Tire Tread Sipe Design for Handling Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle tire tread profiles face challenges in maintaining good handling and braking/driving properties both when new and throughout their service life, particularly due to changes in tread depth and rigidity that affect performance.
Innovation Solution
A tread profile design featuring a 3D fine incision with the second section offset in the circumferential direction, where the first and third sections have equal depth profiles inclined in the same direction and the second section inclined oppositely, providing support under both circumferential and transverse forces, thus optimizing rigidity for braking and driving.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tread profile is designed with traditional fine incisions aligned in the circumferential direction, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the rigidity balance is insufficient and handling properties deteriorate over service life
Solution Approach 1:
The second section of the fine incision is offset in the circumferential direction relative to the first and third sections, creating an asymmetric configuration. This asymmetry generates supporting effects under transverse forces while maintaining circumferential rigidity, thereby improving handling properties without excessive structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The fine incision transitions from a simple linear arrangement to a three-dimensional configuration with sections offset in the circumferential direction and different depth profiles. This dimensional change enables the incision to resist both circumferential and transverse forces simultaneously, improving reliability
2Strength
If the profile elements are made high when new, then they provide sufficient support and stiffness, but they become too stiff as they wear down and handling deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different sections of the fine incision have different depth profiles angled at different angles relative to the radial direction. The first and third sections have depth profiles inclined at angle α, while the second section has a depth profile inclined at angle β in the opposite direction. This local differentiation allows optimized rigidity distribution throughout the tread profile's service life
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
The invention relates to a tread profile (1) of a vehicle tire comprising a profile band (3) having sipes (2) extending over the circumference of the tread, wherein the sipe (2) consists of at least three segments (5, 6, 7) extending approximately axially, which in top view are formed as straight lines. The first and the third segment (5, 7) form the two outer segments of the sipe (2), and - in top view onto the tread profile - are arranged on a mutual, imaginary straight line, and the first and the third segment (5, 7) have a depth profile, which at an angle α diverge in the same way from the radial direction (rR), wherein the depth profile of the second segment (6) diverges from the radial direction (rR) at an angle ß counter to the direction of the first and third segment (5, 7). The invention is characterized in that the second segment (6) - in top view and new condition of the tread profile - is arranged offset in the circumferential direction (uR), and that in sum, the size of the surfaces of the first and third segment (5, 7) is not equal to the size of the surface of the second segment (6).