Motorcycle Tyre Tread Compound Split for Dry and Wet Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motorcycle tires struggle to balance high-performance handling and road holding in extreme conditions, such as extreme speed and maneuvering on dry and/or hot ground, while maintaining performance in wet and/or cold conditions, due to conflicting requirements for rubber compounds and tire structures.
Innovation Solution
A motorcycle tire design with a 'cap-and-base' structure featuring radially inner and outer portions made of vulcanized elastomeric materials with high silica and silicate fillers, controlled dynamic mechanical properties, and a specific tread pattern to enhance handling and road holding in various conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If carbon black filler is used in tread rubber compound for high-performance tyres in dry conditions and high temperatures, then handling performance and grip in dry/hot conditions is improved, but performance in wet and cold conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tread band is divided into different zones (shoulder portions and central crown portion) with different rubber compound compositions. The shoulder portions contain carbon black filler for optimal dry/hot condition performance, while the central crown portion contains silica filler for optimal wet/cold condition performance. This local differentiation allows each zone to excel in its specific function while the entire tread band maintains versatility across all conditions.
2Reliability
If rigid tyre structure is used for track use with deflated tyres, then ground-contacting area and readiness to extreme maneuvers are improved, but comfort and road holding ability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The tyre structure implements local rigidity differentiation through the cap-and-base architecture. The cap portion (tread band) provides localized rigidity for maneuver readiness where needed, while the base portion (carcass structure) maintains flexibility for comfort and road holding. This allows the tyre to exhibit rigid behavior during extreme maneuvers while remaining comfortable during normal road use.
Data Source
AI summary
A motorcycle tyre (1) is described comprising an equatorial plane (X-X) and a tread band (8) comprising a radially inner portion (13) and a radially outer portion (11) respectively comprising a first and a second vulcanized elastomeric material obtained by vulcanizing respective elastomeric materials comprising 100 phr of at least one elastomeric diene polymer, from 30 to 130 phr of at least one reinforcing filler comprising an amount greater than 75% or, respectively, equal to or greater than 80% of a white filler. In the tyre (1) the ratio R1 between the dynamic elastic modulus (E′) and the tandelta measured at a frequency of 10 Hz and at 70° C. of the first vulcanized elastomeric material is comprised between 27 and 35, whereas the ratio R2 between the dynamic elastic modulus (E′) and the tandelta measured at a frequency of 10 Hz and at 70° C. of the second vulcanized elastomeric material is comprised between 15 and 30, the ratio R1/R2 being greater than or equal to 1.1.