Off-Road Motorcycle Tire Tread Blocks for Soft-Surface Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing two-wheeled vehicle tires struggle with grip and steering characteristics on soft road surfaces while maintaining performance on hard road surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A two-wheeled vehicle tire design featuring a tread portion with first blocks having a pair of block pieces connected by a tie-bar, where the tie-bar's outer surface increases in height towards the trailing side, and the block pieces' leading edges are inclined outwardly in the rotation direction, enhancing grip and steering on soft surfaces while maintaining performance on hard surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tire uses a conventional block pattern with tie-bars connecting blocks, then running performance on hard road surfaces is maintained, but grip and steering characteristics on soft road surfaces are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different block configurations for different regions of the tread. Specifically, first blocks have a unique structure with two block pieces and an inclined leading edge, while other blocks may have different configurations. This allows the tire to have localized areas optimized for soft surface grip while maintaining overall running performance on hard surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetry in the block design, particularly in the leading edge inclination of the block pieces. The leading edge is inclined relative to the tire circumferential direction, creating an asymmetric shape that enhances grip on soft surfaces while maintaining stability on hard surfaces. The tie-bar configuration also exhibits asymmetry with different heights at leading and trailing edges.
2Reliability
If the tie-bar has a flat outer surface, then manufacturing is simpler, but grip on soft road surfaces is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the tie-bar outer surface from a conventional flat configuration to one with varying heights. The tie-bar has a leading edge height and a trailing edge height, with the trailing edge being higher than the leading edge. This height variation parameter improves grip on soft surfaces while remaining manufacturable through standard molding processes.
3Reliability
If the block leading edge is vertical, then structural simplicity is maintained, but steering characteristics on soft surfaces deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetry in the block leading edge design, making it inclined rather than vertical. The leading edge of each block piece is inclined relative to the tire circumferential direction, creating an asymmetric shape that enhances steering characteristics on soft surfaces. This inclined geometry allows the block to better penetrate and grip soft terrain while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A two-wheeled vehicle tire for running on rough terrain includes a tread portion having a designated rotation direction. The tread portion includes at least one first block. The first block includes a pair of block pieces adjacent to each other in the tire axial direction, and a tie-bar connecting the block pieces. The tie-bar has an outer surface in the tire radial direction, and the outer surface of the tie-bar has a height increasing toward the trailing side in the rotation direction. The pair of block pieces each has an outer surface in the tire radial direction, and the outer surface of each block piece has an axially extending leading edge located on the leading side thereof. The leading edge of each block piece is inclined toward the trailing side in the rotation direction from the end on the tie-bar side outwardly in a block-width direction.