Motorcycle Tire Sealant Layer Thickness Distribution for Steering Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing sealant tires for motorcycles suffer from deteriorated steering stability due to the rigidity imbalance caused by the sealant layer, which affects the tire's puncture prevention function.
Innovation Solution
A tire design with a tread portion having a convex arc contour shape and a sealant layer distribution where the thickness in the middle region is greater than in the center region, optimizing the radius of curvature and tread reinforcing cord layer to maintain steering stability while preventing punctures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealant layer is provided on the inner surface of the tire for puncture prevention, then puncture prevention function is improved, but steering stability deteriorates due to rigidity imbalance
Solution Approach 1:
The sealant layer thickness is varied across different regions of the tire. The middle region has a greater thickness (tm) than the center region (tc), creating local quality differences that balance the rigidity distribution. This localized thickness variation allows the tire to maintain puncture prevention while improving steering stability by compensating for rigidity imbalance in specific areas.
2Reliability
If the sealant layer thickness is increased for better puncture prevention, then puncture prevention function is improved, but steering stability and handling performance worsen due to excessive rigidity
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly increasing sealant layer thickness, the invention applies different thicknesses to different regions. The middle region receives greater thickness (tm) for puncture prevention, while the center region maintains smaller thickness (tc) to preserve steering responsiveness. This local differentiation allows the tire to achieve adequate puncture prevention without the negative effects of excessive overall rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the thickness parameter of the sealant layer across different spatial locations. By setting tm < 2.0 times T0 (total average thickness) and making tm greater than tc, the patent optimizes the thickness parameter distribution to balance puncture prevention capability with steering stability, avoiding the pitfalls of uniform thickness increase.
3Speed
If the tread portion has a convex arc contour shape with small radius of curvature, then steering responsiveness is improved, but the influence of sealant layer on rigidity balance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The convex arc contour shape with radius of curvature ≤300 mm provides good steering responsiveness. To counterbalance the increased rigidity influence from the sealant layer in this configuration, the invention varies the sealant layer thickness locally, with the middle region having greater thickness than the center region. This local thickness variation compensates for the rigidity imbalance caused by the convex arc shape.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces asymmetry in the sealant layer thickness distribution across the tire cross-section. The middle region thickness (tm) is deliberately made greater than the center region thickness (tc), creating an asymmetric thickness pattern that balances the rigidity distribution in tires with convex arc contour shapes, thereby maintaining both steering responsiveness and rigidity balance.
Data Source
AI summary
A tire 1 for a motorcycle comprises a tread portion 2 provided on an inner surface 2Si thereof with a sealant layer 11 for preventing puncture. In each half of a cross-sectional view of the tire 1, when the tread portion 2 is virtually divided into a center region 2C, a middle region 2M, and a shoulder region 2S, a thickness tm of the sealant layer 11 in the middle region 2M is larger than a thickness tc of the sealant layer 11 in the center region 2C.