Tire Tread Sipe Microgrooves for Block Deformation Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle tires with tread features fail to effectively enhance frictional energy between cut walls under load, leading to undesirable deformation of profile positives.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of microgrooves and bridges on opposing cut walls that run parallel to each other, with specific dimensions and cross-sectional shapes, to enhance frictional energy and prevent deformation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If microgrooves and bridges are added to cut walls to increase frictional energy, then deformation resistance improves, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeformation resistanceVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cut wall surface is segmented into multiple microgrooves and bridges, dividing the continuous surface into discrete geometric features that increase frictional energy while maintaining manufacturability through standardized patterns

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The microgroove and bridge structures are applied locally to the cut wall surfaces where frictional contact occurs, concentrating the complexity only where needed to improve deformation resistance without affecting other tire components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Force

If microgrooves with larger depth and width are used to increase interlocking, then frictional energy increases, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrictional energyVSAvoidmicrogroove dimension precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention specifies optimized parameter ranges for microgroove depth (0.10-1.00 mm) and width (0.10-1.00 mm) that balance frictional energy generation with achievable manufacturing precision, avoiding excessively small or large dimensions that would be difficult to control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Force

If non-parallel microgrooves are used to increase interlocking, then frictional energy improves, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrictional energyVSAvoidmicrogroove arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

While maintaining overall symmetry in the tire tread, the microgrooves are arranged asymmetrically on opposing cut walls with non-parallel orientations, creating interlocking patterns that generate frictional energy while using simple geometric forms that are easy to manufacture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

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 parallel microgrooves and bridges significantly increase frictional energy between cut walls, effectively preventing deformation and enhancing tire performance under load.

Implementation Method 1

mutual contact takes place between the cut walls of cuts in the tread under load, which causes a particularly effective increase in the frictional energy between the cut walls and therefore counteracts deformation of the profile positive under load particularly well

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4696524A1Vehicle tyre
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
  • EP4696524A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4696524A1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP4696524A1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

Vehicle tires with a tread featuring profile positives, such as profile blocks (1) or profile ribs, with cuts (4) having two radially extending cut walls (5, 5') which have a mutually constant distance from each other, corresponding to the cut width (b1), of 0.30 mm to 1.50 mm, in particular 0.40 mm to 1.00 mm, wherein each cut wall (5, 5') is provided with a structure of parallel microgrooves (6) and bridges (7) located at the level of the cut walls (5, 5') between the microgrooves (6), wherein the microgrooves (6) have a depth (t2) determined perpendicular to the cut walls (5, 5') of 0.10 mm to 1.00 mm and a width (b2) determined at the level of the cut walls (5, 5') of 0.10 mm to 1.00 mm, and wherein the structures the microgrooves (6) and bridges (7) on the two incision walls (5, 5') are identical and consist of microgrooves (6) of the same dimensions.The microgrooves (6) on one incision wall (5) run parallel to the microgrooves (6) on the opposite incision wall (5').