Tire Tread Groove Layout for Lower Kickoff Popping Noise
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pneumatic tires face challenges in improving noise performance while maintaining wet performance, particularly due to the loud popping sound generated by large lug grooves during kickoff.
Innovation Solution
The tire features a unique tread pattern with multiple circumferential main grooves and strategically positioned shoulder, intermediate, and inner lug grooves, which are designed to be closed without reaching the main grooves. This configuration disperses the lug grooves in the tire circumferential direction, reducing noise by preventing simultaneous popping sounds during kickoff.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If large lug grooves are provided to improve drainage properties, then wet performance is improved, but loud popping sound is generated during kickoff
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the lug grooves into multiple segments (shoulder lug grooves, first intermediate lug grooves, second intermediate lug grooves, and inner lug grooves) distributed across different regions of the tread. This segmentation prevents simultaneous air release from all grooves, reducing the popping sound while maintaining drainage capability through the distributed groove network
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of groove arrangement by positioning lug grooves at multiple radial distances from the tire center (shoulder region, intermediate regions, and inner region). This multi-dimensional distribution strategy disperses the air release events in both circumferential and radial directions, effectively reducing noise while preserving wet performance
2Object-generated harmful factors
If lug grooves are closed without reaching main grooves to reduce noise, then noise performance is improved, but drainage properties may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The closed-end lug groove design segments the drainage paths into multiple independent channels distributed across shoulder, intermediate, and inner regions. This segmentation allows water to be discharged through multiple separate pathways, maintaining effective drainage while the closed ends prevent simultaneous air release and reduce noise
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different groove configurations to different local regions: shoulder lug grooves in the outer region, inner lug grooves in the inner region, and intermediate lug grooves in between. Each region's closed-end grooves are optimized for local drainage needs while collectively maintaining overall drainage performance without connecting to main grooves
Data Source
AI summary
In a tread pattern of a tire, a main groove side of a shoulder lug groove in a side of a first circumferential main groove inclines with respect to the width direction. In each of first intermediate lug grooves and inner lug grooves, a direction from one side toward the other side in the width direction is inclined to a side identical to a side to which the main groove side is inclined. The first intermediate lug grooves overlap with extension lines of each of the shoulder lug grooves extending from a closed end of each of the shoulder lug grooves along an inclination direction of the main groove side toward each of closed ends of the inner lug grooves. A second intermediate lug groove extends between two of the extension lines adjacent in the circumferential direction, in a direction along the extension lines.