Tread

The visible pattern on the surface of a tire, consisting of moulded grooves. The tread is the area that makes contact with the road, while the grooves allow water to be expelled from beneath the tire and help to grip the surface.

Tires with a tread depth (i.e. the depth of the grooves) of less 1/16 inch cannot grip the road surface effectively, and may cause the vehicle to skid, especially in wet or slippery conditions.

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