Here are some sample tire treads, just to get you started. I don’t think it’s necessary to copy an actual tread pattern. Just create something that looks authentic.  It might be nice to add a tweak that inverts the bump so that tire tracks result. I’m sorry that I don’t have some larger images.  You don’t really need them though.

See what you can do with this challenge. Actually I expect to see some really interesting DarkTrees come out of this.

DarkTrees

Comments

“Sky has come up with the first tire texture, a really nice one.” Leslie

Sky’s comments:“Here is my attempt at a tire texture. Seems like it might be an ok motorcycle tire. The strip tiles, so you can render out a planar bitmap and then wrap it on your 3d tire using cylindrical projection.”

 

Skyler Swanson

Sky’s .dsts file

“This is Alain Bertrand’s tire tread.  He’s done a great job of capturing the biggest example tire tread from the top of this page.” Leslie

Alain’s comments:“Here is my own DT for the contest...I was looking to reproduce the pattern of one of the proposed picture. This is the simple pattern found. Still I'm preaty happy with it.”

 

Alain Bertrand

Alain’s .dsts file

“This is my tire tread.  I still need to add a subtree that will give that ‘round’ look like Skyler’s and Alain’s both have. The cuts that run perpendicular to the tread did not turn out like I would have liked, but well ...what can I say?” Leslie
Update: “ I have added a ‘rounded’ look for the tire - quite a flat one really. However it does seem to make it more realistic.  I also added more roughness.”

 

Grimalkin

Grimalkin’s .dsts file

“This is my tread print in sand. As with the tire tread itself, I need to add a subtree that will curl the edges somewhat. Right now it looks a bit flat. I’ll just reload my .dsts file when I get that done.” Leslie
Update: “ I have added an upwards curl on the edges of the tread pattern, but I don’t really think it’s added anything. Probably because of the ‘busy’ nature of the sand.”
By the way, the larger version of the texture is not anti-aliased.

Grimalkin

Grimalkin’s .dsts file