Tire Sipe Oscillation Design for Ice Traction and Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tires with sipes tend to open widely when rotating, leading to increased slip between the sipe edges and the road surface, causing uneven wear and compromising on-ice performance and wear resistance.
Innovation Solution
The tire tread portion features a unique sipe design with bent repeat units forming acute angles, including oscillated portions that extend in the tire radial direction, which prevent excessive opening and enhance frictional force and rigidity, thereby improving braking performance on ice and reducing uneven wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sipes are provided in the tread portion to improve on-ice performance, then traction on ice is improved, but the sipes open widely when the tire rotates causing uneven wear
Solution Approach 1:
The sipe is designed with a curved cross-sectional shape instead of a straight configuration. The oscillated portion creates a wave-like curvature that allows the sipe to flex and maintain contact between the sipe walls during tire rotation, preventing the sipe from opening widely and reducing uneven wear while preserving on-ice traction performance
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the sipe by introducing an oscillated portion with specific dimensions. The amplitude and wavelength of the oscillation are controlled to optimize the balance between maintaining sipe closure (reducing wear) and allowing sufficient opening for snow/ice evacuation (maintaining traction). This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between wear resistance and on-ice performance
2Productivity
If sipes are made deeper to enhance snow and ice evacuation, then on-ice braking performance is improved, but the sipe walls separate excessively leading to increased wear
Solution Approach 1:
The curved cross-sectional shape of the sipe with oscillated portions allows the sipe to maintain structural integrity while accommodating deeper penetration into snow and ice. The curvature enables the sipe walls to follow each other's movement more closely, reducing separation and wear even when the sipe is deeper for enhanced evacuation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a lateral dimension to the sipe structure through the oscillated portions that extend in the tire radial direction. This creates a three-dimensional configuration where the sipe can evacuate snow and ice effectively while the oscillated portions provide lateral support to keep the sipe walls in contact, reducing wear caused by excessive separation
3Ease of manufacture
If the sipe structure is simplified to reduce manufacturing complexity, then ease of manufacture is improved, but the ability to prevent sipe opening and reduce uneven wear is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The sipe is segmented into distinct portions: a first sipe segment, an oscillated portion with multiple oscillating sections, and a second sipe segment. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall manufacturability. The oscillated portion can be formed using standard tire molding techniques, making the complex shape practical to manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The invention defines specific parameter ranges for the oscillated portion (amplitude, wavelength, number of oscillations) that can be adjusted based on tire size and application. These parameter specifications provide clear manufacturing guidelines while achieving the desired wear resistance, balancing manufacturing ease with performance requirements
Data Source
AI summary
A tire comprises a tread portion. The tread portion is provided with a sipe. The sipe comprises four sipe segments: a first sipe segment, a second sipe segment, a third sipe segment, and a fourth sipe segment. At least one of the first sipe segment and the third sipe segment comprises an oscillated portion which extends in the radial direction of the tire, while oscillating in a lateral direction orthogonal to the length direction of the sipe in a cross section of the sipe orthogonal to the length direction. Each of the first sipe segment and the third sipe segment comprises the oscillated portion including an oscillating-start portion, and the oscillating-start portion of the first sipe segment is inclined with respect to the tire radial direction in the same direction as the oscillating-start portion of the third sipe segment.