Visual wear indicator

A tire comprising:

• a tread region of the tire having a ground engaging surface;
• and
• a visual wear indicator formed in the tread region having a first portion extending substantially radially inward into the tread region from the ground engaging surface by a first dimension which ranges from 0% to about 25% of a useable tread depth, a second portion extending substantially radially inward into the tread region from the ground engaging surface by a second dimension which ranges from about 25% to about 50% of a useable tread depth, a third portion extending substantially radially inward into the tread region from the ground engaging surface by a third dimension which ranges from about 50% to about 75% of a useable tread depth, and a fourth portion extending substantially radially inward into the tread region from the ground engaging surface by a fourth dimension which ranges from about 75% to about 100% of a useable tread depth;
• wherein the first, second, third, and fourth portions of the visual wear indicator are arranged in an open-centered square where the first portion is perpendicular to the second and fourth portions, the second portion is perpendicular to the first and third portions, the third portion is perpendicular to the second and fourth portions, and the fourth portion is perpendicular to the third and first portions, the first, second, third, and fourth portions of the visual wear indicator enclose a central region therebetween and are spaced apart to facilitate venting of the central region, and the fourth portion forms an exclamation point upon reaching approximately 100% of the useable tread depth, the first, second, third, and fourth portions of the visual wear indicator progressively increase in depth around a perimeter.