Pneumatic Tire Tread Slit Layout for Snow Grip and Steering Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Pneumatic tires face a trade-off between snow performance and steering stability due to the design of sub-grooves and sipes, where improved snow discharge leads to compromised steering stability.
Innovation Solution
The tire design includes first and second main grooves with slits that have raised portions and sipes, arranged alternately in the tire circumferential direction, to enhance snow performance while maintaining steering stability by balancing the rigidity of center blocks and improving drainage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sipes are provided on raised portions of sub grooves, then snow discharge performance is improved, but steering stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the land into multiple segments by providing slits that extend across the land in the tire width direction. These slits are open to main grooves and create multiple divided portions, allowing snow to be discharged through multiple pathways while maintaining structural integrity of individual segments for steering stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different properties to different parts of the land by providing raised portions at specific locations within the slits. The raised portions have different heights (first raised portions higher than second raised portions) to create localized variations in rigidity and snow discharge capability, optimizing both snow performance and steering stability in different regions
2Reliability
If blocks sandwiching sub grooves are made easy to move, then snow performance is improved, but steering stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The land is divided into multiple blocks by slits extending across the land. These blocks are further differentiated by raised portions of different heights, creating a segmented structure that allows controlled movement for snow discharge while maintaining overall stability through the alternating pattern and connection to main grooves
Data Source
AI summary
A pneumatic tire includes: a first main groove and a second main groove extending in a tire circumferential direction; and a first land defined by the first main groove and the second main groove, wherein the first land includes a plurality of slits extending across the first land in a tire width direction and open to the first main groove and the second main groove, the plurality of slits include first slits each having a first raised portion where a part of a groove bottom is raised and second slits each having a second raised portion where a part of a groove bottom is raised to be lower than the first raised portion, the first raised portion includes a first sipe extending along a direction where the first slits extend, and the first slits and the second slits are arranged alternately with each other in the tire circumferential direction.