Asymmetric Spike Geometry for Vehicle Tyre Assembly Clarity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle tires face a conflict between achieving good lateral stability and traction/braking performance, particularly in modern tires optimized for rolling resistance, where spike confusion during assembly can lead to reduced usability and increased weight, affecting traction and braking efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle tire design with a tread profile featuring first spikes in lateral extension sections optimized for lateral force transmission and second spikes in the central section optimized for traction and braking, with distinct gripping edge contours and asymmetric spike tips to enhance grip and prevent confusion during assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If same spike shape is used throughout the tire, then manufacturing is simplified, but assembly confusion increases and usability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetry in the spike design by creating two distinct spike types with different symmetry axis orientations. First spikes have their symmetry axis at angle β to the circumferential direction, while second spikes have their symmetry axis at angle α to the axial direction. This asymmetric differentiation ensures that spikes can be easily distinguished during assembly, preventing confusion and incorrect installation, while still maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized production processes for each spike type.
2Loss of energy
If spike length is adapted to tread depth distribution (shorter in shoulder), then rolling resistance is reduced, but spike confusion during assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines local quality in two aspects: first, spike length is adapted locally to the tread depth distribution with shorter spikes in the shoulder section and longer spikes in the central section, optimizing rolling resistance. Second, spike orientation is differentiated locally with first spikes oriented for lateral guidance in shoulders and second spikes oriented for traction/braking in the center. The combination of length and orientation differentiation provides clear visual and functional distinction during assembly, eliminating confusion even though spikes are not uniform throughout the tire.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A vehicle tyre having a tread profile and spikes (1, 41) which are formed with a spike tip with an encircling grip edge (7, 47), having two axially lateral extent sections (22, 26), in which in each case exclusively first spikes (47) are formed, of the tread profile, and having an axially central extent section (23, 24, 25), which is formed between the two lateral extent sections (22, 26) and in which exclusively second spikes (1) are formed, of the tread profile, wherein the spike tip of the second spike (1) is, with the contour profile of the grip edge (7) thereof, formed symmetrically with respect to an axis which is oriented so as to enclose an angle β with respect to the circumferential direction U, where 0° ≤ β ≤ 20°, wherein the spike tip of the first spike (41) is, with the contour profile of the grip edge (47) thereof, formed symmetrically with respect to a first axis (m) which is oriented so as to enclose an angle α with respect to the axial direction A, where 0° ≤ α ≤ 35°, characterized in that the contour profile of the grip edge (47) of the first spike (41) has a different shape than the contour profile of the grip edge (7) of the second spike (1), and in that the spike tip of the first spike (41) is, with the contour profile of the grip edge (47) thereof, formed asymmetrically with respect to the planes perpendicular to the first axis (m) thereof, wherein the length (f) of the projection, formed in an axial direction, of the grip edge (47) of the first spike (41) is in each case greater than the length (e) of the projection, formed in an axial direction A, of the grip edge (7) of the second spike (1).