Tire Shoulder Groove Design for Mud Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing tire design for improved off-road performance has a weakness at the junction positions where the groove width of shoulder axial grooves is smaller than transitional groove segments, leading to reduced mud block strength and traction performance, and inadequate mud ejecting capability.
Innovation Solution
The tire features zigzag shoulder main grooves with composite shoulder axial grooves formed by connecting shoulder axial grooves with oblique segments, ensuring a smooth and gradual increase in groove width, which enhances mud block strength and ejection, and includes middle axial grooves and sipes to improve traction and mud ejecting performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the groove width of shoulder axial grooves is made smaller than transitional groove segments to improve mud ejecting performance, then mud ejecting performance is improved, but the strength of mud blocks decreases and traction performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The groove width is designed to vary locally along the shoulder axial grooves, being narrower at the junction with shoulder main grooves to facilitate mud ejection, and gradually widening toward the tread edge to maintain mud block strength. This local variation in groove dimensions allows simultaneous optimization of both mud ejecting performance and traction performance.
2Ease of manufacture
If the groove width changes stepwise at junction positions to simplify manufacturing, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but mud block strength decreases and traction performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The groove width is designed to transition dynamically rather than abruptly, creating a gradual width variation along the shoulder axial grooves. This dynamic transition smooths the connection between different groove sections, maintaining structural integrity and mud block strength while still facilitating effective mud ejection.
3Productivity
If shoulder axial grooves are continued to transitional groove segments to improve mud ejecting performance, then mud ejecting performance is improved, but the shear force of mud blocks decreases and traction performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The groove width parameter is carefully controlled to change gradually rather than abruptly at junction positions. By adjusting the width parameter along the length of the shoulder axial grooves, the design optimizes both mud ejection capability and the shear force required for traction, preventing excessive reduction in mud block strength.
Data Source
AI summary
A tire having a tread portion with: zigzag shoulder main grooves having a trapezoidal wave form comprising first and second circumferential segments and first and second oblique segments; and shoulder axial grooves extending from the shoulder main grooves beyond the tread edges. The shoulder axial grooves are respectively smoothly continued to the first oblique segments or the second oblique segments so as to form composite shoulder axial grooves whose groove widths are smoothly increased toward the axially outside of the tire.