Pneumatic Tire Tread Segmentation for Ice Braking and Snow Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Studless tires with multiple sipes and narrow grooves in the tread portion face challenges in maintaining steering stability on snow due to reduced rigidity, which is necessary for improved braking performance on ice.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic tire design featuring a tread pattern with a combination of short and long small blocks, circumferential and widthwise narrow grooves, and lug grooves that enhance both braking performance on ice and steering stability on snow by balancing rigidity and groove density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple sipes and narrow grooves are provided in the tread portion, then braking performance on ice is improved, but steering stability on snow deteriorates due to reduced tread rigidity
Solution Approach 1:
The tread portion is segmented into multiple small blocks by providing sipes and narrow grooves. This segmentation increases the number of edges for biting into ice, improving braking performance while maintaining overall tread integrity through the specific arrangement and dimensions of the segments.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the tread portion are given different properties: the small blocks provide high edge density for ice braking, while the overall tread structure maintains sufficient rigidity for snow steering stability. The local characteristics of small blocks are optimized for ice contact, while the global structure ensures snow performance.
2Reliability
If multiple sipes and narrow grooves are provided in the tread portion, then braking performance on ice is improved, but tread rigidity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The tread is divided into multiple small blocks through sipes and narrow grooves, creating numerous biting edges for ice contact. The segmentation is designed with specific dimensions and spacing to maximize ice braking while minimizing the impact on overall tread rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The dimensions, spacing, and distribution of sipes and narrow grooves are optimized to achieve the right balance. By controlling the parameters of groove width, depth, and spacing, the design maximizes ice braking performance while maintaining sufficient tread rigidity for snow steering stability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire (1) in which a plurality of small blocks (20) is delineated and formed by a plurality of rectilinear circumferential narrow grooves (16) and a plurality of widthwise narrow grooves (18) that communicate with the circumferential narrow grooves, and small block rows (22) with the small blocks aligned along a tire circumferential direction are formed between adjacent circumferential narrow grooves. Each of the small blocks has a surface area differing from that of at least one small block that belongs to an adjacent small block row on at least one side with respect to a tire width direction and has an overlapping tire circumferential directional region (CA). The small blocks have surface areas of no less than 20 mm2 and no more than 400 mm2.