Tread and vehicle tyre with good suitability for the wet and snow

Abstract

A tread (1) for a vehicle tyre (2), wherein at least one circumferential groove (3) and at least one oblique groove (4) are formed in the tread (1), wherein the circumferential groove (3) is zigzag-shaped, wherein shoulder profile blocks (5) and central profile blocks (6) are formed in the tread (1). The oblique groove (4) extends from a first to a second axial profile edge (7), wherein, in the region of the central profile blocks (6), the oblique groove (4) has an inclination of on average at least 15° in the same direction with respect to the axial direction (A).

Description

[0001] 202406034

[0002] Treads and vehicle tires with good wet and snow performance

[0003] Description

[0004] The invention relates to a tread for a vehicle tire, wherein at least one circumferential groove and one oblique groove are formed in the tread, wherein the circumferential groove is zigzag-shaped and wherein shoulder profile blocks and middle profile blocks are formed in the tread.

[0005] Tire treads are typically provided with profiles, which in particular include grooves that can divide the tread into ribs and / or blocks. It is common to categorize ribs and blocks into shoulder and center profile elements, whereby the edge of a contact patch can run through shoulder blocks or ribs, and center blocks and ribs are arranged axially within the shoulder elements. Circumferential grooves are often the most defining feature of a tire's profile. It is known to give circumferential grooves a zigzag shape, which can, for example, improve a tire's traction. However, achieving high traction and high drainage performance simultaneously in such profiles remains a challenge.

[0006] The invention is based on the objective of creating a tread and vehicle tire with improved traction, in particular snow traction, with good drainage performance, without negatively influencing further conflicting objectives.

[0007] The problem is solved according to the invention by the fact that the inclined groove extends from a first to a second axial profile edge, wherein the inclined groove in the area of ​​the middle profile blocks has a uniform inclination of an average of at least 15° relative to the axial direction.

[0008] Internal 202406034

[0009] The invention finds a particularly efficient way to resolve the conflicting objectives by supplementing the zigzag-shaped circumferential groove with an inclined groove spanning the entire axial width. This contributes to the drainage capacity, with the large angles of inclination also adding a significant longitudinal component. At the same time, a wide edge is provided for additional traction, which, due to its inclination, also contributes a certain lateral component.

[0010] In this text, the terms axial, radial, and circumferential refer to the tread or tire as intended on a vehicle tire and its rolling motion. Radial direction refers to a direction perpendicular to and intersecting the tire's axis of rotation. Radially inward refers to the orientation facing radially toward the axis of rotation. Radially outward refers to the orientation facing radially away from the axis of rotation. Circumferential direction describes the direction of rolling motion around the axis of rotation.A tire positioned at the front of the circumference reaches a minimum distance to the road surface earlier during a 180° rotation of the tire when the vehicle is traveling forward than a tire positioned at the rear. The axial direction refers to a direction parallel to the axis of rotation. "Axially inward" refers to an orientation that is axially aligned with a tire equator, a tire equator plane, or a tire equator line. The tire equator plane is a plane perpendicular to the tire's axis of rotation that passes through the center of the tire's axial width, with the tire equator line lying within the tire equator plane and on the tire's surface. The lateral direction is defined as a direction consisting of components of the radial and / or axial directions.

[0011] Internal 202406034

[0012] All described features relate specifically to the new condition of the tread. The effects achieved with the features of the main claim can be supported and further enhanced by preferred embodiments and configurations.

[0013] The axial profile edges can be defined at the edge of a ground contact area or axially outside the ground contact area. The ground contact area can correspond to the statically determined footprint at a load of 70% of the maximum bearing capacity and an internal pressure of 85%, determined according to ETRTO standards. Because the inclined groove extends axially on both sides, according to the invention, to at least the edge of the ground contact area, excellent drainage from the ground contact area is ensured.

[0014] The inclined groove extends between the profile edges in such a way that a continuous negative volume exists between the profile edges and the inclined groove follows a continuous course without abrupt discontinuities. Preferably, the inclined groove has no corners or curves with radii smaller than 20 mm along its longitudinal path.

[0015] The diagonal groove exhibits a uniform inclination in the area of ​​the central tread blocks, meaning that along its longitudinal extent in the circumferential direction it is inclined exclusively away from or exclusively backwards, although it may also have a negligible directional component in the circumferential direction in certain sections. This contrasts with V-shaped grooves, such as those commonly found in winter or all-season tires.

[0016] The uniform slope allows for particularly efficient drainage through the inclined groove.

[0017] An average inclination angle can be determined using a straight line segment between the axial endpoints of the area of ​​the central profile blocks. Alternatively, local inclination angles along the sloping groove can be determined and their average calculated.

[0018] Internal 202406034

[0019] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the circumferential groove comprises zigzag segments with angles in a range between 5° and 15° relative to the circumferential direction, wherein preferably every second zigzag segment is oriented at such an angle. A zigzag segment is a straight section or at least a substantially straight section compared to the corners of the zigzag pattern. A zigzag pattern can be formed by a sequence of a pair of two zigzag segments having different angles of extension and connected at a corner. Adjacent zigzag segments can enclose angles in a range of 90° to 135° with each other. The angle range of 5° to 15° relative to the circumferential direction allows for a good compromise between additional traction and drainage capacity.

[0020] The circumferential groove, or one of the circumferential grooves, can run between the shoulder profile blocks and the middle profile blocks, with a zigzag segment of this circumferential groove extending circumferentially over two shoulder profile blocks. This can be achieved by arranging every second shoulder profile block axially offset from a circumferentially adjacent shoulder profile block, and every other second shoulder profile block in line with its adjacent shoulder profile block. The corresponding extension of the zigzag segment improves the flow characteristics.

[0021] The circumferential groove, or one of the circumferential grooves, can run between central profile blocks, with a zigzag segment of this circumferential groove extending circumferentially over a central profile block. This can be achieved by arranging each central profile block axially offset from a circumferentially adjacent central profile block. Such short zigzag segments and the correspondingly high number of corners create high traction.

[0022] Internal 202406034

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment, several circumferential grooves are formed in the tread, wherein at least one can run between the shoulder profile blocks and the middle profile blocks and at least one further can run between middle profile blocks.

[0024] The zigzag shape of the circumferential groove can be so pronounced that a closed circumferential line cannot be drawn through its volume. In other words, the circumferential groove can be designed in such a way that it is impossible to see through it in the circumferential direction because the view is obstructed by the groove walls, which are inclined relative to the circumferential direction due to the zigzag shape. This ensures a particularly high degree of traction.

[0025] The inclined groove can exhibit its greatest inclination relative to the axial direction at a point in the region of the central profile blocks. A maximum inclination exists when there is no greater inclination at any other point and when at least one other point has a smaller inclination. Preferably, the inclination of the inclined groove in the region of the central profile blocks increases from the axial outer edge towards the point of greatest inclination or can remain constant in sections. In particular, the inclined groove can have an approximately S-shaped profile. A steeper circumferential inclination towards the axial center of the tread is known from V-shaped profiles; the associated advantages can now surprisingly be transferred to a non-directional profile in the manner described.

[0026] The point of greatest inclination can be located 0% to 25% of the axial width of the area of ​​the central tread blocks adjacent to the tire equator. In particular, the S-shape of the slant groove can be point-symmetric to the tire equator or slightly offset from it.

[0027] The diagonal groove can have a continuous inclination of no more than 15° relative to the axial direction in the area of ​​the shoulder profile blocks. This creates a clear difference to the course in the axially central area.

[0028] Internal 202406034

[0029] This too is known in principle from v-shaped profiles, but surprisingly it can be transferred to the tread concept according to the invention.

[0030] The tread may have indentations, also called sipes. Indentations differ from tread grooves in their narrow width, typically less than 2 mm. According to a preferred embodiment, at least one indentation is formed in each shoulder tread block and / or each middle tread block, preferably with at least two indentations in each tread block. This allows for targeted improvement of the tread's wet and snow performance.

[0031] Preferably, several profile grooves running in the transverse and / or inclined direction are formed in the tread, wherein, in the circumferential direction, at least every second profile groove running in the transverse and / or inclined direction is an inclined groove as described above and / or below. This allows the advantageous effect of the inclined groove to be sufficiently realized. It may be advantageous not to form every second circumferential groove running in the transverse and / or inclined direction continuously between the profile edges in order to increase profile stiffness.

[0032] In particular, each pitch can be provided with an inclined groove according to the invention extending from the first to the second axial profile edge. The profile formed in the tread can comprise 25 to 45 pitches, in particular 30 to 40 pitches, which can be scaled within a conventional pitch length variation. The length of the zigzag segments and the angles of the zigzag segments and the inclined groove can also vary within a conventional range along with the pitch length variation.

[0033] The present invention further relates to a vehicle tire comprising a tread according to the invention, preferably a tread according to the invention as preferably described in the present text. Vehicle tires designed according to the invention are tires of any type, in particular

[0034] Internal 202406034

[0035] Radial tires, and tires of any type, in particular pneumatic tires for motor vehicles such as passenger cars, light trucks or commercial vehicles. The vehicle tires according to the invention can be designed for rim sizes in a range between 13 inches and 24 inches.

[0036] The vehicle tire may exhibit special winter suitability according to the "Three Peak Mountain Snow Flake" (3PMS) standard. This is certified by a 3PMS marking on a sidewall of the tire, which may be embossed into the sidewall material. The tread pattern described above and below can contribute to winter suitability; additionally, a suitable rubber compound can contribute to winter suitability, particularly in synergistic interaction with the tread pattern.

[0037] The tread can be further developed with additional features, which are described in connection with the vehicle tire according to the invention. The vehicle tire according to the invention can be further developed with additional features, which are described in connection with the tread according to the invention.

[0038] The invention is described below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings and advantageous embodiments. The drawings show:

[0039] Figure 1 schematically and in part shows a side view of an embodiment of a vehicle tire according to the invention,

[0040] Figure 2 schematically and in part shows a top view of an embodiment of a running track according to the invention.

[0041] Internal 202406034

[0042] Figure 1 shows a highly schematic side view of a vehicle tire 2, wherein an embodiment of a tread 1 according to the invention can be arranged on the outside in the radial direction R.

[0043] Figure 2 shows a partial top view of an embodiment of a tread strip according to the invention, with the axial direction A and the circumferential direction U indicated by arrows. The section shows the entire width of the tread strip 1 between a first and a second axial profile edge 7. The tread strip 1 comprises two rows of shoulder profile blocks 5 arranged in the circumferential direction U and four rows of middle profile blocks 6. The profile blocks 5, 6 are arranged offset from one another in the axial direction A such that zigzag-shaped circumferential grooves 3 are formed.

[0044] The course of a central circumferential groove 3 is outlined with a dashed line; a zigzag segment of the central circumferential groove 3 is visible between two black dots in the center of the drawing area, which serve to mark the figure. The zigzag segment has an angle of approximately 10° to the circumferential direction.

[0045] The course of a diagonal groove 4 is indicated by a dashed line. According to the embodiment shown, the diagonal groove has an S-shaped profile and extends continuously between the profile edges 7. A region of central profile blocks 6 lies between two black dots shown on the left and right of the figure; a straight line running between these dots has an inclination of approximately 26° to the axial direction, which corresponds to an average inclination of the diagonal groove 4 in the region of central profile blocks.

[0046] In the profile blocks 5, 6, incisions 8 are formed, which are shown schematically as lines in Figure 2. In the rows of shoulder profile blocks 5 and in two rows of middle profile blocks 6, two to three incisions 8 are formed in each block 5, 6; in these blocks 5, 6, the lamellae 8 run in

[0047] Internal 202406034

[0048] Essentially parallel to the inclined groove 4. In further two rows of medium profile blocks 6, the cuts 8 run at an angle between 20° and 70° to the inclined groove 4; this angular position allows more than three cuts 8 per block 6 to be provided without impairing the stiffness of the blocks 6 too much.

[0049] Internal 202406034

[0050] Reference symbol list

[0051] 1 tread

[0052] 2 vehicle tires

[0053] 3 circumferential groove

[0054] 4 diagonal grooves

[0055] 5 shoulder profile blocks

[0056] 6 medium profile blocks

[0057] 7 profile edges

[0058] 8 cut

[0059] A Axial direction

[0060] R Radial direction

[0061] U circumferential direction

[0062] Internal

Claims

202406034 Patent claims 1. Tread (1 ) for a vehicle tire (2), wherein at least one circumferential groove (3) and one inclined groove (4) are formed in the tread (1 ), wherein the circumferential groove (3) is zigzag-shaped, wherein shoulder profile blocks (5) and intermediate profile blocks (6) are formed in the tread (1 ), characterized in that the inclined groove (4) extends from a first to a second axial profile edge (7), wherein the inclined groove (4) has a uniform inclination of at least 15° on average relative to the axial direction (A) in the area of ​​the intermediate profile blocks (6).

2. Running strip (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the circumferential groove (3) comprises zigzag segments with angles in a range between 5° and 15° relative to the circumferential direction (U), wherein preferably every second zigzag segment is oriented at such an angle.

3. Running strip (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the circumferential groove (3) or one of the circumferential grooves (3) is located between the shoulder profile blocks (5) and the middle profile blocks (6), with a zigzag segment of this circumferential groove (3) extending circumferentially (U) over two shoulder profile blocks (5).

4. Tread (1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the circumferential groove (3) or one of the circumferential grooves (3) runs between middle profile blocks (6), wherein a zigzag segment of this circumferential groove (3) extends in circumferential direction (U) over a middle profile block (6).

5. Running strip (1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the zigzag shape of the circumferential groove (3) is so pronounced that no closed circumferential line can be laid through the volume of the circumferential groove (3). Internal 202406034 6. Running strip (1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the inclined groove (4) has its greatest inclination to the axial direction (A) at a point in the area of ​​the middle profile blocks (6).

7. Tread (1 ) according to claim 6, characterized in that the point 0% to 25% of an axial width of the area of ​​the central tread blocks (6) is arranged next to a tire equator.

8. Tread (1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the inclined groove (4) in the area of ​​the shoulder profile blocks (5) has a continuous inclination of at most 15° relative to the axial direction (A).

9. Running strip (1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that at least one incision (8), preferably at least two incisions (8) are formed in each shoulder profile block (5) and / or each middle profile block (6).

10. Tread (1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that several profile grooves extending in the transverse and / or inclined direction are formed in the tread (1 ), wherein in the circumferential direction at least every second of the profile grooves extending in the transverse and / or inclined direction is an inclined groove (4) according to one of the preceding claims.

11. Vehicle tire (2) comprising a tread (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. Vehicle tire (2) according to claim 11 , characterized in that a 3PMS marking is formed on a sidewall of the vehicle tire (2), thereby certifying the vehicle tire (2) as having special winter suitability in accordance with the “Three Peak Mountain Snow Flake” standard. Internal

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