Chapter 27: Tires and Tire Prints

Tire impressions do two things: reflect the tread design and give dimensional features of individual tires on a vehicle. There are two basic tire types:

• Original equipment tires: tires specified by the vehicle manufacturer and are initially fitted to the vehicle when new.

• Replacement tires: those used to replace worn or damaged tires

Grooves → the channels or indentations in the tread pattern that enhance traction by allowing water to disperse, helping to prevent hydroplaning and improve grip in wet conditions.

Slots/Transverse Grooves → the narrow openings or cuts in the tread design that help to further enhance drainage and improve stability during cornering, contributing to better handling characteristics on various road surfaces.

Thread Wear Indicators → small raised bars located within the grooves of the tire tread that become visible as the tread wears down, indicating when the tire has reached its minimum safe tread depth and needs to be replaced.

The pitch is the length from a point on one tread block to the same point on the next tread block.

When you ink a tire print, you are left with a copy of the ribs