Pneumatic Tire Sidewall Projecting Portions Traction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pneumatic tires with projecting portions in the tire width-direction struggle to adequately exhibit traction performance due to deformation in the tire circumferential-direction, which reduces their effectiveness on mud and rocky surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic tire design featuring sidewall portions with projecting and reinforcing elements that differ in projecting amount, connected in the tire circumferential-direction, with specific configurations for the placement and dimensions of these elements to enhance traction, including annular protrusion portions and tread grooves that communicate with space formed by projecting and reinforcing portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If projecting portions are provided in the sidewall portion to enhance traction on mud and rocky areas, then traction performance is improved through resistance and friction, but the projecting portions greatly deform in the tire circumferential-direction causing insufficient traction performance
Solution Approach 1:
The sidewall portion is divided into multiple projecting portions that are spaced apart from each other in the tire circumferential direction. Each projecting portion acts as an independent element that maintains its shape while collectively providing enhanced traction on mud and rocky surfaces through resistance and friction.
Solution Approach 2:
The sidewall portion is designed with non-uniform thickness, creating localized thicker regions that form the projecting portions. These localized thicker portions have greater rigidity and resistance to deformation in the tire circumferential direction, while maintaining the overall flexibility of the sidewall.
2Strength
If the sidewall portion is made thicker to increase rigidity of projecting portions, then deformation is suppressed and traction performance is improved, but the overall tire weight and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than uniformly thickening the entire sidewall portion, the invention applies localized thickness variations only in specific regions where projecting portions are needed. This approach increases rigidity where required while maintaining overall tire simplicity and avoiding unnecessary weight increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The sidewall thickness is segmented into different regions: thicker regions forming projecting portions for rigidity, and thinner regions for flexibility. This segmentation allows the sidewall to achieve the necessary strength without uniformly increasing complexity throughout the entire structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A pneumatic tire includes a sidewall portion extending in a tire radial-direction. The sidewall portion includes a plurality of projecting portions projecting in a tire width-direction, and at least one reinforcing portion which is at least partly different in a projecting amount from a projecting amount of the projecting portions at the same position in the tire radial-direction, and is connected to the projecting portion in a tire circumferential-direction.