Tire Tread Groove Width Variation for Drainage and Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire tread designs face challenges in maintaining effective water drainage and wear resistance as they wear down, leading to increased rolling resistance, fuel consumption, and reduced service life due to the formation of grooves which reduce material stiffness and trap debris.
Innovation Solution
A tire tread design featuring alternating first and second portions of grooves with varying widths and depths, allowing for continuous water flow and mechanical support, maintaining a minimal voids volume ratio and optimal drainage efficiency regardless of wear level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If grooves are formed in the tread to drain water, then water drainage performance is improved, but the wearing performance and service life are reduced due to material loss
Solution Approach 1:
The groove width varies along its length, being narrower at the entrance and wider at the exit. This parameter change allows the groove to maintain drainage functionality while reducing the overall volume of material removed, thereby extending service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove depth is limited to a maximum of 80% of the tread thickness, not penetrating completely through. This partial action maintains sufficient water drainage capability while preserving enough tread material to extend service life and maintain structural integrity.
2Reliability
If grooves are formed to enable water flow, then water elimination is improved, but the compression and shear stiffness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The groove width varies along its length, being narrower at the entrance and wider at the exit. This parameter change allows the groove to maintain drainage functionality while reducing the overall volume of material removed, thereby extending service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove is segmented into different width zones (narrower entrance, wider exit) to optimize both drainage and structural support functions in different locations.
3Reliability
If grooves are formed to drain water, then water flow is improved, but debris trapping increases causing tread breaks
Solution Approach 1:
The groove width varies along its length, being narrower at the entrance and wider at the exit. This parameter change allows the groove to maintain drainage functionality while reducing the overall volume of material removed, thereby extending service life.
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 enhances wet weather performance, reduces wear rate, and extends tire life by maintaining drainage efficiency and stiffness while minimizing material loss and hydrodynamic pressure head losses.
Implementation Method 1
minimizing material loss and hydrodynamic pressure head losses
Data Source
AI summary
A groove of tire thread having a plurality of first and second portions, each delimited by facing walls spaced apart by a maximum width measured at the tread surface and approaching one another such that, at a depth between 20 and 80% of the total depth they are spaced apart by a width less than the maximum width or facing walls spaced apart by a minimum width measured at the tread and diverge from one another such that, at a depth between 20% and 80% of the total depth of the groove, they are spaced apart from one another by a width greater than the width. A plurality of first and second portions of groove so as to form a continuous passage between all the portions of groove in order to allow liquid to flow in the groove regardless of the level of wear.