An all-season tire tread having a circumferentially extending central rib together with a plurality of laterally spaced intermittent but circumferentially extending ribs on each side of the central rib with all of these ribs being separated by circumferentially extending grooves wherein a plurality of laterally continuous cleats are placed in circumferentially spaced relation about the tire and extend transversely outward of the central rib toward the closest respective tread edge wherein the circumferential cleat spacing is such that at least two laterally spaced cleats are in contact with the road surface during every footprint of the tire, with a plurality of lateral slots being in communication with the several grooves so as to promote water removal from the footprint area of the tire.