Studded Pneumatic Tire Recess Geometry for Lower Road Wear

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Solution Overview

Problem

Pneumatic vehicle tires with spikes face challenges in minimizing damage to road surfaces when driving on ice- and snow-free roads while maintaining a tight fit of spikes in spike holes, as existing designs may cause the spike to warp or break out, leading to increased risk of road surface damage.

Innovation Solution

The design features a recess depth of 0.70 mm to 1.20 mm and a spike body distance to the tread periphery of at least 0.40 mm, ensuring a reduced load on the road surface and maintaining a minimum protrusion of 0.10 mm for a secure fit, with a pin end section protrusion of at least 1.00 mm for enhanced ice grip.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the spike body is positioned closer to the tread periphery to ensure firm fit in spike holes, then the spike fit reliability improves, but the damage to road surface increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespike fit reliabilityVSAvoidroad surface damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different functional zones within the tread structure. The recess provides a localized depression that allows the spike body to be positioned at an optimal distance from the tread periphery (0.20-0.50 mm), while the ice reservoir zone collects ice particles locally. This localized structural differentiation enables the spike to maintain firm fit without excessive proximity to the tread edge, thereby reducing road surface damage while ensuring reliable spike retention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If the spike body projection is increased to prevent warping by rubber material, then the spike fit stability improves, but the load on road surface increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespike fit stabilityVSAvoidload on road surface
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the projection of the spike body (0.10-0.40 mm) and the distance to tread periphery (0.20-0.50 mm) within specific ranges. These parameter optimizations ensure sufficient projection to prevent rubber warping and maintain spike stability, while simultaneously limiting the distance to reduce the load on the road surface. The recess depth (0.30-1.00 mm) is also controlled to achieve the balance between stability and reduced road impact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-generated harmful factors

If the distance between spike body and tread periphery is reduced to minimize road surface contact, then the road surface damage decreases, but the risk of spike warping increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroad surface damageVSAvoidspike fit reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the recess as an intermediary structural element between the spike body and the tread periphery. This recess creates a controlled environment that allows the spike body to be positioned at an optimal distance (0.20-0.50 mm) from the tread edge. The recess acts as a mediator that enables the spike to maintain sufficient projection for stability while being kept at a distance that minimizes road surface damage, thus resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Object-generated harmful factors

If the spike body projection is minimized to reduce road surface load, then the road surface damage reduces, but the spike may become crooked due to rubber warping

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroad surface damageVSAvoidspike orientation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by providing a minimal but sufficient projection of the spike body (0.10-0.40 mm) and maintaining a specific distance (0.20-0.50 mm) from the tread periphery. This partial projection is enough to prevent rubber warping and maintain spike orientation stability, while being minimized to reduce the load on the road surface. The recess depth is also controlled to provide just enough support to prevent crooked positioning without excessive projection that would increase road damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4474172A1Combination of a pneumatic vehicle tire and a spike, and pneumatic vehicle tire
Publication Date: 2024.12.11 CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
  • EP4474172A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4474172A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4474172A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a combination of a vehicle pneumatic tire and spikes (5), wherein the following relationships apply: hSK>tSL üSK=hSK−tSL tV>üSK aK=tV-üSK where hSK is the height of the spike body (5a), tSL is the depth of the spike hole (3), üSK is the protrusion of the spike body (5a) when the spike (5) is inserted, tV is the depth of the recess (2) and aK is the distance of the spike body (5a) to the tread periphery when the spike (5) is inserted, wherein the protrusion (üSK) of the spike body (5a) is at least 0.10 mm. The depth (tV) of the recess (2) is 0.70 mm to 1.20 mm and the distance (aK) of the spike body (5a) to the tread periphery when the spike (5) is inserted is at least 0.40 mm.