Why do tires have grooves and spikes?
Grooves and spikes on tire treads seem useless but actually have a huge impact on the safety of the vehicle when moving and circulating on the road.
Tires are made of rubber, so they need grooves and spikes to increase adhesion when the vehicle is moving. At the same time, spiked tires help create enough friction so that the wheel can move continuously instead of spinning by inertia. Therefore, car owners should regularly check tire wear to ensure safety when operating.
Normally, after a long period of use and under the influence of the environment, these details will show signs of wear, causing the wheel to gradually lose grip and slip sideways. Therefore, car owners should regularly check and replace new tires according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
The effect of the spikes on the tire
Most cars today use studded tires. Racing cars, on the other hand, are often equipped with tires without grooves or studs because in dry conditions, the smooth design of the tire increases the contact area of this part with the road surface.
Tire tread is a small detail in the overall structure but has many important uses such as:
Increase friction and grip on the road surface:Ensure tire movement is continuous, avoiding inertia slippage.
Vent the tire to create pressure balance:Helps the brakes not have to work too much because the studded tire is able to provide enough grip, thereby minimizing the wear time of the brakes.
Anti-slip when moving on wet surfaces, ensuring safety for the driver:When operating, thanks to the frictional force, the rotational motion of the wheels exerts force on the road surface to help keep the vehicle moving straight forward. Rubber tire casings need grooves and spikes to increase adhesion to the moving surface, creating enough friction so that the wheels can move continuously, instead of just spinning and sliding by inertia.
Without grooves and spikes on the tire, there will not be enough friction on the wheel to help the vehicle move forward. Sideslip often occurs when the wheel rolls at high speed on the road, caused by the centrifugal force of the wheel axle. If this phenomenon occurs, it will often cause the vehicle to lose balance and fall.
The structure of the wheel grooves must be carved quite deep vertically, ensuring that the wheels grip the road surface and do not slip sideways. However, after a long time of use, the grooves and spikes on the tire will wear out, gradually lose traction or the grooves are not deep enough, then the tire needs to be replaced with a new one.
The influence of grooves and spikes on the tire also affects the quality of the brakes, whether they wear out early or not, because when the horizontal and vertical grooves are deep enough and the grip is good, the driver will be able to control easily, as well as control the speed better. From there, the number of braking times is reduced and the brake system does not have to work as much, helping to minimize wear time.
How to check tire wear
Worn tires that are not replaced in time will lead to many dangerous problems when traveling. Therefore, regular tire inspection is very necessary. Here are instructions for checking tire wear:
Check tire pressure: Under normal conditions, tire pressure will decrease by about 0.068 atmospheres per month. If the vehicle has to travel frequently in complex terrain or high temperatures, the decrease will be greater. Incorrect pressure (under-inflated or over-inflated) will cause the tire to wear out faster, making it unsafe to drive. The steps to check the pressure with a gauge are as follows:
Step 1: Remove the valve cap, then place the pressure gauge on the valve body.
Step 2: Apply firm pressure until the squeaking sound disappears.
Step 3: Remove the gauge and read the pressure.
Step 4: Compare the received parameters with the standard pressure to accurately determine the condition of the tire and proceed to deflate or refill.
Use a tire pressure gauge to make sure your tires are not over-inflated.
In addition, vehicle users should combine proper care and maintenance of car tires to increase the life of the part.
Check tire condition and age: Monitoring the condition and life of the tire is also very important. Tire life depends on the conditions of use, storage and factors such as temperature. Drivers should regularly observe the tire surface and sidewall to detect early cuts, scratches, punctures, bulges or impacts... and replace them promptly. In addition, users should also pay attention to choosing the right car tire to avoid unnecessary incidents when using.
Check tire tread wear: New, unused wheels will have raised treads and no signs of wear. On the contrary, for tires that have been used for a long time, these details will begin to crack, break and even disappear from the surface. Therefore, car owners should regularly check and replace new tires when the tread is worn about 1.6mm to ensure safety during operation.
