Tire Side Block Recess Structure for Traction and Weight Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tires face a trade-off between improving protection and traction performance, which can lead to increased weight and worsened fuel efficiency when side blocks are heightened.
Innovation Solution
A tire design featuring side blocks with inclined recess edges and varying heights, including a first region with a large protruding height and a second region with a smaller protruding height, connected by a step, to enhance protection and traction while minimizing weight increase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the height of side blocks is increased to improve protection and traction performance, then protection and traction are improved, but the weight of the tire increases
Solution Approach 1:
The side block is divided into multiple regions with different protruding heights (first region with larger height, second region with smaller height). This segmentation allows different parts of the side block to serve different functions: the higher first region provides protection against impacts from rocks and stones, while the lower second region reduces overall weight and minimizes fuel efficiency degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the side block are given different local qualities in terms of protruding height. The first region has a larger protruding height to enhance protection performance, while the second region has a smaller protruding height to control weight. This local differentiation optimizes the balance between protection and weight without uniformly increasing the entire side block height.
2Force
If the height of side blocks is increased to improve traction performance, then traction is improved, but the weight of the tire increases
Solution Approach 1:
The side block is segmented into regions with different heights to optimize traction. The inclined recess edges create multiple contact surfaces that can engage with the ground at different angles, improving traction force without requiring uniform height increase across the entire side block, thus controlling weight increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The side block design incorporates inclined recess edges that create three-dimensional contact surfaces. These inclined surfaces engage with the ground at optimal angles during vehicle operation, enhancing traction force through geometric configuration rather than simply increasing mass or height, thereby improving traction without proportional weight increase.
3Strength
If the height of side blocks is increased to improve protection performance, then protection is improved, but fuel efficiency worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The side block is divided into regions with different protruding heights, where only the necessary first region has larger height for protection, while the second region maintains smaller height. This selective height distribution provides adequate protection performance while minimizing unnecessary weight, thereby reducing the negative impact on fuel efficiency during vehicle operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different local regions of the side block are optimized for different purposes: the first region has larger protruding height localized for protection against impacts, while the second region has smaller height localized to control weight. This local quality differentiation ensures protection performance is achieved only where necessary, minimizing overall weight increase and preserving fuel efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
In a tire, a first side block comprises a first recess which opens so as to be directed toward a first circumferential direction, and a second recess which opens so as to be directed toward a second circumferential direction which is opposite the first circumferential direction in a tire circumferential direction. The first side block comprises a first region, a second region, and a first step which is between the first region and the second region and which is formed by a difference in heights by which the first region and the second region protrude.