Tire Tread Cuts with Protuberances for Foreign Object Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tires with existing tread designs are prone to foreign objects entering sipes, which can lead to reduced endurance and performance, especially under low-temperature conditions due to inadequate stiffness and void geometry.
Innovation Solution
A passenger vehicle tire tread with transversely or obliquely oriented cuts, where at least half of the cuts have protuberances reducing their width to 0.2-0.5 mm, and a Shore A hardness of 48-57, a 12-20% energy loss at 60°C, and a glass transition temperature of -20°C to -10°C, reducing wedging forces and enhancing durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If cuts with width at most 2 mm and protuberances are provided in the tread, then tire stiffness is improved, but foreign objects can pass into the sipes and travel towards the internal reinforcing structure, reducing tire endurance
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different geometric configurations to different cuts in the tread pattern. Specifically, it distinguishes between first cuts (without protuberances) and second cuts (with protuberances that reduce local width to 0.2-0.5 mm). This local differentiation allows the tread to simultaneously achieve stiffness where needed and prevent foreign object penetration in vulnerable areas, resolving the contradiction between strength and reliability.
2Reliability
If the tread material hardness is increased to prevent foreign object penetration, then tire durability is improved, but wet grip performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the tread material's physical parameters within specific ranges: Shore A hardness of 48-57, glass transition temperature of -20°C to -10°C, and energy loss at 60°C of 12-20%. These parameter changes ensure the material is sufficiently hard to resist foreign object penetration while maintaining adequate softness for wet grip performance, thus resolving the contradiction between durability and harmful effects.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design effectively reduces the risk of foreign objects becoming wedged in sipes, improving tire endurance and maintaining performance balance, including wet grip, by optimizing the tread material's physical properties and void geometry.
Implementation Method 1
its Shore A hardness, measured in accordance with standard ASTM 2240 or DIN 53505, is at least equal to 48 and at most equal to 57
Implementation Method 2
its loss at 60° C., a loss of energy at 60° C. by rebound at a set energy level measured at the sixth impact and the value of which, expressed in %, is the difference between the energy supplied and the energy returned
Implementation Method 3
its glass transition temperature Tg, measured in accordance with standard ASTM D 5992-96, is at least equal to −20° C. and at most equal to −10° C.
Data Source
AI summary
Passenger vehicle tire, the tread having edge parts (11), provided with a plurality of transversely or obliquely oriented cuts (3) having a width at most equal to 2 mm and a depth at least equal to 75% of the thickness of the tread that is intended to be worn away, more than half of the cuts (3) comprising a protuberance that locally reduces the width of the cut (3) to a width at least equal to 0.2 mm and at most equal to 0.5 mm. The tread material which comes into contact with the road surface in the new state has a Shore A hardness at least equal to 48 and at most equal to 57, a loss at 60° C. at least equal to 12% and at most equal to 20%, a glass transition temperature Tg at least equal to −20° C. and at most equal to −10° C.