Pneumatic Tire Sidewall Thickness Layout for Quiet Low-Resistance Running
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pneumatic tires face a challenge in achieving both improved quietness and suppressed rolling resistance, as thicker sidewalls can increase rolling resistance and reduce fuel efficiency, while protrusions may not sufficiently enhance quietness.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic tire design with a sidewall portion thickness in the tire radial region 1.0 to 4 mm thicker than the thinnest part, specifically in a radial region between positions spaced apart from the tire maximum width, to minimize rolling resistance while enhancing quietness by reducing vibration amplitude.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the sidewall portion is made thicker to suppress vibrations and improve quietness, then the quietness of the tire is improved, but the rolling resistance increases and fuel efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the sidewall portion thicker only in specific radial regions (between positions spaced apart from the tire maximum width position by 15% of tire cross-sectional height) rather than uniformly throughout. This localized thickening suppresses vibrations and improves quietness while minimizing the overall weight increase and rolling resistance penalty that would result from a uniformly thicker sidewall.
2Loss of energy
If the sidewall thickness is partially increased by providing a protrusion to minimize rolling resistance increase, then the rolling resistance is suppressed, but the improvement in quietness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent defines specific radial regions where the sidewall thickness is increased by 1.0 to 4.0 mm, located between positions spaced apart from the tire maximum width position by 15% of the tire cross-sectional height. This precise localization ensures sufficient vibration suppression for improved quietness while keeping the overall weight increase minimal to suppress rolling resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies quantitative parameters for the sidewall thickening: the thickness increase is controlled within 1.0 to 4.0 mm, and the radial position is defined as being between locations spaced 15% of the tire cross-sectional height from the maximum width position. These parameter changes optimize the balance between quietness improvement and rolling resistance suppression.
3Loss of energy
If the tire aspect ratio is reduced to lower the sidewall and improve fuel efficiency, then the rolling resistance decreases, but the quietness improvement becomes difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables quietness improvement in low aspect ratio tires (10 to 65) by applying localized sidewall thickening in specific radial regions. This allows the tire to maintain a low overall profile for fuel efficiency while creating local vibration suppression zones that improve quietness without requiring a higher overall aspect ratio.
Data Source
AI summary
In a pneumatic tire of this disclosure, in the reference condition, thickness of a sidewall portion in a tire radial region between positions each spaced apart, from a tire maximum width position, by 15% of tire cross-sectional height to inner side and outer side in the tire radial direction is 1.0 to 4 mm thicker than thickness of the thinnest part of the sidewall portion.