Pneumatic Tire Tread Groove Segmentation for Steering Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pneumatic tires face limitations in steering stability and drainage performance, despite improvements in wet performance and uneven wear resistance.
Innovation Solution
The tire features at least two main grooves extending in the tire circumferential direction, with a first land portion containing a first inclined groove and a first notched portion, where the groove width and inclination are optimized to enhance steering stability and drainage performance, and additional features like sipes with different angles are used to improve wear resistance and wet performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional grooves and sipes are disposed in the tread surface, then wet performance and uneven wear resistance are improved, but steering stability and drainage performance remain insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The groove is divided into multiple segments including a first groove portion, second groove portion, third groove portion, and fourth groove portion arranged in sequence. This segmentation allows each portion to serve specific functions: the first and second portions handle water evacuation, while the third and fourth portions maintain land portion rigidity for steering stability, thus resolving the contradiction between drainage performance and steering stability
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the groove are designed with different characteristics. The first and second groove portions are positioned to optimize water drainage, while the third and fourth groove portions are configured to preserve land portion stiffness. This local differentiation enables simultaneous improvement of drainage performance and steering stability without compromising overall tire performance
2Ease of operation
If grooves are extended across the land portion, then drainage performance is improved, but the rigidity of the land portion decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The groove is segmented into four distinct portions where the first and second portions are positioned to maximize water drainage efficiency, while the third and fourth portions are strategically located to minimize impact on land portion rigidity. This segmentation enables the groove to provide effective drainage while preserving the structural integrity needed for steering stability
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of extending the groove continuously across the entire land portion, only specific segments (first and second groove portions) are positioned to provide drainage functionality. The third and fourth groove portions are designed with reduced impact on land portion rigidity, applying partial action only where needed for drainage while preserving strength in critical areas
Data Source
AI summary
A pneumatic tire provided with, in a tread surface, at least two main circumferential grooves, and a first land portion defined by the two main grooves, wherein in the first land portion, the followings are disposed: a first inclined groove; inclining relative to a tire width direction, and having one end portion opening in the main groove on one side adjacent to the first land portion and the other end portion terminating within the first land portion, and a first notched portion; having one end in a tire width direction as a tip positioned at an endmost, in a tire width direction, of the other end portion of the first inclined groove and the other end in a tire width direction opening in the main groove on the other side adjacent to the first land portion.