Finite element modeling of the interaction of a treaded tire with clay-loam soil

•A method based on plaster molding of footprint was used to obtain contact area and contact volume.•Tire-soil relation including tire tread were analyzed with Abaqus software.•In the top soil layer the tire tread showed different effects in whole contact surface.•In the sub-soil, the impact of tire tread is negligible and the vertical displacement diagram takes on a parabolic shape.•Increasing soil moisture will extent the zone of soil that tolerates the maximum stress.