Why is new tyre tread about 7mm deep?

[iloveboost]

I'm just curious why that's the limit on tread depth.
Thanks.

[StuntmanMike]

8 mm, also tyres wear at difference rates, so 8 to 6 mm goes quick 6 to 4 mm less so.

[iloveboost]

StuntmanMike said:

8 mm, also tyres wear at difference rates, so 8 to 6 mm goes quick 6 to 4 mm less so.

Yes I meant 8mm off the top of my head thought it was 7mm. Just wondering why not 10mm tread depth for example.

[S0 What]

iloveboost said:

Yes I meant 8mm off the top of my head thought it was 7mm. Just wondering why not 10mm tread depth for example.

I would say for road 10mm would give too much movement and heat/wear, off road tyres have deeper tread than road tyres ?

[PhillipM]

Because the tyre tread blocks start to move around too much to the detriment of performance, there's plenty of tyres out there that come with 16mm of tread but they're not much fun on the road.

[98elise]

PhillipM said:

Because the tyre tread blocks start to move around too much to the detriment of performance, there's plenty of tyres out there that come with 16mm of tread but they're not much fun on the road.

I would have thought some tyres are even deeper than that, but as you say not much fun on the road!

[Mr Tidy]

Even 8mm is not much fun in the dry!
Many years ago we took my mate's 1.6 MkIII Escort to a track day at Thruxton and it had just had new tyres - you could feel the tread moving around in the corners.
Still a good day out though!