Tire Tread

[makbike]

I've been told the tread on a bicycle tire does very little so does it matter which way the treads are oriented when the tire is installed on the wheel?

Thanks!

[Kalidurga]

If the tread does very little, why are there so many different styles? And why do the manufacturers put the effort into applying an arrow on the sidewall to indicate the direction in which it should be installed?

Things the person who told you that might want to consider...

[DebW]

A slick tire is generally more secure on a dry road than tread patterns just because it has more rubber on the road. Inverted tread patterns seem to be popular for handling wet roads. And off-road tires often have treads designed to work properly in only one direction. And sometimes specific front and rear tires.

[cattygrrl]

I guess some of the more particular mechanics say it makes a difference. If the grooves in the tread form arrows, the "arrow" at the top of the tire would point forward, like a tractor tire. The idea is that any water under the tread could move out rather than be forced in under the tread. The tire makers that put arrows on the sidewalls claim it has to do with the weave of the fibers rather than the tread.

Tread on car tires is there to reduce hydroplaning. With the small size of a bicycle contact patch, hydroplaning is not a danger. Less tread would then be better than more tread--look at the tires of a race car.

Different tread designs are mostly there for marketing, especially when it comes to hybrid and comfort bike tires.

[makbike]

I purchased Bontrager Select K tires for my bike. They do have a tread but it is minimal. There are no arrows on the side walls to indicate which way the tread pattern should go hence my question, does it matter?

[susan.wells]

Sheldon Brown's article on Tires contains the information you are looking for. Scroll down to Tread Directionality (it's near the bottom). I've found this web page to be most helpful when it comes to tires.

[Melalvai]

My armadillo tires came with arrows. I thought the idea was the kevlar is in overlapping scales, so one way would allow nails and such in easily, and the other would keep them out. I could be completely wrong though.

[makbike]

Susan - thanks for the link for it answered my question. It does not really matter which direction the tread goes.

Melalvai - I don't know about the overlapping scales. All I know is I got nearly 10,000 miles out of the last set of Select K's I had on my bike so I figured I would stick with a good thing. I think I had one or two flats during those 10,000 so I think the kevlar did its job.

[cattygrrl]

My armadillo tires came with arrows. I thought the idea was the kevlar is in overlapping scales, so one way would allow nails and such in easily, and the other would keep them out. I could be completely wrong though.

I cannot imagine a company going to the trouble to make the Kevlar belt in "scales." At least, not and sell the tire for a reasonable amount of money. It's far simpler to lay down a belt over the tire cords just before applying the tread compounds.

Yep, tread designs (at least on road bike tires) are mostly marketing tools, there to give you a visual difference between two tires that otherwise behave much alike.

And Select K tires are good ones, especially for the money (<$30).

[SadieKate]

Susan - thanks for the link for it answered my question. It does not really matter which direction the tread goes.

Just so you don't lead anyone astray, this applies to ROAD tires.

MTB tires, oh yeah, you need to pay attention to the direction.