Tire Tread Groove Segmentation for Stability and Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tires with inclined primary and auxiliary grooves that reach the tread edge suffer from reduced shoulder rigidity, leading to decreased driving stability and drainage performance when turning.
Innovation Solution
A tire design featuring primary and auxiliary inclined grooves where the primary grooves extend beyond the tread edge and the auxiliary grooves terminate before it, with varying inclination angles and groove widths to maintain rigidity and drainage efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If both inclined primary grooves and inclined auxiliary grooves reach the tread edge, then drainage performance is improved, but shoulder rigidity is decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The lug grooves are segmented into two distinct types: primary inclined grooves that extend to the tread edge for drainage, and auxiliary inclined grooves that terminate before the tread edge to preserve shoulder rigidity. This segmentation allows each groove type to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different groove configurations are applied to different regions of the tread pattern. Primary grooves with specific inclination angles are positioned where drainage is critical, while auxiliary grooves with different characteristics are positioned where structural integrity is prioritized, creating local optimization of both drainage and rigidity.
2Productivity
If inclined primary grooves and inclined auxiliary grooves are alternately provided with varying lengths, then drainage efficiency is enhanced, but contact area is reduced during turning
Solution Approach 1:
The primary inclined grooves extend partially to the tread edge rather than fully reaching it, and auxiliary grooves terminate even earlier. This partial extension provides sufficient drainage capability while preserving adequate contact area during turning operations.
3Productivity
If grooves extend beyond tread edge outward in tire width direction, then water evacuation is improved, but driving stability is decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The primary inclined grooves are designed with asymmetric characteristics, featuring a first gently inclined portion and a first steeply inclined portion with different angles. This asymmetric design optimizes water evacuation through the steep portion while the gentle portion maintains structural integrity and driving stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove inclination angles are carefully controlled within specific ranges: the first gently inclined portion has a smaller inclination angle while the first steeply inclined portion has a larger inclination angle. By controlling these angular parameters, the patent achieves optimal balance between water evacuation efficiency and driving stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A tire includes primary inclined grooves and auxiliary inclined grooves. Each primary inclined groove has a first gently inclined portion and a first steeply inclined portion. Each auxiliary inclined groove has a second gently inclined portion and a second steeply inclined portion. Each primary inclined groove does not communicate with a circumferential groove on the tire equator line side and extends beyond a tread edge outward in a tire width direction. Each auxiliary inclined groove does not communicate with the circumferential groove on the tire equator line side, and does not reach the tread edge but terminates on the tire equator line side.