Whatever types of tires are put on expensive sports cars are often seen as “better” tires, even if they aren’t better for all applications. The typical example of this is the proliferation of low profile tires in the past several years. Low profile tires don’t flex as much, which is good for sports cars that are taking turns at high rates of speed. For normal driving, low profile tires suck. The same lack of flex that helps them grip the roads in corners also gives the tire a lack of flex when running over potholes and the like, so you feel every bump.
There’s no reason to put low profile tires on standard passenger cars, but many of them have low profile tires just because they are perceived to be better.
It’s the same thing with tire tread. Your typical passenger car probably works best with symmetrical tires, as these are typically the lowest noise, longest lasting, and can be rotated in any direction around the car without issues for longer tire life.
Sports cars usually use directional treads, so now a lot of passenger cars also use directional treads, because again, the tires that go on more expensive cars must be better, right? Unlike low profile tires, directional treads actually do have a benefit for passenger cars. They perform better on wet roads and snowy roads. The disadvantage is that the ride typically isn’t as smooth, and, since the tires are directional, they can’t be cross-rotated. Since these tires are often more sporty, they are often designed with rubber compounds that grip the road better, but don’t last as long.
Both directional and non-directional tires come in different patterns that can be optimized for different conditions. The three main conditions are rain, snow, and dry pavement. Tires that grip good on wet roads don’t roll as easily on dry roads, reducing gas mileage. Tires that roll great on dry roads and are great for your mileage tend to suck on wet and snow. All-season tires are basically a trade-off, but exactly how you balance the various driving conditions leads to endless variations in tread design. Some may favor mileage over performance in different conditions. Others may favor long tire life. Some may even favor a quiet and comfortable ride.
If one tire manufacturer comes up with some new whiz-bang tread pattern that performs better at water shedding for wet road performance, they aren’t just going to throw that design out and let everyone copy it. They are going to patent and trademark it, and probably feature their “new technology” in their advertising. Other tire manufacturers will then try to come out with their own improved versions. Even if those other designs work on the same underlying principles, they have to use a different tread pattern to avoid infringing on the first manufacturer’s patents and trademarks.
Different tread designs also allow the tire salesman to point to the tread and say “See? Ours are different than theirs. Ours are better.”
For trucks, “aggressive” looking treads sell better.
