Pneumatic Tire Connected Sipes for Ice Grip and Land Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pneumatic tire designs fail to balance the rigidity of the land portion with effective water drainage and on-ice gripping performance, as previous solutions did not adequately improve on-ice gripping capabilities.
Innovation Solution
The tire features connected sipes with a main portion extending in a predetermined direction and side portions extending at an angle, arranged alternately in the tire circumferential direction, which efficiently remove water while maintaining land portion rigidity by terminating within the land portion, allowing for higher sipe density and improved on-ice performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If sipes are disposed at high density to improve water drainage and on-ice gripping performance, then water drainage capability is improved, but the rigidity of the land portion is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sipes are segmented into main portions and side portions, with the side portions extending from the main portion at angles. This segmentation allows water to be drained through multiple pathways while the main portion maintains structural integrity. The side portions are arranged alternately on both sides of the main portion, creating a balanced configuration that preserves land portion rigidity while enhancing water drainage capability.
2Reliability
If sipes are disposed at high density to improve on-ice gripping performance, then on-ice gripping performance is improved, but the rigidity of the land portion is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sipe configuration implements local quality by having side portions extend only from specific locations of the main portion. The side portions are disposed alternately on both sides, creating localized water drainage pathways where needed while preserving the rigidity of the land portion in other areas. This localized approach allows high-density sipe arrangement for improved on-ice gripping without compromising overall structural rigidity.
Data Source
AI summary
The provided is a pneumatic tire having at least one land portion in a tread surface, wherein one or more connected sipes are disposed on at least one of the land portions, the connected sipes have a main portion extending in a first predetermined direction and a side portion extending from the main portion to a side of the main portion at an angle with respect to the first predetermined direction, the side portion has a first side portion disposed on one side of the main portion and a second side portion disposed on the other side of the main portion, and the first side portion and the second side portion are arranged alternately in the tire circumferential direction.