Three-Level Tyre Sipe Geometry for Wet Grip and Dry Stiffness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tyre treads face a challenge in maintaining performance on wet and/or snow-covered surfaces as they wear down, while also ensuring adequate stiffness and handling on dry surfaces when new.
Innovation Solution
A tyre tread with a 3-level sipe geometry that optimizes void percentage retention during wear, featuring a specific sipe extension and depth configuration with interference profiles for reversible locking, enhancing stiffness and traction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sipes are modeled with hidden voids to maintain void percentage during wear, then grip and traction on wet/snow surfaces is improved, but tread stiffness decreases and braking capacity on dry surfaces worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The sipe is divided into three distinct levels: a first level with a first void, a second level with a second void, and a third level with a third void. Each level serves specific functions - upper levels maintain void percentage for wet/snow grip, while the lower level provides structural support for stiffness without significantly increasing overall void volume.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the sipe are given different properties - the upper portions contain larger voids optimized for water/snow evacuation and grip, while the lower portion has reduced void space to maintain tread stiffness and structural integrity for dry surface performance.
2Reliability
If void percentage is increased to improve wet/snow performance, then grip and traction are improved, but tread stiffness decreases and handling on dry surfaces worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-level sipe structure segments the void space vertically, allowing the upper levels to provide adequate void percentage for wet/snow grip while the lower level maintains structural integrity, achieving a balance between wet/snow performance and dry surface handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional void distribution to a three-dimensional multi-level void structure, optimizing void placement in the vertical dimension to simultaneously achieve wet/snow grip and dry surface stiffness.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4A~4C
AI summary
The present invention relates to a tread for tyres. Specifically, it refers to a tread that features a 3-level tread geometry that is optimised in such a way as to ensure long-term high performance on wet and/or snow-covered surfaces, whilst maintaining the handling characteristics and braking capacity on dry and/or smooth surfaces under new tyre conditions.