What are the "bridges" on the tread for?

Tire traction with the road is ensured by its contact, and the larger the "contact spot", the more efficient the traction. The useful area of the contact spot, in turn, is ensured by the amount of rubber. Thus, it turns out that in ideal conditions and on dry asphalt, the best solution is a "slick". It is such tires that are used in sports and in the famous "Formula-1" races. But these are ideal conditions and they are not applicable for daily tire operation. On public roads, we regularly see water, sand, dirt, snow, and ice. So that the tire can come into contact with the road surface, all unnecessary things must be removed from the contact spot through the tread pattern. All kinds of longitudinal and transverse grooves work to maximize the drainage of the contact spot.

But as we know, a tire is a great example of balance. If a tread pattern appears on the tire for more efficient operation in difficult road conditions, then there are no disadvantages here. The fact is that on a new tire, the tread blocks formed by the pattern are quite high, and the question arises of the stability of the block. The less stable the tread blocks, the worse the handling. This is especially true for winter tires. Due to the deeper tread and softer rubber, winter tires have significantly reduced directional stability.

Manufacturers try to solve this problem in different ways: tread blocks of complex shape, harder rubber at the base of the tread, etc. But one of the most effective solutions, of course, is the use of bridges between blocks. On the one hand, we get high tread blocks and an effective solution for draining water and snow from the contact spot, and on the other hand, more stable tread blocks and a high level of tire directional stability when maneuvering or at high speed. Tread block bridges are a good engineering solution for a tire and are a reliable sign of a quality tire.