Pneumatic Tire Tread Blocks for Durable Ice Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
New pneumatic tires struggle to achieve optimal performance on ice due to inadequate tread rubber functionality at the start of use, with conventional studless tires relying on narrow shallow grooves that wear out quickly, failing to maintain effective ice performance.
Innovation Solution
The tire features a tread surface with blocks containing a mix of recess/protrusion regions and smooth regions, where the recess/protrusion regions absorb water and improve adhesive friction, while the smooth regions provide appropriate contact area, enhancing grounding characteristics on icy surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If narrow shallow grooves are disposed in block road contact surface to ensure ice performance at start of use, then ice performance is improved, but the grooves disappear at early stages of wear
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by creating two distinct regions on the block road contact surface: a recess/protrusion region with fine structures (Hc: 0.1-1.0mm, Wc: 0.1-0.8mm, Dc≤1.2mm) for water film removal, and a smooth region (Ra≤50μm) for adhesive friction. This local differentiation allows each region to perform its specific function optimally, resolving the contradiction between initial ice performance and durability during wear.
2Force
If recess/protrusion regions with fine structures are created to absorb water film, then adhesive friction is improved, but contact area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses parameter changes by precisely controlling the dimensions of recess/protrusion portions (height Hc: 0.1-1.0mm, width Wc: 0.1-0.8mm) and their arrangement interval (Dc≤1.2mm), while also controlling the smoothness of the smooth region (Ra≤50μm). These parameter optimizations ensure that the recess/protrusion region effectively removes water films to enhance adhesive friction, while the smooth region maintains sufficient contact area, thus resolving the contradiction between friction force and contact area.
3Area of stationary object
If smooth regions are provided to ensure contact area, then grounding characteristics are improved, but water film removal capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies segmentation by dividing the block road contact surface into two functional segments: a recess/protrusion region specifically designed for water film absorption and removal, and a smooth region optimized for maintaining contact area and generating adhesive friction. This segmentation allows each region to specialize in its intended function, resolving the contradiction between water film removal capability and contact area maintenance.
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
This configuration synergistically improves tire performance on ice by maintaining effective contact and friction, even as the tire wears, by ensuring the recess/protrusion regions absorb water and the smooth regions maintain contact area, thus enhancing both braking and driving on icy surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
the recess/protrusion region absorbs and removes a water film from an icy road surface
Implementation Method 2
the appropriate contact area of the block on the icy road surface is provided. A mixed arrangement of the recess/protrusion region and the smooth region improves the adhesive friction force of the smooth region acting on the icy road surface
Data Source
AI summary
In a pneumatic tire, a block includes recess/protrusions on a road contact surface. Additionally, a recess/protrusion height of the recess/protrusions is from 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm. A width of the recess/protrusions is from 0.1 mm to 0.8 mm. A recess/protrusion region is where an arrangement interval between adjacent recess/protrusions is not greater than 1.2 mm. A smooth region other than the recess/protrusion region has an arithmetic mean roughness of the road contact surface of the block not greater than 50 μm. A lateral length of the road contact surface of the block in a tire lateral direction is defined. In this case, the block includes the recess/protrusion region and the smooth region in an optional cross-section in a lateral range of not less than 40% of a lateral length of the road contact surface of the block.