Pneumatic Tire Sipe Chamfering for Wet and Dry Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pneumatic tires face a trade-off between steering stability on dry and wet road surfaces, as numerous sipes improve wet surface stability but reduce dry surface stability and increase noise, and existing chamfered sipe designs fail to balance these factors effectively.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic tire design with sipes having chamfered edges on both sides and non-chamfered regions, where the total projected area of chamfered portions on the vehicle mounting inner side is greater than on the outer side, enhancing drainage and reducing noise by minimizing the chamfered area, thus improving stability on both dry and wet surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large number of sipes are disposed in the tread portion to improve steering stability on wet road surfaces, then drainage properties are improved, but the rigidity of the ribs decreases and steering stability on dry road surfaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing chamfered portions only at specific locations (edges on leading and trailing sides of sipes) rather than uniformly across the entire sipe structure. This localized chamfering improves drainage at critical water ejection points while preserving rib rigidity in other areas, resolving the contradiction between wet surface stability and dry surface rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetry by making the total projected area of chamfered portions on the vehicle mounting inner side (AIN) greater than on the outer side (AOUT). This asymmetric configuration optimizes water drainage directionality while maintaining structural balance, allowing improved wet performance without compromising overall rib strength.
2Reliability
If a large number of sipes are disposed in the tread portion to improve steering stability on wet road surfaces, then drainage properties are improved, but noise performance deteriorates due to increased popping sound and pattern noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by limiting chamfered portions to specific edge locations rather than covering the entire sipe surface. This localized approach minimizes the total chamfered area, reducing the number of noise-generating edges while preserving drainage functionality at critical locations, thus improving noise performance while maintaining wet surface stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the noise-generating characteristic by minimizing the chamfered area through selective placement rather than extensive coverage. By taking out only the essential chamfered portions needed for drainage and removing unnecessary chamfered areas, the patent reduces popping sound and pattern noise while maintaining the core drainage function for wet surface performance.
3Reliability
If chamfered portions are extended to maximize drainage effect, then steering stability on wet road surfaces is improved, but the chamfered area increases and steering stability on dry road surfaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating chamfered portions only at the edges on the leading and trailing sides of sipes where drainage is most critical. This localized placement maximizes the drainage effect at key locations while minimizing the total chamfered area, thereby improving wet surface stability without significantly compromising dry surface performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by providing chamfered portions only at specific edge locations rather than uniformly across the entire sipe. This partial chamfering provides sufficient drainage capability for wet surface stability while avoiding excessive chamfered area that would compromise rib rigidity and dry surface steering stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design achieves improved steering stability on both dry and wet surfaces while reducing noise through effective water film removal and minimized ground contact pressure, balancing performance across different road conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a non-chamfered region in which other chamfered portions are not present is provided at portions facing the chamfered portions of the sipe. Thus, the drainage effect can be improved with the chamfered portions, and a water film can be effectively removed by the edge effect in the non-chamfered regions.
Data Source
AI summary
In a pneumatic tire, a sipe includes an edge on a leading side and an edge on a trailing side; the edge on the leading side and the edge on the trailing side each include a chamfered portion shorter than a sipe length of the sipe; a non-chamfered region in which other chamfered portions are not present is provided at portions facing the chamfered portions of the sipe; and for all chamfered portions, including at least the chamfered portions of the sipe, formed on grooves other than main grooves, a total projected area AIN of the chamfered portions located on a vehicle mounting inner side and a total projected area AOUT of the chamfered portions located on a vehicle mounting outer side satisfy a relationship AIN>AOUT.