Choose the Best Tires with Zig

When shopping for tires, it pays to make sure you're getting the right tread design for your driving needs. The three most common tread designs are: symmetrical, asymmetrical and directional/unidirectional. Each tread design serves a specific purpose that will effect driving characteristics and tire rotations.

Symmetric Tread Pattern

A symmetric tread pattern is the most common and features continuous ribs or independent tread blocks across the entire tread face where both inboard and outboard halves feature the same pattern. Tires featuring symmetric tread patterns allow using multiple tire rotation patterns. Two of our highest rated all-season tires with a symmetrical tread pattern are the Michelin Primacy MXV4 and Hankook Optimo H727.

Michelin Primacy MXV4

Hankook Optimo H727

Asymmetric Tread Pattern

An asymmetric pattern is designed to blend the requirements of dry grip and water dispersal/snow traction where the tread pattern changes across the face of the tire. An asymmetric tread pattern typically incorporates larger tread ribs/blocks on the outboard side to increase cornering stability on dry surfaces by offering greater contact area. This also helps to reduce tread squirm and heat buildup on the outside shoulder. The inboard side usually has smaller independent tread blocks to aid wet and/or winter traction when driving straight ahead. Tires with asymmetric tread patterns allow using multiple tire rotation patterns. Two of our highest rated all-season asymmetrical tires are the Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus and Continental ExtremeContact DWS.

Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus

Continental ExtremeContact DWS

Directional (Unidirectional) Tread Pattern

A directional (also called a unidirectional) tread pattern is designed to roll in only one direction. It features lateral grooves on both sides of the tire’s centerline that point in the same direction and result in v-shaped tread blocks. These grooves increase hydroplaning resistance at high speeds by pumping water more efficiently through the tread pattern. Unless they're dismounted and remounted on their wheels to accommodate use on the other side of the vehicle, directional tires are to be installed on one side of the vehicle and are intended to be rotated from the front axle to the rear axle. If different tire sizes are used on the front vs. rear axle, the tires become location-specific and tire rotation is prohibited unless remounted. Two of our best rated all-season directional tires are the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus and Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS Pole Position.

Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus

Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS Pole Position

Shop by vehicle to view all tires available for your vehicle and be sure to choose a tread pattern that suits your driving performance and tire rotation needs!