Pneumatic Tire Side Protector with Geometric Land Ratios
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pneumatic tires face a trade-off between durability and cut resistance, with excessive numbers of carcass plies or thick buttresses increasing weight and reducing fuel efficiency, while existing tires with inner and outer apices lack sufficient cut resistance.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic tire design featuring a side protector with specific geometric ratios and a carcass interposed between first and second apices, which reduces the need for excessive plies or thickness, enhancing durability and cut resistance without compromising fuel efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a carcass including a large number of plies is used, then cut resistance is improved, but weight increases and fuel consumption performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by concentrating protective functions in specific zones rather than uniformly throughout the tire. The side protector with specific geometric ratios (R2>R1 and R2>R3) provides enhanced cut resistance locally at the sidewall, while the bead structure with inner and outer apices provides localized durability enhancement. This allows the tire to achieve high cut resistance without requiring excessive plies throughout the entire carcass, thereby reducing overall weight.
2Strength
If a buttress with a large thickness is used, then cut resistance is improved, but weight increases and fuel consumption performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The side protector design with specific geometric ratios provides localized reinforcement at the sidewall region where cut resistance is most needed. The protruding lands create a protective barrier against cutting forces without requiring thick buttresses throughout the tire structure. This localized approach maintains cut resistance while minimizing additional weight.
3Weight of moving object
If the number of carcass plies and buttress thickness are reduced, then weight decreases and fuel consumption improves, but cut resistance becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention compensates for reduced carcass plies and buttress thickness by implementing localized protective structures with enhanced geometric properties. The side protector with specific ratio requirements (R2>R1 and R2>R3) and the dual-apex bead structure provide concentrated protection in critical areas, allowing the tire to maintain adequate cut resistance with fewer plies and less overall material.
4Reliability
If a bead structure with inner apex and outer apex is used, then durability is improved, but cut resistance remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges two distinct protective features: the dual-apex bead structure (from prior art) and the side protector with specific geometric ratios. The bead structure with inner and outer apices provides durability enhancement at the bead region, while the additional side protector extending along the sidewall with protruding lands provides cut resistance protection. This combination allows the tire to achieve both improved durability and sufficient cut resistance simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
A tire includes a side protector at each side surface thereof. The tire satisfies mathematical formulas (1) and (2):R2>R1 (1)R2>R3 (2)wherein R1 represents a ratio of lands in a zone, of the side surface, between a position of a radially inner end of the side protector and a position at 70% of a height of the tire, R2 represents a ratio of lands in a zone, of the side surface, between the position at 70% of the height of the tire and a position at 85% of the height of the tire, and R3 represents a ratio of lands in a zone, of the side surface, between the position at 85% of the height of the tire and a position at 97% of the height of the tire.