One of the things that everyone overlooks when planning their car’s performance is the tread block. Whether you’re looking to grip tightly around a curve, control a slide around a bend, or maintain power through difficult terrain, the tread blocks will make all of the difference. To understand why tread blocks are important, it’s first important to understand what they are. A tread block is the raised rubber square that makes up the part of the tread that connects with the road and gives you traction. How does a simple rubber block perform a function so important? Glad you asked! It does this for a couple different reasons.  

Increased Surface Area 

By creating multiple raised blocks with a variety edges and angles it creates a larger amount of surface area on the contact patch of your tire. This increased amount of surface area provides more areas of contact between your tire and the road, and this creates more grip. Which makes sense. The more area there is in contact with the road, the more ability to stick to it. If you are going to track your car or someone will be drifting corners this will be incredibly important to you. The more surface area is on your tire’s contact patch, the more control you will have during these applications. 

More “Biting Edges” 

One of the main features of tread blocks are the edges that it creates. These edges, we like to call, “biting edges.” Sounds funny, we know… that’s kinda why we like it. Each of these edges provide an opportunity to catch on the imperfections on the roads surface. This aids in providing more traction as you move along the road. These biting edges are important for gaining traction across all applications, but where you may pay more attention to this will be if you are a rally or off-road driver. That is because the stages and trails you will be on will be a coarser terrain providing more opportunities for these edges to “bite” onto. This will ultimately give you more control in environments that promote skidding. 

 It’s a Water Mover 

The nature of tread blocks simply means that they are raised blocks of rubber on the tires surface. One of the added bonuses to having these are the grooves and sipes that these create in between the tread blocks. These grooves and sipes are strategically designed in the tread pattern to direct water safely out from underneath the tire. This helps to ensure consistent contact with the road and enhances your traction in wet conditions.  

Some are Studded 

In many off-road tires and snow tires, these tread blocks actually come studded. These studs help grip in slippery conditions. Some of these studs may even be metal, to ensure durability and provide traction in even the most icy environments.  

More About the Voids 

The voids and grooves between tread blocks serve another purpose besides water evacuation. They also provide more space for blocks to move and flex to better grip the road. When the blocks move to adjust the surface below, it allows for better traction. Tires that feature larger voids, such as off-road tires provide more room for this additional flexibility and traction. For example if you are taken your jeep up a steeper inline riddled with shale, gravel and mud, these grooves will allow the tread blocks to move or flex along with the grounds surface. This will allow them to “find” a surface to “grab” onto. The more grooves that are in between these larger tread blocks will provide more opportunities for these blocks to grip into whatever is around to keep you from sliding.  

All Shapes and Sizes 

While off-road tires are known to have the most noticeable tread blocks, many tires feature tread blocks one way or another. Off-road tires generally have larger tread blocks to allow for more traction in challenging terrain, such as mud and gravel. Tires such as snow and rally tires are also known for having moderately large tread blocks in order increase traction in skid prone environments. 

Let’s Wrap It Up 

To wrap it, the tread blocks serve one many of the most important functions a tire needs to operate efficiently. They work in a variety of ways to increase traction, so that you can stay in control and one the road safely. Whether they are contributing with their biting edges, increased surface area, or numerous studs; you can bet tread blocks got your back.