Tread Design
Tread pattern is what can really fool a buyer. It’s easy to get sucked into what looks cool and aggressive or, on the flip side, what looks like the perfect tire for a Saturday back road trip. But as our little scenario above displayed, it has more to do with where and how you ride than anything. So what type of tread is the best for each condition? Let’s break it down into two categories: tall, skinny tread and short, wider tread.
Tall, skinny tread with large gaps between each tread are used for softer soils and mud where penetration and cleanout is extremely important. These tread designs generally wear quicker when used on hard surfaces and typically have more road noise. They are often less stable due to the higher thread profile and can perform poorly at high speeds.
Shorter, wider tread with narrow gaps between each tread are often used for harder surfaces such as rock, hard dirt and gravel where cleanout is not important but contact surface area is. These tread designs typically offer longer tread life with less road noise. They are better for high speeds, but offer less traction in soft soil conditions and mud.
Air Pressure/Sidewall Flex
