HYDROPHOBIC PATTERNS FOR TIRE TREAD GROOVES

A tread for a pneumatic tyre, the tread comprising a plurality of grooves, the grooves comprising: a groove surface (); and a plurality of elements () spaced from one another in an arrangement on the groove surface (). Each element () has a shape defining a volume, the shape including: a first cross-sectional shape () in a plane () parallel to the groove surface (); and a second cross-sectional shape () in a plane () perpendicular to the groove surface (). The arrangement comprises a void volume in the spaces between the elements () and a void ratio of between 0.5 to 0.75, wherein the void ratio is defined as a ratio of the void volume to the total volume of the elements () in the arrangement.