They usually sport a dense rubber sole that gives the wearer excellent traction on a variety of surfaces. There are different types of tennis shoes. Some tennis shoes are designed for casual leisure time activities while others are designed for specific sporting activities.
Sometimes the phrase tennis shoes is used interchangeably with the phrase athletic shoes to describe shoes worn in sports such as running, basketball and of course tennis. The original design of tennis shoes was pretty straightforward.
Over the years advances in material and production techniques have allowed tennis shoe manufacturers to keep up with the demand for better performing tennis shoes. And with DIY shoe repair, older pairs can be revamped, or retain their vintage look and still function well.
Manufacturers are constantly changing the style of their tennis shoes to suit changing fashions as well. For more styles, check out Wear Database.