Ron Damon

On visual inspection alone, for what type of terrain/surface and application would you say this tire thread pattern is best suited?

terrymorse 

Dirt or mud.

Edit: But not much of either one.

wolfchild

Looks like a cheap multi terrain tire.

Ghazmh

Paved bike path.

noimagination

I'd say:
Surface: gravel to dirt that is a little loose but not muddy, nor deep sand/snow.
Terrain: looks OK for gravel roads through crushed gravel paths to mild off-road on a fairly even surface, as above.

(BTW, I really like your diction and syntax - it's refreshing to see someone express themselves elegantly on an internet forum, where such niceties are routinely devalued.)

PeteHski

This actually looks pretty useless. It has no side knobs for loose off-road cornering grip and the tread spacing in the centre looks too tight to offer any extra traction beyond a slick. But I’m sure it would cope with a bike path.

The tread pattern looks to be inspired by car tyres ie aimed at moving water to prevent high speed aqua planing rather than grip. This is not required on a narrow bike tyre at low speed.

CAT7RDR

Multi-purpose urban-touring tire.

Ironfish653

"Rail-trail" hybrid tire.

The center ridge looks like it should roll well on mixed hard surfaces (paved/unpaved) but it doesn't look wide or aggressive enough for technical MTB trails or soft surfaces like loam or mud.

What size are we looking at? A tread pattern that looks super gnarly on a 700x32 can look like goldfish scales when you put it on a 29x2.35"

Iride01 

If you always ride paved roads or paved trails with a thin wash of mud going over them, they might be good for that. And perhaps for riding dirt and sand that is not too loose.

But I'd recommend you pick your tires and tread pattern for the riding you do most. Not for something you'll occasionally be in for very brief periods. More tread is usually more rolling resistance. More rolling resistance uses more of your energy. More of your energy means you tire faster and not ride as far.

While the differences might seem low to your legs, remember the effects are cumulative.


Is there a surprise answer for us? The way you worded it makes me think there is.

Eric F 

I would consider that a multi-terrain tire that will be just fine on lots of surfaces, but not brilliant on any. It will probably roll reasonably efficiently on pavement, but not as fast, or corner as well, as true road tire. It will probably handle most dirt surfaces okay, but will be challenged by loose/demanding conditions. For someone who is not looking to optimize speed and/or handling, and regularly encounters a variety of different - but mild - conditions, it could be a pretty solid choice.

Erzulis Boat 

Inexpensive, low quality, poor compound composition, sunny weekend day on a bike path tyre?



I went with "tyre" because it goes better (syntax and all).

mstateglfr 

Cant say I have ever thought much about a tire's threads. I have pulled some threads off a Conti tire or two thru the years- they sometimes have a loose thread around where the tire and rim meet. But I definitely havent thought about the pattern of threads.

smd4

I thought this thread was about tires?

frdfandc

Paved and improved surfaces like hard pack and light gravel roads. Tire looks to be on a hybrid of some sort.

SoSmellyAir

Tire appears to be suitable for short grass and medium pile carpet, assuming that both (surfaces, not the tires) are installed more-or-less flat.

wheelreason

Wooden velodrome...

KerryIrons

^ This. That tread pattern is more for show than for any particular purpose. Designed by the marketing department would be my guess.