Offset Stabilizing Tire Tread Groove for Cornering Stiffness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tire treads face challenges in distributing contact pressure evenly, leading to uneven wear and stiffness issues, particularly during cornering and straight-line motion.
Innovation Solution
The tire tread features a stabilizing structure with axially offset subgrooves and angled sidewalls, which increase stiffness and mitigate cracking by frictional engagement, allowing for adjustable cornering stiffness without affecting straight-line movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a conventional tread construction with arched shoulder ribs is used, then contact pressure is distributed evenly and uneven wear is suppressed, but tread stiffness is insufficient during cornering
Solution Approach 1:
The tread is segmented into multiple functional zones: center rib, shoulder ribs, circumferential grooves, and radial grooves. The stabilizing structure is specifically positioned in the fourth circumferential groove to provide localized stiffness enhancement without compromising overall pressure distribution
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizing structure is selectively placed only in the fourth circumferential groove rather than uniformly across all grooves. This localized approach increases tread stiffness during cornering while maintaining even contact pressure distribution in other regions
2Strength
If tread stiffness is increased to improve cornering performance, then cornering stability is improved, but straight-line movement flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizing structure is positioned asymmetrically at an axial offset of 3-7mm from the centerline of the fourth circumferential groove. This asymmetric placement creates different mechanical characteristics for cornering versus straight-line motion, providing enhanced stiffness during cornering while maintaining flexibility during straight-line movement
Solution Approach 2:
The tread structure exhibits dynamic behavior where the stabilizing structure engages differently under various operating conditions. During cornering, the offset position creates beneficial stiffness, while during straight-line motion, the structure allows sufficient flexibility
3Reliability
If circumferential grooves are added to improve water evacuation, then wet road performance is improved, but tread stiffness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The groove system is segmented into circumferential grooves for water evacuation and radial grooves for structural support. The stabilizing structure in the fourth circumferential groove specifically compensates for the stiffness loss caused by the groove configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizing structure modifies the effective parameters of the fourth circumferential groove by adding radial thickness and positioning it at an axial offset. This changes the mechanical properties of the groove region to provide both water evacuation capability and enhanced stiffness
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 solution enhances tread stiffness and flexibility, reducing wear and improving performance during cornering while maintaining stability during straight-line motion, thereby optimizing tire performance.
Implementation Method 1
The stabilizing structure has a subgroove with a curved, cylindrical radially innermost surface for mitigating cracking and increasing axial flexibility of the stabilizing structures
Implementation Method 2
relative motion between the first sidewall and the second sidewall is prevented by a frictional engagement of the first sidewall and the second sidewall
Data Source
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AI summary
A tread for a tire (10) and a tire (10) comprising such a tread (11) is disclosed. The tread (11) comprises a circumferential groove (22) having a radially outermost and axially inner first groove edge (240) and a radially outermost and axially outer second groove edge (241). A centerline (227) or center plane of the circumferential groove (22) extends circumferentially along the circumferential groove (22) and axially in the middle between the first and second groove edge (240, 241). The circumferential groove (22) comprises a stabilizing structure (220) for increasing tread stiffness. The stabilizing structure (220) is axially offset a predetermined amount from the centerline (227) or center plane of the circumferential groove (22). The circumferential groove (22) has an angled axially inner sidewall (161, 171), an angled axially outer sidewall (162, 172), and a curved base surface (163, 173). The stabilizing structure (220) extends radially inward of the curved base surface (163, 173).