What Different Tread Patterns Actually Do For You

At a glance, tread patterns mostly look like aesthetic or styling choices. M/T tires might look aggressive. UHP tires might look clean. A/T tires might be described as being busy-looking, where touring-style tread might be thought of as simple.

But every groove, block, and channel you see is there for a reason that goes far beyond aesthetics, and it has a huge effect on how a tire behaves on the road.