite effect’ to grip roads while braking and bring vehicle to a stop.

2. Sipes

They are small and narrow grooves, usually on the edges of a tread pattern and between the tread blocks. These sipes are responsible for swiftly displacing water from underneath the tyre, which in turn enhances the stability of a vehicle at the time of braking and turning over wet surfaces.

3. Grooves

They are the circumferential channel found on a tread pattern. These grooves provide the much-needed traction to the tyres in a two-way action. First of all,they make the tread blocks capable of getting into the action of moving and flexing. This helps the tyre to have a firm grip on the road. Secondly, the circumferential grooves also offer the space through which the water can get away when the road is wet. This is why tyres meant for wet weather climates come with high sipe and groove density.

How a tread pattern helps during Monsoon seasons

Driving can be a little risky during the monsoon season. The layer of water on the road can bring down traction while braking. This is where a tread design plays a very significant role. The tread blocks, sipes and grooves in the tread make sure the water on the road finds an easy way to escape; as a result, nothing comes between the tyre tread and the road. This is how the tyres do not skid on the wet roads.

Conclusion

When we apply brakes while driving, we expect our vehicle to stop in quickest possible time and shortest possible distance. The distance required for a vehicle to stop upon braking also depends on the condition and design of its tyres. Remember, brakes stop the wheel but it is the tyres that are responsible for stopping your vehicle.