Directional Tire Tread Block Chamfers for Wet Grip Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current tires do not adequately improve wet performance, despite advancements in vehicle technology, as the arrangement and design of chamfered portions in tires bound for intended rotational directions require further optimization.
Innovation Solution
A tire design featuring a tread portion with blocks that include a heel-side edge connected directly to side surfaces without chamfers and a toe-side edge connected to side surfaces with chamfers, enhancing water evacuation and contact with the road surface, thereby improving wet performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chamfer portions are added to all edges of blocks in the tread portion, then wet performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases and wear resistance may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies chamfer portions selectively only to the toe-side side edges of the blocks, while the heel-side edges and other sides maintain sharp edges without chamfers. This local differentiation optimizes wet performance at the toe side where water evacuation is most critical, while preserving the structural integrity and wear resistance of the heel side and other regions.
2Reliability
If chamfer portions are added to blocks, then water evacuation is improved, but the block strength and wear resistance may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Chamfer portions are applied only to the toe-side side edges where water evacuation is most critical for wet performance. The heel-side edges and other sides maintain sharp edges that preserve block strength and wear resistance, creating a balanced design that optimizes water evacuation without compromising structural integrity.
3Reliability
If all edges of blocks are designed with chamfers, then wet performance is enhanced, but steering stability and directional control may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates an asymmetric edge configuration where the toe-side side edges have chamfer portions for water evacuation, while the heel-side edges maintain sharp edges for steering stability. This asymmetric design allows the tire to evacuate water effectively during rotation while preserving directional control and steering response.
Solution Approach 2:
Different edge treatments are applied to different sides of the blocks based on their functional requirements. The toe-side edges receive chamfers for wet performance, while heel-side edges remain sharp for steering stability, creating localized functional zones that optimize both wet traction and directional control.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A tire has a tread portion (2) bound with an intended rotational direction (R). The tread portion (2) is provided with at least one block (6). Each block (6) includes a ground contacting surface (8), which is defined by edges (7), and side surfaces (9) positioned radially inside the ground contacting surface (8). The edges (7) include a heel-side edge (10) located on a heel side in the rotational direction (R) and a toe-side side edge (20) extending toward a toe side in the rotational direction from the heel-side edge (10). The heel-side edge (10) is connected to one of the side surfaces (9) without having a chamfer portion (13) therebetween. At least a toe-side region (15), which is a region positioned on the toe side in the rotational direction, of the toe-side side edge (20) is connected to the side surfaces (9) each with the chamfer portion (13) therebetween.