Tire Tread Compound Distribution for Grip Trade-off
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need to improve the compromise between grip on dry ground and grip on wet ground for tires, particularly for those designed for sporty road driving, as existing tires face challenges in maintaining optimal grip performance across varying conditions and tire wear.
Innovation Solution
A tire design with a predetermined direction of mounting, where the tread portion traditionally reserved for better wet ground grip is made of a rubber compound with better dry ground grip, and the axial extent of these compounds varies with tread depth to maintain optimal grip as the tire wears, ensuring better performance and preventing aquaplaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the axial extent of rubber compound portions is fixed, then manufacturing is simplified, but grip performance deteriorates as the tire wears
Solution Approach 1:
The axial positions that define the boundaries between different rubber compound portions are configured to vary relative to tread depth. As the tire wears and tread depth decreases, the axial extent of each compound portion changes dynamically, maintaining optimal grip performance throughout the tire's service life rather than degrading with wear.
Data Source
AI summary
A tire comprising a tread portion designed to be worn off during the life of the tire having a radial thickness T, an outer edge and an inner edge, the axial distance between the outer edge and the inner edge defining the axial width L of the tread, the tread comprising four adjacent portions made of a four rubber compounds, wherein the rubber compounds making up the first and third portions are predominantly filled with carbon black filler, wherein the rubber compounds making up the second and fourth portion are predominantly filled with non carbon black filler, wherein the rubber compounds making up the first and third portions have a value for tan δ at 0° C., at a stress of 0.7 MPa, that is lower than that of the rubber compounds making up the second and fourth portion, and wherein the axial width of the first portion decreases and the axial width of the second portion increases as a function of the distance from the rolling surface of the tread when unworn.