The real purpose of a tire is to get a grip on the road. The
Ideal tire is one that wears little, holds the road well to
provide sure handling and braking, and provides a cushion
from road shock.
The ideal tire should also provide
maximum grip on dry roads, wet roads, and snow and
ice, and operate quietly at any speed. This is a tall order,
so tire manufacturers compromise on one or two of these
qualities for the sake of excelling at another. A tire's tread
design dictates what the tire will excel at.