Tire Tread Sipe Depth and Orientation for Load Distribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tires with improved on-ice/on-snow performance often compromise steering stability on dry roads due to reduced land region rigidity and vulnerability to excessive loads, which affects durability.
Innovation Solution
A tire design featuring a tread portion with a land region divided by edges, incorporating inclined and bent sipes with varying depths and orientations, and lateral grooves arranged alternately, enhancing both steering stability and on-ice/on-snow performance by distributing load and maintaining rigidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sipes are provided to improve on-ice/on-snow performance, then on-ice/on-snow performance is improved, but rigidity of the land region is decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating sipe characteristics in different regions. The first sipes have different depth, inclination angle, or spacing compared to the second sipes, allowing each region to be optimized for its specific function - some areas prioritize grip on ice/snow while others maintain land region rigidity for steering stability on dry roads.
2Ease of manufacture
If sipes with constant depth are provided, then manufacturing is simplified, but the land region is likely to be damaged when excessive load is applied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by varying sipe depth across different regions of the tread. Some sipes have greater depth while others have lesser depth, allowing the land region to distribute excessive loads more effectively. This prevents concentrated stress points that would occur with uniform depth sipes, thereby improving durability without significantly complicating manufacturing.
3Reliability
If multiple sipes are provided to improve on-ice/on-snow performance, then on-ice/on-snow performance is improved, but steering stability on dry road surface is decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating distinct sipe zones with different characteristics. The first sipes are optimized for ice and snow grip with specific depth and spacing, while the second sipes are configured to maintain land region integrity for steering stability. This spatial differentiation allows both functions to coexist without compromising either performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the sipe system into at least two groups with different characteristics. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each group for its specific function - one group for maximum grip on ice/snow and another for maintaining structural rigidity during steering on dry roads, thereby resolving the contradiction between the two performance requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A tyre has a tread portion. The tread portion has a land region divided by a first edge and a second edge extending in a tyre circumferential direction. The land region is provided with a plurality of sipes each extending between the first edge and the second edge. The plurality of the sipes includes inclined sipes and bent sipes. Each of the bent sipes includes first inclined elements inclined in the first direction with respect to the tyre axial direction and a second inclined element inclined in a direction opposite to the first inclined elements with respect to the tyre axial direction. Each of the inclined sipes is configured to have a depth larger at a center portion thereof than at both end portions thereof. Each of the bent sipes is configured to have a depth smaller at a center portion thereof than at both end portions thereof.