The correct answer is a) True.
Tread depth is a fundamental and critical factor in a tire’s ability to provide proper and safe traction. The intricate patterns of grooves, blocks, and smaller slits, known as sipes, that make up a tire’s tread are not merely for aesthetics. They are specifically engineered to optimize the tire’s grip on various road surfaces and in different conditions, and the depth of these grooves is arguably the most important dimension for ensuring safety.
The primary and most crucial function of tire tread depth is to manage water on the road surface. When driving in the rain, the grooves in the tread act as channels to evacuate water from underneath the tire’s “contact patch,” which is the area of the tire that touches the road. By efficiently displacing this water, the tread allows the rubber of the tire to make direct, firm contact with the pavement. This physical contact is what generates friction, or traction, allowing the driver to accelerate, brake, and steer the vehicle effectively.
When tread depth is insufficient due to wear, the tire’s ability to channel water is severely compromised. At higher speeds, a worn tire cannot push the water away fast enough, causing a wedge of water to build up between the tire and the road. This leads to a dangerous situation called hydroplaning, where the tire essentially floats on the water’s surface, losing all contact with the road. The result is a total loss of traction, rendering steering and braking inputs useless. Because of this direct link between tread depth and safety, most regions have established legal minimum tread depth requirements. Maintaining a tread depth well above this minimum is essential for ensuring a tire can perform its function and keep the vehicle safely connected to the road, especially in rain, slush, or snow.
