Tread for pneumatic tire intended for winter driving

A tread for a tire with radial carcass reinforcements surmounted by a tread reinforcement, more particularly intended for travel on wet, snow-covered or icy ground, formed at least of elements in relief separated by grooves and provided with incisions, having on the surface of the tread, a contour of a width (e) of between 0.4 and 1.6 mm, characterized by the fact that cut elements in relief (11, 13) are provided at least with some incisions (41, 42, 43) having in cross-section an outline formed of a first linear part (41A) of width (e) extending radially inwardly from the tread surface a depth (h.sub.1) of between 35% and 55% of the total depth (h) of the outline, this first part (41A) opening into at least two branches or segments (41B, 41C) of a width (e/2) half that of the first linear part extending radially inward over the remaining depth (h-h.sub.1) of the outline, the length (l, l') of an incision (41, 42, 43) on the surface of the tread 1 remaining constant as a function of the depth (h) of the outline, the number of incisions on the element in relief (11, 13) being multiplied by a factor at least equal to 1.5, in order to determine the minimum number of branches or segments leading from the depth (h.sub.1) to the final depth of the outline (h).