Heavy-Duty Tire RFID Placement for Durability and Ride Comfort

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Heavy duty tires incorporating RFID tags face challenges in balancing the impact of the tag on durability and ride comfort.

Innovation Solution

A heavy duty tire design with a carcass, tread, reinforcing layer, and RFID tag placement, utilizing a rubber composition with specific butadiene rubber and filler ratios, along with parallel belt cords and helically wound bands, adhering to a relational expression for optimal durability and comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If an RFID tag is incorporated into the tire, then tire data management capability is improved, but durability is worsened due to tag impact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetire data management capabilityVSAvoiddurability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A protective layer is introduced as an intermediary between the RFID tag and the tire structure. This protective layer shields the tag from mechanical stress and environmental factors, preventing tag failure while maintaining data management functionality. The protective layer acts as a buffer that absorbs stress before it reaches the tag.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If a rigid reinforcing layer is added to improve durability, then strength is improved, but ride comfort is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidride comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcing layer's material parameters are optimized to achieve a balance between strength and flexibility. By adjusting the cord density, material composition, and structural configuration of the reinforcing layer, the tire maintains high strength for durability while preserving sufficient flexibility for ride comfort. The reinforcing layer is designed with controlled stiffness rather than maximum rigidity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If the RFID tag is positioned near the bead for secure attachment, then tag positioning stability is improved, but durability is worsened due to high stress at the bead

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetag positioning stabilityVSAvoiddurability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The RFID tag positioning is moved from the high-stress bead region to the tread region, changing the spatial dimension of tag placement. This dimensional relocation places the tag in an area with lower mechanical stress and more stable environmental conditions, improving both tag longevity and maintaining positioning stability through alternative attachment methods in the tread area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4703150A1Heavy duty tire
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD
  • EP4703150A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4703150A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4703150A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A tire 2 includes a tread 4 formed from a rubber composition containing a rubber component including a butadiene rubber and a filler including carbon black and silica. An RFID tag 64 is positioned between an end FE of a turned-up portion 62 of a carcass ply 58 and a maximum width position PW. An amount CBR of the butadiene rubber is not less than 10 parts by mass. An amount BCB of the carbon black is less than an amount BSi of the silica. The amount CBR, the amount BCB, an inclination angle Ab of a belt cord 78 in a reference belt ply BP, and an inclination angle Aj of a band cord 84 in a reference full band BF satisfy the following relational expression. (CBR/BCB) × (Ab + Aj) ≥ 5.0