Directional Commercial Tire Tread for Wet and Winter Traction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing commercial vehicle tires face challenges in enhancing traction performance, particularly on ice, snow, and wet roads, with existing designs focusing on circumferential ribs rather than block treads.

Innovation Solution

The central tread area is designed with oblique grooves forming a V-shape across its width, terminating within the tread, and divided by cuts that create block-like profile structures with inclined grooves varying in angle to improve drainage and traction, especially under different driving conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the central tread area is provided with numerous slits and grooves to improve drainage on wet roads, then drainage performance is improved, but the tread structure becomes softer and less effective for traction on ice and snow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrainage performanceVSAvoidtread stiffness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The central tread area is segmented into multiple block-like profile structures by dividing cuts and further cuts, creating a balanced structure that provides both drainage channels and stiff load-bearing blocks for winter traction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the tread are given different properties: the block-like profile structures provide stiffness for winter traction while the grooves and cuts provide drainage channels, with each region optimized for its specific function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Duration of action of stationary object

If the tread is designed with circumferential ribs instead of block treads, then wear resistance is improved, but traction performance on ice, snow, and wet roads deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewear resistanceVSAvoidtraction performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The circumferential rib is segmented into block-like profile structures by dividing cuts and further cuts, combining the wear resistance of circumferential ribs with the traction benefits of block tread patterns

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tread structure is designed to be dynamically adaptable, with block-like structures that can deform under load to improve contact with the road surface while maintaining the overall circumferential rib structure for wear resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If further cuts are added to each block-like profile structure to improve drainage, then drainage capability is enhanced, but the block structures become less stiff and effective for cornering on snow and ice

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrainage capabilityVSAvoidblock structure stiffness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The further cuts are designed with specific dimensions (width 0.4-1.6mm, depth 60-100% of tread depth) to provide sufficient drainage while maintaining adequate block stiffness, using partial action rather than complete segmentation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The width and depth parameters of the further cuts are optimized to achieve the right balance between drainage capability and block stiffness, with cuts extending 60-100% of tread depth but maintaining narrow width to preserve structural integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4434767B1Commercial vehicle tyre
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
  • EP4434767B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4434767B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4434767B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a commercial vehicle tire with a directional tread (1) having a central tread area (3) which has block-like profile structures (3a) limited by division cuts (8), each of which is provided with further cuts (10).The central tread area (3) is provided with oblique grooves (7) extending towards each other in a V-shape across its maximum width (bb), wherein the division cuts (8) run between the oblique grooves (7) extending towards each other in a V-shape and a division cut (8) extends from the end of each oblique groove (7), wherein the further cuts (10) traverse the respective block-like profile structures (3a), are inclined with respect to the circumferential direction opposite to the oblique grooves (7) adjacent to the block-like profile structure (3a) and extend at angles (ε) to the axial direction, which increase stepwise from cut (10) to cut (10) starting from that further cut (10) which follows the corresponding division cut (8) against the rolling direction (R).