I asked him about this at a party once and an hour later he was explaining to me the pattern oil drips make on various road grades when dropped form an automobile at different speeds.
Anyway, here's Jobst on the subject (found on line).
*snip from Jobst*
* Tread patterns have no effect on surfaces in which they leave no impression. That is to say, if the road is harder than the tire, a tread pattern does not improve traction. That smooth tires have better dry traction is probably accepted by most bicyclists, but wet pavement still appears to raise doubts even though motorcycles have shown that tread patterns do not improve wet traction.*
*/snip Jobst*
So, other than aesthetic consistency, it really doesn't matter.
-m
On Mon, Mar 31, 2008 at 2:27 PM, Michael Wilkinson <M4Campy@aol.com> wrote:
> I found some comments from Sheldon Brown that were precisely what Don has
> said, that the V should point toward the direction you are going.
>
> But, Sheldon made the point that tread patterns have very little function
> since the tread is not very deep.
>
> Back to the Motorcycle, the tread direction is opposite if this. His is a
> more open V but the rotation arrow clearly points one way:
>
> Looking down at the tire:
>
> Front of Bike
>
> \ / ^ + Rotation Arrow
> \ / |
> \ / |
> \ / |
>
> What about the double V pattern? I would think pointing the V's forward
> too
> would be the way to go.
>
> /\||/\
> /\||/\
> /\||/\
> /\||/\
>
>
> Mike "Motorbike tires confuse me" Wilkinson
> Castle Rock, CO
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
--
Mike Scammon
Menlo Park, Ca.