The grooves circling the tire are the quietest riding. Typically used on steer axle tires, they are on all positions on ours from Michelin.
They also help in tracking.
Don't buy block threaded tires like on some semi tires for off road or multipurpose they sing loudly or at least louder than ours.
As far as traction concerns I haven't seen any with either type design on our Mhs.
There is much more that I don't know than I do.
However City buses rather than run heavily threaded tires, in snow ran rather smooth treads, I was told on a few ocassions.
Why, I am not informed.
There should be a tire guy around here shortly?