Pneumatic Tire Tread Profile Design for Traction and Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pneumatic vehicle tires with circumferential rib profiles face challenges in achieving both large-area ground contact and the appearance of high traction, as existing designs often compromise on traction and drainage effects due to groove configurations.
Innovation Solution
A tread profile design featuring raised profile elements separated by circumferential grooves with groove-shaped depressions, where the depth of the grooves and depressions are optimized (14 mm ≤ PT ≤ 20 mm and 1 mm ≤ T ≤ 3 mm) to ensure complete ground contact and create the impression of high traction through pronounced gripping edges, with radial elevations extending to the tire's outer surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If deep transverse grooves are used to create gripping edges for traction, then traction and drainage effect are improved, but large-area ground contact is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating radial elevations only in specific regions where gripping edges are needed, rather than across the entire tread surface. The groove-shaped depressions with radial elevations are strategically positioned to provide traction where necessary while leaving other areas as continuous rib structures for maximum ground contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The tread profile is segmented into circumferential ribs and groove-shaped depressions with radial elevations. This segmentation allows different regions to serve different functions: the ribs provide large-area contact while the segmented grooves with radial elevations create gripping edges for traction and water drainage.
2Area of stationary object
If a pure circumferential rib profile is used to achieve large-area ground contact, then ground contact area is improved, but the impression of high traction via gripping edges is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains large-area ground contact through circumferential ribs while locally introducing groove-shaped depressions with radial elevations that extend to the outer surface. These localized features create the visual and functional impression of gripping edges without significantly reducing the overall contact area.
3Force
If wide groove-shaped depressions are used to improve drainage, then drainage effect is improved, but ground contact completeness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The groove-shaped depressions are designed with shallow depth (1-3mm) and are filled or bridged by the radial elevations that extend to the outer surface. This creates a flexible structure that maintains contact with the ground while still providing drainage pathways, effectively combining the benefits of wide grooves with complete ground contact.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Tire comprises groove-like recesses (12) having a depth of 1-3 mm when peripheral grooves (6, 7, 8, 9) have a depth of 14-20 mm. The ratio of the width of the recesses to the depth is 2-10. Radial protrusions (13) are formed in the recesses and extend up to the radial outer casing surface of a raised profile element. Preferred Features: A few protrusions of a recess extend over the whole width of the recess.