Why A Good Tread Doesn’t Always Mean A Good Tyre

You’ve likely heard the widespread rumour that a tyre with good tread is inherently a great tyre. While the tread is undoubtedly important, believing it’s the only important factor creates confusion and endangers drivers. From tyre age to composition, many elements contribute to making a tyre truly reliable. Here at Drury Tires, we’re determined to bust this myth once and for all which is why we’ve created a comprehensive guide on evaluating tyre quality beyond tread. 

 

Understanding Tyre Tread

Before we bust the myth around tread, it’s important to understand what it actually is. Tyre tread is the patterned part of your tyre that makes contact with the road, and it plays a crucial role in your driving experience. Good tread channels water away, reducing the risk of hydroplaning on wet roads. It also provides the traction needed for safe acceleration, braking, and cornering. Essentially, keeping an eye on your tread depth is like keeping tabs on your car’s health – it’s essential for a smooth and secure ride.

 

The Myth of Tread Depth 

The New Zealand Land Transport Rule requires a tread pattern depth of at least 1.5mm within all principal grooves. While this was established to ensure drivers maintain a minimum level of grip – and is an important rule to uphold – too many people believe that fulfilling this requirement means your car is good to go. 

In reality, while tread depth is crucial for traction and safety, it’s not the only factor. For instance, even a tyre with the required tread depth can be unsafe if the rubber has deteriorated over time or if there are structural weaknesses. This is especially true for vintage or retreaded tyres that may not have modern tread-depth indicators but still require careful inspection.

 

Factors Beyond Tread Depth

Let’s delve into a few other elements that contribute to a tyre’s overall performance and safety:

 

Tyre Age

Even if your tyres have plenty of treads left, their age can significantly affect their performance. Over time, the rubber compound in tyres degrades due to exposure to sunlight, heat, and general wear and tear. This degradation can lead to a loss of flexibility and grip, making the tyres less effective and more prone to failure. Typically, tyres older than five years should be replaced or at the very least, inspected regularly. 

 

Tyre Composition

The materials used in tyre manufacturing play an important role when it comes to safety and durability. High-quality tyres are made from advanced rubber compounds that balance grip, longevity, and performance. The internal structure, including the belts and plies, adds strength and flexibility. Cheaper tyres might use lower-quality materials that can wear out faster and provide less reliable performance, even if they initially have deep tread.

 

Wear Patterns

Uneven wear patterns on your tyres can be a clear indicator of underlying issues, such as alignment problems or improper tyre maintenance. For instance, excessive wear on one edge of the tyre could suggest a misalignment, while cupping or scalloping might indicate issues with suspension components. Regularly rotating your tyres and maintaining proper alignment and inflation can prevent uneven wear, ensuring that your tyres wear out evenly and maintain optimal performance throughout their lifespan.

 

Tyre Type and Suitability 

The final key factor when it comes to tyre performance is choosing the right type for your specific driving conditions. For example, winter tyres are designed with a special rubber compound and tread pattern to provide better grip in cold, icy conditions, while all-season tyres offer a balance of performance in various weather conditions but might not perform as well in extreme cold. Using the correct tyres for your driving environment ensures that you get the best possible traction, handling, and safety.

 

Anthony’s Top Tread Tips

Many of our customers are surprised to learn that good tread alone isn’t enough to keep you safe on the road. Anthony often tells his valued clients that tyre rubber cures and hardens with age, a bit like an old block of cheese. However, unlike cheese, rubber doesn’t get better with age. 

This is because rubber compounds vary for different uses. For example, Formula One cars use extremely soft compounds that make their tyres stick to the road like glue and the softer they are, the quicker they wear out. That’s why they change tyres several times during a long race. The treadwear on a race car is around 50 while normal passenger car tyres range from 250 to 400. Some SUVs and long-life tyres can have a rating of up to 700! So remember, the lower the treadwear rating, the stickier the tyre. 

To put this into perspective, Anthony has given a few scenarios where good tread alone simply isn’t enough: 

• Disaster can strike if you have an old tyre- say older than five years – with good tread and a high treadwear rating. Imagine a truck pulls out in front of you and you hit the brakes to avoid an accident. If your tyres have hardened with age your vehicle might take 60 metres to stop instead of 40 metres at 100 km/h. This could be the difference between life and death. 
• Weather is another critical factor. New tyres can stick reasonably well in dry conditions, even with low tread but in the wet, it’s a different story. A tyre that stops 40 metres on dry roads at 100km/h might take 80 to 100 metres to stop in heavy rain. 
• Sometimes people replace tyres one at a time, but often this isn’t enough. You wouldn’t buy just one shoe so why buy one tyre? A vehicle’s footprint – the amount of tread actually touching the road – is about the size of the palm of your hand or about 1.5% of the car’s total area. This small area has a very important job which is why we recommend getting a fresh set of tyres or at least a matching pair.

 

Choosing the Right Tyre

If you’re looking for new tyres, make sure you look beyond tread. Consider your driving conditions, vehicle type, and personal driving habits. For instance, if you frequently drive in snowy conditions, winter tyres with a special rubber compound are essential. For those who drive mainly on highways, all-season tyres might be more suitable. Additionally, if you have a heavy vehicle, such as an SUV or a truck, you’ll need tyres that can handle the weight and provide stability.

Beyond choosing the right tyres, regular maintenance and inspections by professionals are also extremely important. Keeping your tyres properly inflated, aligned, and rotated ensures even wear and optimal performance.

 

Conclusions 

Hopefully, you realise now that choosing the right tyres is about more than just tread depth—it’s about ensuring your safety and optimizing your driving experience. By considering factors like tyre age, composition, wear patterns, and the right type of tyre for your driving conditions, you can drive with confidence. 

Don’t leave your safety to chance. Contact Drury Tires today for expert advice and a wide selection of top-quality tyres. Our knowledgeable team is ready to help you find the perfect tyres for your vehicle and driving habits, going beyond just tread to ensure you have the safest, most reliable tyres on the road.