Pneumatic Tire Polygonal Block Tread Pattern
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pneumatic tires face a challenge in simultaneously improving on-ice and on-snow performance, as measures to enhance one tend to degrade the other, and excessive sipes reduce block rigidity and ground-contact area, affecting both performance and quietness.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic tire design featuring polygonal blocks with optimized arrangements, including zigzag patterns and varying groove widths, which secures block rigidity and increases pattern edges, combining effective on-ice and on-snow performance while enhancing quietness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the number of sipes is increased to improve on-ice performance, then the edge element within the tread pattern is increased, but the block rigidity is lowered and ground-contact area is reduced due to bending deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The tread pattern is divided into multiple blocks with optimized sipe arrangements. Each block contains a specific number and configuration of sipes that provide ice-gripping edges while maintaining overall block structural integrity and rigidity
Solution Approach 2:
Sipes are strategically positioned within blocks to create local edge elements for ice performance, while the block structure itself maintains sufficient rigidity. The sipe depth, width, and spacing are locally optimized to balance edge generation with structural strength
2Reliability
If the groove area is increased to improve on-snow performance, then the negative ratio is increased, but the ground-contact area is reduced affecting on-ice performance
Solution Approach 1:
The tread is segmented into multiple blocks separated by grooves. The groove pattern is optimized to provide sufficient negative ratio for snow performance while maintaining adequate ground-contact area through strategic groove placement and width variation
Solution Approach 2:
The groove area is partially increased in specific regions to enhance snow performance, while other regions maintain larger ground-contact areas for ice performance, achieving a balanced compromise through spatial distribution
3Reliability
If small-sized blocks are arranged densely to increase pattern edges for on-ice performance, then the edges formed by peripheral borders are increased, but the block rigidity fluctuates affecting consistent performance
Solution Approach 1:
Blocks are arranged in asymmetric zigzag patterns rather than uniform grids. This asymmetric arrangement creates varied edge configurations that maintain consistent rigidity while providing sufficient pattern edges for ice performance
Solution Approach 2:
The block dimensions, spacing, and arrangement parameters are optimized to maintain consistent rigidity across different blocks. Parameters such as block width, length, and separation distances are carefully controlled to ensure uniform mechanical properties throughout the tread
4Object-affected harmful factors
If pitch variation is adopted to improve quietness of the tire, then the quietness is enhanced, but the block rigidity and edge amount fluctuate in the tire circumferential direction affecting on-ice performance
Solution Approach 1:
Pitch variation is applied locally in specific circumferential zones to reduce noise, while other zones maintain uniform pitch to preserve block rigidity and edge consistency for ice performance. Different regions of the tread have different pitch characteristics optimized for their specific functions
Data Source
AI summary
A pneumatic tire is disclosed, adapted to highly effectively combine on-ice and on-snow performances. The pneumatic tire includes block groups (G) formed by polygonal blocks (10), which are arranged closely in a tread portion (1). The polygonal blocks (10) are formed by grooves (9) including first groove (9a) with a groove width (W9a) between the polygonal blocks 10 neighboring with each other in the tire circumferential direction. The groove width (W9a) of the first grooves (9a) is larger than a groove width (W9b) of second grooves (9b) between the polygonal blocks 10 neighboring with each other with a zigzag pattern.