Pneumatic Tire Tread Groove Segmentation for Braking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pneumatic tires face challenges in maintaining optimal braking performance across dry, wet, and snow-covered road surfaces due to decreased rigidity and drainage efficiency, particularly with existing tire designs that compromise on one surface type for another.
Innovation Solution
The tire design incorporates three circumferential grooves, main lug grooves that form blocks, subsidiary lug grooves, and circumferential narrow grooves with a zigzag shape, along with intra-land portions and chamfered edges, to enhance drainage, traction, and rigidity, ensuring improved braking performance on all surface types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If land portions are formed as blocks by subsidiary grooves, then braking performance on snow-covered road surfaces is improved, but block rigidity decreases and braking performance on dry road surfaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The land portions are segmented into multiple blocks by main lug grooves and subsidiary lug grooves. The main lug grooves extend in the tire circumferential direction and communicate with circumferential grooves, while subsidiary lug grooves extend in the radial direction and communicate with main lug grooves. This segmentation creates a block structure that improves snow discharge capability while maintaining controlled rigidity through the groove configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the tread pattern have different groove configurations optimized for their specific functions. The main lug grooves provide primary block formation for snow discharge, while subsidiary lug grooves provide additional segmentation. The circumferential narrow grooves are strategically positioned to control rigidity in specific areas, creating local quality variations that balance snow performance and dry road performance.
2Reliability
If subsidiary grooves communicate with main grooves at both ends, then drainage properties on wet road surfaces are improved, but block rigidity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The subsidiary lug grooves communicate with main lug grooves at specific locations rather than at both ends, creating localized drainage paths. This selective communication provides drainage functionality in wet conditions while maintaining block rigidity by limiting the extent of groove penetration. The groove depth and positioning are optimized to balance drainage efficiency with structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The subsidiary lug grooves provide partial drainage functionality by communicating with main grooves at selected points rather than creating complete through-drainage. This partial action is sufficient to improve wet road performance while avoiding the excessive rigidity loss that would result from complete end-to-end communication grooves.
3Reliability
If multiple grooves are added to improve drainage and snow discharge, then braking performance on wet and snow-covered surfaces is enhanced, but tire structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tread pattern is segmented into a systematic arrangement of main lug grooves and subsidiary lug grooves. The main lug grooves are disposed in rows in the tire circumferential direction and communicate with circumferential grooves, while subsidiary lug grooves are disposed between main lug grooves and communicate radially. This segmented structure provides comprehensive drainage and snow discharge capability through organized, repeatable patterns rather than random complex features.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove system performs multiple functions simultaneously: main lug grooves provide primary block formation and circumferential drainage, subsidiary lug grooves provide radial drainage and additional block segmentation, and circumferential narrow grooves provide supplemental drainage paths. This multi-functional design achieves enhanced performance on wet and snow-covered surfaces while maintaining a relatively unified and manufacturable tire structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A pneumatic tire comprises a tread surface of a tread portion comprising land portions defined by three circumferential grooves extending in the tire circumferential direction and main lug grooves forming intra-land portions divided in the tire circumferential direction; the intra-land portions being divided by the laterally outer circumferential grooves, the main lug grooves, and circumferential narrow grooves to form long small land portions, which are long in the tire circumferential direction); and the intra-land portions being divided by the laterally central circumferential groove, the main lug grooves, subsidiary lug grooves, and the circumferential narrow grooves to form two short small land portions, which are short in the tire circumferential direction.