Tire Tread Groove Design for Stability and Comfort
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Tires with tread portions divided into four land portions by three circumferential main grooves often face a trade-off between steering stability and ride comfort, with high rigidity leading to improved steering stability but compromised ride comfort.
Innovation Solution
The tire design includes a tread portion with three main grooves that axially divide it into four land portions, where the first middle land portion is positioned at the tire equator with transverse narrow grooves to reduce rigidity and enhance comfort, while maintaining steering stability through specific groove configurations and orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the tread portion is formed by four land portions with high rigidity, then steering stability is improved, but ride comfort is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different groove depths within the same land portion. The first middle land portion has transverse narrow grooves with varying depths (first deep portion, second deep portion, and first shallow portion), allowing different regions of the tire to have different rigidity characteristics. This enables the central region to maintain steering stability while allowing controlled deformation for ride comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the first middle land portion by introducing multiple transverse narrow grooves that divide it into several segments. These grooves (including first transverse narrow grooves with deep portions and shallow portions) create discrete regions that can deform independently, reducing overall rigidity while maintaining structural integrity for steering stability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the width of each land portion is increased, then steering stability is improved, but ride comfort is deteriorated due to high rigidity in the widthwise direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of groove depth to control rigidity. By creating transverse narrow grooves with specific depth variations (deep portions and shallow portions) in the first middle land portion, the effective width and rigidity are modulated. This allows the land portion to maintain adequate width for steering stability while the groove depth variations create compliance for ride comfort.
Data Source
AI summary
The tire whose mounting position relative to a vehicle is specified, comprises a tread portion having a first tread edge and a second tread edge, and provided with three main grooves and four land portions. The main grooves include a first shoulder main groove, a second shoulder main groove, and a crown main groove. The land portions include a first middle land portion and a second middle land portion. The first middle land portion is disposed on the tire equator. The first middle land portion is provided with first transverse narrow grooves. The first transverse narrow groove comprises a first deep portion, a second deep portion and a first shallow portion therebetween to improve steering stability and ride comfort.