Studded Tire Stud Geometry for Grip With Lower Road Wear

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Solution Overview

Problem

Studded tires cause excessive road wear due to their design, which affects both economic and environmental sustainability, and they need to balance grip performance on icy surfaces with reduced wear.

Innovation Solution

The design of a stud for studded tires includes a pin made of hard metal or ceramic with a specific cross-sectional area and height configuration, and the arrangement of studs on the tire tread to minimize dynamic impact, using a combination of an underlayer and intermediate layer to optimize grip and wear resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If studs are used in studded tyres to improve grip on icy surfaces, then grip performance is improved, but road wear increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrip performanceVSAvoidroad wear
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the stud, specifically the ratio between the cross-sectional area of the pin and the height of the pin. By optimizing this area-to-height ratio, the stud achieves effective grip penetration while reducing the dynamic impact that causes road wear. This parameter optimization allows the same stud to perform both functions: maintaining grip reliability while minimizing harmful road wear effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite material construction for the stud, combining different materials with complementary properties. The pin is made from hard metal or ceramic materials to provide sufficient hardness for grip penetration, while the body uses materials that can be optimized for weight and impact absorption. This composite approach allows the critical pin portion to maintain grip effectiveness while the overall stud structure minimizes road wear through controlled dynamic characteristics

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If the pin is made harder to improve grip penetration, then grip performance is improved, but the stud may cause more road wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrip penetrationVSAvoidroad wear
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making only the pin portion hard (using hard metal or ceramic materials) while the body can use different materials. This localized hardness ensures the pin can effectively penetrate and grip icy surfaces, while the rest of the stud structure can be optimized for other properties such as weight, flexibility, or impact absorption, thereby reducing overall road wear without compromising grip penetration capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-generated harmful factors

If the stud design is optimized for reduced road wear, then road wear is reduced, but grip performance may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroad wearVSAvoidgrip performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the geometric parameters of the stud, specifically the ratio between the cross-sectional area of the pin and the height of the pin. By carefully selecting this area-to-height ratio, the design achieves a balance where the reduced height minimizes dynamic impact and road wear, while the optimized cross-sectional area maintains sufficient grip penetration capability. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between reduced road wear and maintained grip performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4461560A1A stud for a studded tyre
Publication Date: 2024.11.13 NOKIAN TYRES
  • EP4461560A1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1f
  • EP4461560A1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2f
  • EP4461560A1 patent drawingFigure 3ai~3div

AI summary

A stud (100) for improving grip of a tyre (200). The stud (100) comprises a body (120) comprising a base flange (140) and a second part (130), the second part (130) being joined to the base flange (140), and a pin (110) protruding from the second part (130) in the longitudinal direction (Sz) of the stud (100). The pin (110) comprises hard metal or ceramic. The base flange (140) has a first cross-section having a first area (A140). The pin (110) has a second cross-section having a second area (A110). A ratio (A140/A110) of the first area (A140) to the second area (A110) is 6.5 to 21. Moreover, the pin (110) protrudes a first height (H110) from the second part (130) such that a ratio (A140/H110) of the first area (A140) to the first height (H110) is 20 to 50 mm2/mm.