3D Tire Sipe Geometry for Wear-Stable Wet and Snow Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tire tread sipe geometry changes due to wear, leading to reduced adhesion on wet and snow-covered surfaces and accelerated wear on dry surfaces, while complex geometries complicate mold extraction and may cause micro-damage.
Innovation Solution
A tire tread with a sipe geometry featuring three levels of depth and spacing, optimizing void percentage and stiffness to maintain performance across surface types and facilitating mold extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If sipes are made deeper to facilitate mold extraction, then ease of manufacture is improved, but tread stiffness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sipe geometry features local variation in depth, with the greatest depth at the center and reduced depth toward the edges. This localized depth variation facilitates mold extraction from the center region while preserving tread stiffness at the edges, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and tread strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a uniform two-dimensional sipe cross-section to a three-dimensional varying depth profile. This dimensional change allows the sipe to provide extraction clearance in the central region while maintaining structural integrity at the boundaries, simultaneously improving manufacturability and preserving strength.
2Reliability
If sipe geometry is made complex to maintain adhesion performance, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention varies the depth parameter of the sipe geometry continuously from the center toward the edges, creating a gradient structure. This parameter change maintains adhesion performance by preserving biting edges while reducing overall geometric complexity compared to uniformly deep or highly variable sipe designs.
3Reliability
If void percentage is increased to improve wet and snow adhesion, then reliability is improved, but tread rigidity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The varying depth sipe geometry creates local variations in void distribution, with greater void volume in the center region for enhanced adhesion and reduced void volume at edges for maintained rigidity. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between wet/snow performance and overall tread stiffness.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a tread for tires. In particular, it refers to a tread that has a sipe geometry with 3 levels.