Abstract: A sidewall 12 of a tire 10 having a surface with distinctive design patterns is described. Pattern A has a plurality of ridges 20 of similar cross-sectional shapes, each ridge 20 being substantially parallel to an adjacent ridge 20. Pattern B is superimposed over a portion of the design pattern A. Pattern B has a plurality of parallel ridges 30 extending in an angular direction between 45.degree. and 90.degree. relative to the ridges 20 of pattern A. In one embodiment a pattern C is included, pattern C having at least two parallel ridges 40 angularly oriented in the range of 45.degree. to 90.degree. relative to the ridges 20 of pattern A. The ridges 20 of pattern A intersect two ridges 40 of pattern C. The design patterns may form a circumferentially continuous wide decorative band with striped alpha-numeric markings superimposed over a portion of the wide decorative band.