Pneumatic Tire Groove Distribution for Steering Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pneumatic tires that reduce rolling resistance to improve fuel economy often compromise steering stability due to reduced ground contact width and cornering force, while increasing the outer diameter to maintain load capacity can enhance water drainage but at the expense of stability.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic tire design with a total width to outer diameter ratio of SW/OD ≤ 0.3, featuring grooves on the tread portion, where the groove area ratio in the center region is greater than in the shoulder region, and a specific distribution of groove areas to maintain adequate cornering force and water drainage properties, thereby reducing rolling resistance and improving steering stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the total width of the pneumatic tire is reduced to decrease the front projected area and reduce air resistance, then rolling resistance is reduced, but the ground contact width is reduced and cornering force is reduced, causing steering stability to deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different groove area ratios in different regions of the tread. The center region has a groove area ratio of 10-25% while the shoulder region has a groove area ratio of 0-10%, with the center region's groove area ratio being higher than the shoulder region's. This localized differentiation allows the center region to provide sufficient ground contact for steering stability while the overall reduced width lowers rolling resistance.
2Force
If the outer diameter of the pneumatic tire is increased to maintain constant load capacity when total width is reduced, then load capacity is maintained, but the ground contact length becomes comparatively longer, improving water drainage properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different groove area ratios in different regions of the tread. The center region has a groove area ratio of 10-25% while the shoulder region has a groove area ratio of 0-10%, with the center region's groove area ratio being higher than the shoulder region's. This localized differentiation allows the center region to provide sufficient ground contact for steering stability while the overall reduced width lowers rolling resistance.
3Loss of energy
If the ground contact width is reduced to reduce rolling resistance, then rolling resistance is reduced, but the cornering force is reduced, causing steering stability to deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different groove area ratios in different regions of the tread. The center region has a groove area ratio of 10-25% while the shoulder region has a groove area ratio of 0-10%, with the center region's groove area ratio being higher than the shoulder region's. This localized differentiation allows the center region to provide sufficient ground contact for steering stability while the overall reduced width lowers rolling resistance.
Data Source
AI summary
The present technology relates to a pneumatic tire in which the ratio of the total width SW and the outer diameter OD satisfies SW/OD≤0.3, and grooves are provided on the tread portion. In the ground contact region of the tread portion, when the groove area ratio in the ground contact area is GR, the ground contact width is W, the region having a width of 50% of the ground contact width W and the tire equatorial plane as center is the center region, the groove area ratio in the center region is GCR, the ground contact region on the outer side in the tire width direction of the center region is the shoulder region, and the groove area ratio in the shoulder region is GSR, the ground contact region of the tread portion is formed to satisfy 10%≤GR≤25% and GCR>GSR.