Tire Block Sidewall Angle Gradient for Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tire treads designed for rough terrain experience stress concentration and block breaking or cracking under high load and speed conditions, particularly in motorcycle competitions like motocross, leading to reduced durability.
Innovation Solution
The tire design incorporates blocks with a ground contact top surface featuring a first edge and first sidewall surface, where the inner portion is steeper and the outer portion is gentler, with specific angle differences and length ratios to enhance base rigidity and traction, reducing the likelihood of block breaking away.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If blocks are provided on the tire tread for rough terrain, then traction is improved, but stress concentration occurs on block bases resulting in cracks or breaking away
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the inclined angles of the first sidewall surface at different axial positions. The inner portion (near tire equator) has a greater maximum inclined angle than the outer portion (near tread edge), creating localized structural variations that optimize both traction and stress distribution in different regions of the block
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements asymmetry by making the first sidewall surface non-uniform along the axial direction. The asymmetric configuration of the inner and outer portions with different inclined angles creates an optimized stress distribution pattern that prevents cracking while maintaining effective ground contact for traction
2Strength
If the first sidewall surface has a greater maximum inclined angle for the inner portion, then base rigidity is improved suppressing block breaking, but the circumferential length distribution must be optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by systematically varying the maximum inclined angle parameter along the axial direction of the first sidewall surface. The inner portion is assigned a greater maximum inclined angle parameter than the outer portion, creating an optimized gradient that enhances base rigidity while controlling geometric complexity through defined parameter ranges
Data Source
AI summary
A tire includes a tread portion including a tire equator, a tread edge located axially outwardly of the tire equator, and at least one block. The at least one block includes a ground contact top surface having an axially extending first edge, and a first sidewall surface extending radially inwardly from the first edge. The first sidewall surface includes an axially inner portion located on the tire equator side and an axially outer portion located on the tread edge side. A maximum inclined angle of the inner portion with respect to a tire normal is greater than a maximum inclined angle of the outer portion with respect to a tire normal.