Tire Tread Segmentation for Snow and Wet Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Snow tires face challenges in maintaining grip performance on snowy surfaces without compromising grip on wet surfaces, as existing technologies struggle to optimize tire tread compositions for improved traction in snow without deteriorating performance on wet conditions.
Innovation Solution
A tire tread design featuring two radially superposed portions, with a radially external portion made of a first rubber composition containing a high amount of reinforcing inorganic filler and a low amount of liquid phosphate plasticizer, and a radially internal portion made of a second rubber composition with a higher amount of liquid phosphate plasticizer, both using diene elastomers and silica as reinforcing fillers, to enhance grip on snow without affecting wet conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the tread uses a single uniform rubber composition, then manufacturing is simplified, but it cannot simultaneously optimize both snow and wet grip performance
Solution Approach 1:
The tread is divided into multiple regions with different rubber compositions. The first region (shoulder and lateral areas) contains a first rubber composition optimized for wet grip with high reinforcing inorganic filler (80-200 phr), while the second region (central area) contains a second rubber composition optimized for snow grip with lower reinforcing inorganic filler (20-80 phr) and higher liquid phosphate plasticizer (5-50 phr) content. This segmentation allows each region to perform its specialized function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the tread are assigned different material properties tailored to their specific functional requirements. The shoulder and lateral portions use a stiffer composition with high filler content for wet road adhesion, while the central portion uses a more flexible composition with lower filler and higher plasticizer content for snow deformation and grip. This local differentiation of material quality resolves the contradiction between wet and snow grip performance.
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
The tire tread composition significantly improves grip on snowy surfaces while maintaining or enhancing grip on wet surfaces, as demonstrated by friction coefficient measurements showing improved traction without compromising performance.
Implementation Method 1
a plasticizing agent comprising 0 to less than 10 phr of a liquid phosphate plasticizer having a glass transition temperature (Tg DSC) of less than -80°C
Data Source
AI summary
A tire has a tread comprising at least two radially superposed portions which comprise radially external/internal portions. The external portion is made of a first rubber composition which is based on at least an elastomer matrix, a reinforcing filler comprising between 80 and 200 phr of a reinforcing inorganic filler, and a plasticizing agent comprising 0 to less than 10 phr of a liquid phosphate plasticizer having a glass transition temperature of less than -80℃. The internal portion is made of a second rubber composition which is based on an elastomer matrix, a reinforcing filler comprising 20 to 200 phr of a reinforcing inorganic filler, and a plasticizing agent comprising between 5 and 100 phr of a liquid phosphate plasticizer having a glass transition temperature of less than -80℃. The amount in phr of the liquid phosphate plasticizer in the first rubber composition is lower than that in the second rubber composition.