Studless Tire Sipe Layout for Ice Grip and Land Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pneumatic tire designs struggle to balance the rigidity of the land portion with effective water drainage and on-ice gripping performance, particularly in studless tires.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic tire design featuring connected minute sipes on land portions, arranged in a specific configuration to form sipe units, with controlled sipe density and phase shifts, enhancing water drainage and maintaining rigidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If sipes are disposed at high density to improve water drainage and on-ice gripping performance, then water drainage capability is improved, but rigidity of the land portion is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the continuous sipe structure into discrete minute sipes (first, second, and third minute sipes) with specific length ranges. This segmentation allows water drainage functionality to be distributed across multiple small openings while preserving the structural integrity of the land portion between sipes, thus resolving the contradiction between drainage capability and rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different sipe configurations to different regions of the tread. Minute sipes are strategically positioned in specific land portions where water drainage is most needed, while other regions maintain higher rigidity. This localized approach allows optimization of drainage performance in critical areas without compromising overall structural strength.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If sipes are made deeper to improve on-ice gripping performance, then gripping performance is improved, but rigidity of the land portion is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements sipes with depth of 3mm or more, which is sufficient to penetrate through typical ice layers and reach the road surface. This excessive depth ensures effective gripping performance on ice while the segmented configuration and strategic positioning prevent excessive rigidity loss in the land portion.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If connected sipes are formed by connecting first, second, and third minute sipes, then water drainage path is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines three separate minute sipes (first, second, and third) into a connected sipe structure where they share common endpoints. This merging creates an integrated water drainage pathway that spans across the land portion, improving drainage efficiency while the modular three-component design keeps manufacturing complexity manageable.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a pneumatic tire in which sipe units with minute sipes are repeatedly arranged in a land portion; at least one end in an extending direction of the minute sipe of at least one of the minute sipes terminates within the land portion; w1(w2) × h is 150 (mm2) or less, and a sipe density is 0.15 (1/mm) or more.