Pneumatic Tire Tread Pattern for Ice Braking and Turning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional studless tires lack anisotropy in tread block designs, which hinders their ability to achieve high levels of braking and turning performance on ice, as they do not effectively differentiate resistance to external forces in different directions.
Innovation Solution
The tire features a higher density of circumferential narrow grooves in the tire width direction, angled at between -45° and +45°, with bent portions in the circumferential grooves, enhancing edge components and resistance in both the tire width and circumferential directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the resistance to external force in the tire circumferential direction is increased by making the block shape anisotropic, then the braking performance on ice is improved, but the turning performance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The tread pattern employs asymmetric block arrangements where blocks in the circumferential direction have different configurations than blocks in the width direction. This asymmetry allows the tire to provide higher resistance in the circumferential direction for braking while maintaining adequate resistance in the width direction for turning, resolving the contradiction between directional performance requirements
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the tread pattern are designed with locally optimized block shapes and arrangements. The circumferential direction features blocks configured to maximize braking resistance, while the width direction incorporates blocks optimized for turning resistance, allowing each direction to achieve its specific performance target without compromising the other
2Force
If the resistance to external force in the tire width direction is increased by making the block shape anisotropic, then the turning performance on ice is improved, but the braking performance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The tread pattern uses asymmetric block designs where the orientation and shape of blocks differ between circumferential and width directions. This asymmetry enables the width direction to achieve high resistance for turning while the circumferential direction maintains sufficient resistance for braking, balancing both performance requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The tread pattern applies local quality optimization by configuring blocks in the width direction with specific anisotropic shapes that maximize turning resistance, while simultaneously ensuring the circumferential direction blocks provide adequate braking resistance, allowing both functions to coexist
3Area of stationary object
If blocks are arranged densely in a honeycomb shape, then the tread pattern coverage is improved, but the anisotropy in resistance to external forces is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
While maintaining dense honeycomb-like block arrangement for comprehensive tread coverage, the invention introduces asymmetry in block shapes and orientations. This allows the dense packing to provide full coverage while the asymmetric features create directional resistance differences, enabling both high coverage and effective anisotropy for ice performance
Data Source
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AI summary
To provide a pneumatic tire with improved braking performance and turning performance on ice. Circumferential narrow grooves (16) are disposed at a density in the tire width direction of not less than 0.06 grooves/mm and not more than 0.2 grooves/mm. Width direction narrow grooves (20) extend at an angle with respect to the tire width direction of not less than -45° and not more than +45°. The circumferential narrow grooves (16) have at least one bent portion. The bend angle of the bent portion is not less than 40° and not more than 160°.