Off-Road Tire Tread Design for Fuel Efficiency and Abrasion Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tires used in harsh off-road conditions face challenges in achieving both excellent off-road running performance, fuel efficiency, and abrasion resistance, as existing evaluation methods like elongation at break do not fully capture these requirements and often result in trade-offs between these factors.
Innovation Solution
A tire design featuring a tread composed of 40-80% isoprene-based rubber with specific physical properties and a tread pattern characterized by a crown and shoulder parts with a predetermined land ratio and circumferential main groove depth, optimized to balance physical properties and tread pattern characteristics for improved off-road performance, fuel efficiency, and abrasion resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tread is designed with deep grooves and complex patterns for off-road performance, then off-road running performance is improved, but fuel efficiency deteriorates due to increased rolling resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the land ratio within 80-200% and groove depth within 5-20mm to optimize the balance between off-road performance and fuel efficiency. By adjusting these parameters within specific ranges, the tread pattern achieves both adequate traction for off-road conditions and sufficient contact area for fuel efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the tread structure into crown and shoulder parts with different land ratio requirements. The shoulder parts have land ratios of 80-200% of the crown part, creating localized optimization where shoulder areas provide enhanced off-road grip while the crown maintains fuel efficiency.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the tread rubber composition is optimized for abrasion resistance with hard compounds, then abrasion resistance is improved, but off-road running performance deteriorates due to reduced flexibility and grip
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the land ratio within 80-200% and groove depth within 5-20mm to optimize the balance between off-road performance and fuel efficiency. By adjusting these parameters within specific ranges, the tread pattern achieves both adequate traction for off-road conditions and sufficient contact area for fuel efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the tread structure into crown and shoulder parts with different land ratio requirements. The shoulder parts have land ratios of 80-200% of the crown part, creating localized optimization where shoulder areas provide enhanced off-road grip while the crown maintains fuel efficiency.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the tread pattern has high land ratio for fuel efficiency, then fuel efficiency is improved, but off-road running performance deteriorates due to reduced traction in harsh conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the land ratio within 80-200% and groove depth within 5-20mm to optimize the balance between off-road performance and fuel efficiency. By adjusting these parameters within specific ranges, the tread pattern achieves both adequate traction for off-road conditions and sufficient contact area for fuel efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the tread structure into crown and shoulder parts with different land ratio requirements. The shoulder parts have land ratios of 80-200% of the crown part, creating localized optimization where shoulder areas provide enhanced off-road grip while the crown maintains fuel efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The tire achieves excellent off-road running performance, maintains fuel efficiency, and enhances abrasion resistance by regulating the physical properties and tread pattern elements within specific ranges, ensuring a balanced performance across these criteria.
Implementation Method 1
when a tan δ at 30°C (tan δ 30°C) is A, A≥0.18
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a tire comprising a tread formed of a rubber composition comprising a rubber component comprising 40 to 80% by mass of an isoprene-based rubber, wherein the tire satisfies the following conditions (1) to (6): (1) when a tan δ at 30°C (tan δ30°C) is A, A≥0.18, (2) when a ratio (EB80°C/EB23°C) of an elongation at break at 80°C (EB80°C) to an elongation at break at 23°C (EB23°C) is B, 0.9≤B≤1.4, and (3) when an abrasion resistance index with a tire of Comparative example 1 being 100 as measured by a LAT tester is C, 110≤C≤140, (4) when a ratio (LANDSh/LANDCr) of a land ratio of the entire pair of shoulder parts (LANDSh) to a land ratio of the crown part (LANDCr) is D, 0.80≤D≤2.00, (5) when a maximum groove depth of the circumferential main groove is E (mm), 5≤E≤20, and (6) 25≤(B×C/A) × (D/E)≤200.