Pneumatic Tire Tread Segmentation for Off-Road and On-Road Performance
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Solution Overview
Problem
All-terrain or off-road tires with high profile depth for good traction on unpaved ground often compromise handling and braking characteristics on dry, paved roads.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating transverse and blind grooves with connection steps of varying heights, where the lowest step is 15% to 25% of the profile depth and the highest step is 30% to 40%, and equipping them with webs to enhance stiffness and traction on dry and muddy surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high profile depth is used in off-road tires, then traction characteristics on unpaved ground are improved, but handling and braking characteristics on dry paved roads deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The tread is segmented into multiple block rows with circumferential grooves and transverse grooves, creating a modular structure that allows different regions to serve different functions - deep grooves for off-road traction while connection steps maintain stability on paved surfaces
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the tread are given different properties: the grooves provide deep engagement for off-road traction, while the connection steps with varying heights create local stiffening zones that improve handling and braking on paved roads without sacrificing overall traction capability
2Reliability
If transverse grooves and blind grooves are deepened to improve off-road traction, then grip on muddy ground is enhanced, but tread deformation increases on dry paved ground
Solution Approach 1:
The groove structure is segmented into multiple levels with connection steps, where the lowest connection step is formed at the region where transverse grooves open into circumferential grooves, and the highest connection step is formed in transverse grooves in the middle region, creating a stepped configuration that reduces overall tread deformation
Solution Approach 2:
The connection steps have asymmetric height distribution - the highest connection step is formed in transverse grooves in the middle region and in blind grooves in the inner end region, creating an asymmetric profile that optimizes both off-road grip and on-road stability
Data Source
AI summary
A pneumatic vehicle tire having a tread divided by circumferential grooves, which have a profile depth (T), into block rows running in encircling fashion in a circumferential direction and/or profile ribs which are structured in the manner of profile blocks. Block rows are divided by transverse grooves into blocks and, like the profile ribs structured in the manner of profile blocks, are equipped with blind grooves proceeding from the circumferential grooves. Transverse and/or blind grooves are provided which, owing to a connection of blocks adjacent in the circumferential direction and/or of the block-like structures, have a depth smaller than profile depth (T). The connection has at least two connection steps of different heights, the lowest is formed in each case at the region in which the transverse grooves and/or blind grooves open into the circumferential grooves.