Tire Tread Covering Layer Composition for Wet Snow Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current snow tires face challenges in maintaining grip on wet and icy surfaces, particularly at low temperatures, while existing solutions do not adequately enhance grip performance on both wet and snowy grounds simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A tire tread design featuring tread pattern elements with a first rubber composition covered by a second rubber composition, comprising a specific formulation of polyisoprene, styrene-butadiene copolymer, reinforcing inorganic filler, and hydrocarbon resin, which improves grip on wet surfaces and maintains performance on snowy surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the covering layer is made very rigid with high filler content, then snow grip is enhanced, but flexibility and adaptability to wet surfaces are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls the composition parameters of the covering rubber composition, specifically the ratios of fillers (silica, carbon black), plasticizers, and curing agents. By optimizing these parameters, the covering layer achieves the desired rigidity for snow grip while maintaining sufficient flexibility and adaptability for wet surface contact, preventing the layer from being overly rigid.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A tire having improved grip on low and high wet temperature conditions is provided, wherein each tread pattern element (1) of a tread of the tire comprises a first rubber composition (FC) at least partially covered on at least one lateral face (13, 14, 15, 16) with a layer of a second rubber composition (SC) which is based on an elastomer matrix comprising between 40 and 70 phr of a first diene elastomer which is polyisoprene(s) and between 30 and 60 phr of a second diene elastomer which is styrene-butadiene copolymer(s); a reinforcing filler comprising more than 100 phr of a reinforcing inorganic filler; and a plasticizing agent comprising more than 30 phr of hydrocarbon resin(s) having a glass transition temperature of more than 20℃, and comprising no liquid plasticizer(s) or less than 30 phr of liquid plasticizer(s).