Sand tires are probably the smoothest tires you can use on a vehicle. They have little to no tread pattern and are bigger than most road tires we are used to seeing. But we all know that it’s vital for a tire to have a good tread design to provide effective traction, so why are sand tires smooth?
If this thought has ever crossed your mind, the article will clear all your queries. In the following section, we’ll talk about why sand tires are smoother than regular tires, why they have little tread design, and how they are manufactured according to their purpose.
So without further delay, let’s get into the info.
Table of Contents
3 Reasons Why Sand Tires Are So Smooth
Regular road tires have tread designs according to their primary use. The more the tires are off-road compatible, the more aggressive their tread patterns are. It’s not likely for any tire to have no tread blocks or sipes, which is the case for sand tires.
But, sand tires are actually very well-suited for their use because of their smoothness. Here are a few reasons why:
For Better Traction
Good sand tires have paddles that dig into the sand to “push” the vehicle forward; this provides the best traction possible on the sand, and the tires don’t sink into the surface or slow the vehicle down like regular tires would in the sand.
Sipes and/or grooves trap an excessive amount of sand and mud in them, which slows the vehicle down significantly. It happens mainly because the residue turns the tires slick, and therefore reduces traction. So, sand tires work best with little to no sipes.
Increased Speed
Without any chunky tread blocks and wide sipes getting in their way, sand tires are able to provide drivers with the optimum speed on dune-like surfaces. The regular grip and release mechanism on most tires usually provide traction on rock, gravel, or concrete surfaces.
However, in the sand, these tread blocks do nothing but weigh down the tires, and make them sink into the surface. With no tread blocks, sand tires are able to push off quicker and move across the sand without hindrance.
Sand tires also have better floatation; this is great for traveling across dunes, deserts, and other sandy terrains.
Related topic: What Happens If You Sand Your Tires?
Reduced Rolling Resistance
Aggressive tread designs are also known to impact fuel efficiency in tires, whether it be regular tires or sand tires. Because the bulky tread blocks dig into the surface at various points, it takes a lot of energy to get the tires rolling and out of the sand. It eventually takes a toll on fuel consumption.
Sand tires don’t have this issue because they have less tread pattern and, therefore, have reduced rolling resistance. That means you can expect more speed, better floatation, and more traction at a significantly less amount of fuel.
Conclusion
After all that has been discussed, sand tires are smooth? Simply put, it’s so that they can provide the best performance and efficiency on tricky dry surfaces such as sand. Hopefully, we’ve given you adequate info to clear all the confusion.
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