Multi-Layer Tire Tread with Localized Compound Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern tires face a conflict between achieving high grip for improved traction and safety, which leads to increased wear, and maintaining wear resistance to prolong tire life, as compounds optimized for grip are prone to wear.
Innovation Solution
A tire tread design featuring multiple layers, including a radially outer layer for grip and a radially inner layer for wear resistance, where the inner layer reaches the contact surface in specific regions, optimizing the contact area and stability, and using different rubber compounds for each layer to enhance performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the grip level is increased to improve traction and safety, then the tire's grip performance is improved, but the wear increases and tire lifetime is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The tire tread is segmented into multiple layers with different functions: a first outer layer made of grip-optimized compound and a second outer layer made of wear-resistant compound. This segmentation allows each layer to contribute its specialized properties to the overall tire performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the tread surface are assigned different material qualities. The first outer layer with grip-optimized compound is placed in specific contact regions where high traction is needed, while the second outer layer with wear-resistant compound is placed in regions where durability is prioritized, creating local quality variations across the tread.
Solution Approach 3:
The tire tread uses composite material construction by combining two different rubber compounds in a multi-layer structure. The first outer layer uses a compound optimized for grip properties, while the second outer layer uses a compound optimized for wear resistance, creating a composite tread that exhibits both high grip and durability.
2Ease of manufacture
If a single compound is used for the entire tread to simplify manufacturing, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the ability to simultaneously achieve high grip and wear resistance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The tread is divided into multiple manufacturable layers with distinct compounds. While this increases manufacturing steps compared to a single compound, each layer can be applied using standardized processes, and the segmentation enables performance optimization that would be impossible with a single compound.
Solution Approach 2:
Different material qualities are applied to different regions of the tread through the multi-layer structure. This allows the tire to be optimized for specific performance characteristics in different contact zones, enhancing adaptability and versatility.
Solution Approach 3:
The use of composite materials with different compounds in each layer provides the versatility to optimize for both grip and wear resistance simultaneously, overcoming the limitations of a single compound while maintaining manufacturability through established multi-layer tire manufacturing techniques.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a tire tread (2) comprising shoulder blocks (6, 10) and comprising at least one groove (26, 28, 30) and at least one rib (14,18, 22) providing an outer contact surface (100), further comprising a first radially outer layer (60) made of an outer tread rubber compound, further comprising a radially inner layer (66) made of an inner tread compound, wherein said inner layer (66) reaches radially through said at least one outer layer (60) to said contact surface (100) at least in one outer contact region (102) of said outer contact surface (100) in an unworn state of said tire tread (2) in such a way that said outer contact surface (100) comprises at least one region (102) of said outer layer (60) and at least one region of said inner layer (66),characterized in that a second outer layer (72) is provided which is arranged said the respective shoulder block (6, 10) and/or in said respective rib (14, 18, 22) and which is made of a rubber compound which is different from the rubber compound of said first outer layer (60).