Tire Tread Profile Segmented Recesses for Wet Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tire tread profiles face challenges in maintaining good wet and dry grip, as well as aquaplaning properties, especially as the tread depth reduces due to wear, leading to reduced water drainage and increased risk of aquaplaning, while additional grooves for improved drainage compromise road contact surface and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A tread profile design featuring radially raised profile elements with narrow linear or groove-shaped depressions, including a radially inner extension section and a radially outer extension area, where the radially inner area forms a tubular opening channel and the outer area a fine incision, allowing for effective water drainage and grip enhancement without compromising road contact surface area, with linear elevations that form additional gripping edges and act as a wear indicator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional grooves are formed in the tire profile to increase water drainage volume, then aquaplaning resistance is improved, but the effective road contact surface is reduced and profile element flexibility increases, worsening wet grip in new tires
Solution Approach 1:
The depression is segmented into two distinct functional zones: a radially outer fine incision area for water drainage and a radially inner tubular opening channel area for structural support. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other, resolving the contradiction between drainage volume and road contact surface.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the depression are given different geometric properties: the outer region has fine incisions with cutting width D for effective water drainage, while the inner region has a tubular opening channel with maximum opening width B≥2D for structural integrity. This local differentiation allows the profile to simultaneously achieve good water drainage and maintain sufficient road contact surface.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If profile element size is increased to maintain road contact surface area, then wet grip is improved, but profile flexibility is reduced, worsening deformation capability under traction and handling forces
Solution Approach 1:
The profile element is segmented by the depression into functional zones that allow different behaviors: the outer fine incision region provides grip enhancement while the inner tubular channel region maintains structural flexibility. This segmentation resolves the contradiction between maintaining road contact surface and preserving profile flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The depression geometry parameters are optimized with specific relationships (B≥2D, T2>T1) that allow the profile element to maintain sufficient stiffness for road contact while preserving flexibility for deformation under forces. The parameter relationships ensure the profile can adapt to road conditions without compromising grip.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If tread depth is reduced due to wear, then profile element stiffness increases improving grip, but groove volume decreases reducing water drainage capability
Solution Approach 1:
The tubular opening channel is pre-formed with dimensions (B≥2D, T2>T1) that ensure it will function as an effective drainage groove even when the tire is worn. This preliminary design ensures that as the tire wears and groove volume naturally decreases, the tubular channel maintains sufficient drainage capability to prevent aquaplaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The depression parameters are designed with specific relationships (B≥2D, T2>T1) that ensure the tubular opening channel maintains effective drainage volume even as tread depth reduces due to wear. The parameter relationships are optimized to preserve drainage capability throughout the tire's service life.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The profile has a set of narrow line or groove-shaped recesses (6) formed in a radial direction (R) with a radial inner extending region and a radial outer extending region. The recess is formed as a fine cut (7) with a cutting width (D) in the radial outer region and as a tubular opening channel (8) with maximum opening width (B) in the radial inner region, where the opening width is greater than or equal to two times of the cutting width. A set of parallel line-shaped radial projections (10) are formed at a deep bottom (9) that radially inwardly limits the opening channel.