Tire Tread Chevron Sipe Pattern for Chunking Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Tire treads are susceptible to chunking and cracking due to sipe patterns that weaken the tread blocks, leading to tearing and chipping, especially when subjected to side scrub.

Innovation Solution

Implementing chevron or offset chevron shaped sipes on the tire tread, which extend at a non-zero angle and intersect, providing increased resistance to chunking and cracking by enhancing the tread's structural integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If straight or constant bias angle sipes are cut across the tire tread, then traction is improved, but chunking and cracking resistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetractionVSAvoidchunking and cracking resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by transitioning from straight or constant bias angle sipes to chevron-shaped sipes with varying angles. The sipes are configured with a first angle relative to the circumferential direction at a first location and a second angle at a second location, creating an asymmetric pattern that improves both traction through water film cutting and chunking resistance through optimized stress distribution across the tread block edges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Object-affected harmful factors

If sipes are cut through the tread blocks, then water film cutting ability is improved, but tread block structural integrity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater film cutting abilityVSAvoidtread block structural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by varying the sipe angles at different locations within the tread block. The sipes have a first angle relative to the circumferential direction at a first location and a second angle at a second location, optimizing local water evacuation efficiency while maintaining overall structural integrity through the chevron configuration that distributes mechanical stresses more evenly across the tread block.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3496958B1Apparatuses and methods for improving chunking and cracking resistance of tires
Publication Date: 2021.06.09 BRIDGESTONE BANDAG LLC
  • EP3496958B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3496958B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3496958B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A tire includes a tire tread having a plurality of tread elements positioned thereon, and a plurality of grooves provided therebetween. A first set of sipes extend from a circumferential axis of the tire tread towards a first axial end of the tire tread at a non-zero angle with respect to an axial axis of the tire tread. A second set of sipes extend from the circumferential axis towards a second axial end of the tire tread opposite the first axial end at the non-zero angle such that a first sipe end of each of the first set of sipes may be positioned proximate to a second sipe end of each of the second set of sipes. Each of the first and second set of sipes extend beyond 50% of a half width of the tire, and have a sipe depth greater than 50% of a height of the plurality of tread elements.