Tire Sidewall Insert Anchoring for Durable Custom Styling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tire sidewall designs face issues with color fading, mechanical degradation, and complex manufacturing due to chemical migration and deformation, while existing inserts cause mechanical behavior changes and mounting challenges.

Innovation Solution

A tire design with anchoring means featuring a circumferential recess and protuberance in the sidewall, allowing for secure attachment of a sidewall insert without disrupting aerodynamics or increasing rolling resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If a coloured rubber composition is used to personalize the sidewall, then the design is personalized, but the coloured composition deteriorates over time due to chemical migration, deformation, and mechanical rubbing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesidewall design personalizationVSAvoidcoloured composition durability

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sidewall insert is separated from the main tire structure, allowing the decorative element to be independently manufactured and installed. This segmentation prevents chemical migration between different rubber compositions while maintaining design personalization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sidewall insert acts as an intermediary element between the tire and the aesthetic requirement. It provides the colored personalization without requiring the main tire rubber to be colored, thus avoiding the deterioration issues associated with colored rubber compositions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Shape

If a decorative ring is mounted between the bead and the rim, then personalization is achieved, but the mechanical behavior of the tire and vehicle is modified

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesidewall design personalizationVSAvoidtire mechanical behavior

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The personalization is localized to the sidewall surface without affecting the internal structural components. The insert is positioned in the sidewall rather than between the bead and rim, ensuring that the mechanical behavior and stability of the tire-vehicle system remain unchanged.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Shape

If a lining element covering at least one third of the sidewall surface is installed, then personalization is achieved, but the element deforms and detaches in zones of high deflection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesidewall design personalizationVSAvoidinsert attachment stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of covering a large portion of the sidewall, the insert is localized to specific areas away from high deflection zones. This selective placement maintains personalization while avoiding the deformation and detachment problems that occur in high-stress areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The anchoring means is pre-formed in the tire sidewall before the insert is installed. This preliminary preparation ensures proper positioning and secure attachment, preventing deformation and detachment during tire operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Shape

If an insert is fixed by a recessed attachment means, then personalization is achieved, but mounting becomes difficult when the tire is inflated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesidewall design personalizationVSAvoidinsert mounting ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of having the insert fit into a recessed attachment means, the anchoring means is inverted to protrude from the sidewall surface. This inversion allows the insert to be easily mounted by sliding over the protruding anchoring elements, even when the tire is inflated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

5Shape

If chemical components migrate towards the coloured rubber composition, then the coloured means is achieved, but the coloured composition gradually loses colour

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoloured sidewall appearanceVSAvoidcoloured composition colour retention

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The colored sidewall appearance is achieved through a separate insert rather than coloring the main rubber composition. This segmentation prevents chemical migration from affecting the colored elements, as the insert is made from materials that do not undergo such migration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sidewall insert serves as an intermediary that provides the colored appearance without being part of the main rubber composition system. This eliminates the chemical interaction and migration issues that cause color loss in colored rubber compositions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12459307B2Tire comprising a sidewall insert

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 MICHELIN & CO (CIE GEN DES ESTAB MICHELIN)

AI summary

A tire (1) having at least one sidewall (3), intended to interact with a sidewall insert (9) by way of an anchor (6), and aims to personalize the design of the tire sidewall. The anchor has a recess (7) formed in an axially outer sidewall layer (30), with a protuberance (8), which is raised in relation to the recess bottom (71) and extends from the recess bottom (71) to the vicinity of the axially outer sidewall face (31) and the protuberance (8) has, in any meridian plane (YZ), a minimum width Lpmin in the vicinity of the recess bottom (71) so as to ensure the anchoring of the sidewall insert (9) intended to interact with the anchor (6).