The tread pattern on car tires has 4 main types: asymmetric non-directional, asymmetric with a directional pattern, symmetrical non-directional and, accordingly, symmetric with a directional pattern. Each type of wheel pattern has its own pros and cons. It all depends on the type and pace of driving that the driver prefers, as well as on the car itself.
Symmetrical pattern
Wheels with a symmetrical directional pattern will never have problems with installation and replacement, since the direction of rotation does not matter, and the wheel is placed on any axle and place. They are relatively inexpensive and of high quality. Many cars from the passenger compartment are immediately equipped with tires with just such a tread. If your car is not designed for very high speeds and you are not a fan of sharp maneuvers at speeds over 150 km / h, then these wheels are the best option. These tires are universal for most small, inexpensive cars that do not need expensive tires.
The tires of the first cars resembled bicycle tires - they had a very small width and height of the profile.
The non-directional pattern is designed for contrasting surfaces such as wet asphalt versus dry asphalt, as the inside of the wheel tread is responsible for braking on wet roads and the outside for dry conditions. The drawing looks like one glued together. When installing, you should take into account the instructions of the manufacturer, who, taking care of the reliability of the products, puts special marks, as a rule, on the outer part of the wheel. Improper installation can damage the wheels and have a serious accident.
More recently, directional rolling tires have appeared on the market, which immediately became very popular, although the price jumped significantly.
Asymmetric pattern
The directional type of drawing is much more common. In such wheels there are special channels through which water is squeezed out when the car is moving at the moment of contact of the tire with the roadway. They have a corresponding name - "rain protectors". On a wet road, they do their job perfectly, but on a dry surface, the performance deteriorates, since the channels for water drainage reduce the area of contact with the road. The Road Traffic Regulations clearly indicate the point about the installation of such wheels, since if the direction of rotation is incorrect, water accumulates in the central part of the tread and creates a water wedge, the so-called "aquaplaning", even at slow speeds.
Tire aquaplaning is a phenomenon in which the wheels (tires) of a car lose contact with the road, and instead of a hard road, a thin water film forms under the wheels, on which the car glides.
The most expensive are directional asymmetric tread patterns. Such wheels require special conditions and technologies in the production of rubber, because of this, the price differs from other types. Usually they are put on sports cars or premium cars. The bottom line is that the inner part of the wheel trades with the road, while the outer part cleans the tread from water, snow and dirt. The installation of such wheels requires taking into account both the direction of rotation and the axis of the vehicle.
