A tread configuration for pneumatic vehicle tires, particularly for spare tires, having a large number of depressions which are separated from each other by transverse webs and peripheral webs, and are successively arranged in the transverse and the peripheral directions of the tire. The depressions have an approximately rectangular cross section, and extend transverse to the peripheral direction of the tire. The webs which limit or define the depressions have a width corresponding to approximately 1/4 to 3/4 of the peripheral dimension of the depressions.