Tire Groove Bottom Zigzag Geometry and Wall Angles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tires with zigzag groove bottoms to disperse strain and prevent damage suffer from uneven wear of adjacent tread land portions due to narrower axial widths, leading to issues like shoulder wear.
Innovation Solution
A tire design featuring a circumferentially extending main groove with a zigzag groove bottom that alternates in depth and angle, combined with strategically angled and inclined groove walls, which also includes a second land portion to distribute strain and maintain even wear across the tread.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the groove bottom extends in a zigzag manner to disperse strain and suppress damage, then the groove bottom damage is suppressed, but the axial widths of adjacent tread land portions become narrower leading to uneven wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the groove wall angles at different locations. Specifically, the outer groove wall angle θ2 is made larger than the inner groove wall angle θ1, creating different local geometries to optimize both strain dispersion and land portion width. This local differentiation allows the groove bottom zigzag configuration to suppress damage while preventing uneven wear on adjacent land portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes geometric parameters of the groove structure, specifically setting the outer groove wall angle θ2 larger than the inner groove wall angle θ1. This parameter modification optimizes the balance between strain dispersion (achieved through zigzag groove bottom) and land portion width maintenance, thereby resolving the contradiction between damage suppression and wear prevention.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the outer groove wall angle θ2 is increased to prevent uneven wear, then the first land portion width is maintained, but the strain distribution on the groove bottom may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating asymmetric groove wall angles where the outer groove wall angle θ2 is specifically made larger than the inner groove wall angle θ1. This local geometric differentiation optimizes the first land portion width to prevent uneven wear while the zigzag groove bottom configuration maintains effective strain distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the groove wall angle parameters, specifically setting θ2 > θ1 within optimized ranges. This parameter change achieves the dual objective of maintaining adequate land portion width to prevent shoulder wear while preserving the strain-dispersing zigzag groove bottom structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
A tire includes a tread portion being provided with a circumferentially extending main groove 3(5) to define a first land portion between the main groove 3(5) and a tread edge (Te). The main groove includes a groove bottom (10), an outer groove wall (12) extending radially outwardly and inclined toward the tread edge, and an inner groove wall (11) extending radially outwardly and inclined toward the tire equator (C). The groove bottom (10) extends in a zigzag manner in a tire circumferential direction in such a manner as to alternate between a first location where the groove bottom is located nearest to the tire equator (C) and a second location where the groove bottom is located nearest to the tread edge (Te). An angle θ2b of the outer groove wall (12) in a groove cross-section at the second location is greater than an angle θ1a of the inner groove wall (11) in a groove cross-section at the first location.