Directional Tyre Tread Blocks with Segmented Angles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire treads with wide, rigid blocks suffer from rapid wear and increased jamming of stones and pebbles, leading to reduced durability and traction on winter roads.
Innovation Solution
A directional tread design featuring blocks with a central zone angled between 35° and 65°, an edge zone angled between 0° and 10°, and a groove width between 0.6 and 0.8 times the block height, along with an intermediate elastomeric layer and optional hooping layer, to reduce stone jamming and enhance durability and traction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the blocks are made wide and rigid to maintain structural integrity, then the tread structure is stable, but the tread wear increases rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The tread blocks are divided into multiple zones (central zone at 35-65°, edge zone at 0-10°, and junction zone) with different orientations and properties. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function while collectively improving overall tread durability without sacrificing necessary rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different zones of the tread blocks are given different local qualities - the central zone has higher rigidity for structural support, while the edge zone has lower rigidity to reduce stress concentration and wear. The groove width is locally optimized at 0.6-0.8 times block height in specific regions to balance durability and stone jamming resistance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the groove width is increased to reduce stone jamming, then stone retention is improved, but the block rigidity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The groove width parameter is precisely controlled within the range of 0.6 to 0.8 times the block height, representing an optimized parameter change that simultaneously reduces stone jamming while maintaining adequate block rigidity. This quantitative parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between groove functionality and structural integrity.
3Reliability
If the block orientation angle is increased to improve directional traction, then winter road grip is enhanced, but the tread wear pattern becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The block orientation is segmented into different angular zones - the central zone oriented at 35-65° for optimal winter traction, and the edge zone at 0-10° for stable wear pattern. This angular segmentation allows the tread to achieve both improved directional grip and uniform wear characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The tread blocks exhibit asymmetric orientation patterns with different angles in different zones, creating an asymmetric structure that optimizes both traction performance and wear distribution. The junction zone connects these asymmetric zones smoothly, ensuring load distribution across the tread.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~5
AI summary
A tyre (1) having a directional tread (2) comprising a plurality of blocks (5) separated by grooves (9), wherein all or a few of said blocks (5) have a median incision (10) of length S and each block comprises a central region extending generally at an angle β1, relative to a transverse direction (Y), such that 35° ≤ β1 ≤ 65°, an edge region extending generally at an angle β3, relative to the transverse direction (Y), such that 0° ≤ β3 ≤ 10°, and a region joining the central region and the edge region, the blocks (5) having a height H, for two adjacent blocks, such that the width W of a groove (9) separating these two blocks in the central region thereof is determined as follows: H*0,6 ≤ W ≤ H*0,8.