Snow Tire Tread Groove With Emerging Biting Edges

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tires with circumferential treads struggle to maintain traction and performance in snowy conditions as the tread wears down, leading to decreased gripping ability.

Innovation Solution

A tire design featuring a circumferential tread with a transverse groove that includes a varying depth and width, with protrusions emerging as the tread wears, enhancing traction by increasing the number of biting edges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the tread depth is increased to improve snow traction, then the initial gripping ability is improved, but the tread wears down faster and performance degrades over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesnow tractionVSAvoidtread lifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The tread is segmented into multiple functional layers: a wear layer that protects the protrusions, and multiple rows of protrusions at different depths. This segmentation allows the tire to maintain traction as the wear layer gradually exposes deeper protrusions during normal use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Protrusions are pre-positioned at various depths within the tread structure before the tire is put into service. The shallower protrusions provide immediate traction, while deeper protrusions are progressively exposed as the tread wears, ensuring continuous snow performance throughout the tire's lifespan.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If the tread pattern is simplified to reduce manufacturing complexity, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the number of biting edges is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetread manufacturingVSAvoidgrip on snowy surfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The tread features localized variations in protrusion depth and distribution. Different regions of the tread have optimally positioned protrusions for their specific functions, with varying depths and spacing patterns that maximize biting edges without requiring complex overall tread geometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the protrusions are positioned deeper in the tread to provide more biting edges, then snow grip is improved, but the protrusions are exposed faster during wear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebiting edge availabilityVSAvoidprotrusion exposure timeline

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The protrusion array is segmented into multiple depth zones. Shallower protrusions are protected by more tread material and exposed later, while deeper protrusions provide immediate biting edges. This vertical segmentation creates a staggered exposure timeline that extends the functional life of the snow features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3898284B1Tire with emerging snow feature

Publication Date: 2025.06.18 BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS TIRE OPERATIONS LLC

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AI summary

A tire includes a circumferential tread extending in a circumferential direction circumscribing an axis of rotation. The circumferential tread includes a transverse groove having a plurality of protrusions protruding from a bottom portion of the transverse groove. One or more of a depth, a width, and a length of the transverse groove decreases in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation. The plurality of protrusions are circumferentially spaced apart across the bottom portion of the transverse groove.