Pneumatic Tire Tread Pattern for Snow Shearing and Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pneumatic tires face a challenge in maintaining steering stability while enhancing on-snow performance, as previous designs that improve snow-shearing force often compromise tread rigidity.
Innovation Solution
The tire features a tread pattern with a circumferentially extending first main groove and a second main groove, forming an outboard middle land portion with middle inclined grooves and lug grooves that connect to both main grooves, maintaining rigidity and enhancing snow-shearing force through specific groove widths and orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a lateral groove having a large volume is provided in the tread portion to increase snow-shearing force, then on-snow performance is improved, but steering stability deteriorates due to reduction of tread rigidity
Solution Approach 1:
The tread portion is segmented into multiple functional zones: first main groove for snow evacuation, second main groove for additional evacuation capacity, and outboard middle land portion with middle inclined grooves for snow shearing. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally without compromising overall tread rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the tread are given different properties: the outboard middle land portion contains middle inclined grooves specifically designed for snow shearing, while the first and second main grooves handle snow evacuation. The lug grooves connect these features with varying orientations to optimize both snow interaction and structural rigidity in different locations.
2Reliability
If multiple grooves are added to enhance snow-shearing force, then on-snow performance improves, but tread rigidity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lug grooves are designed with different orientations: outboard middle lug grooves connect the first main groove to middle inclined grooves, while inboard middle lug grooves connect the second main groove to middle inclined grooves. This dynamic orientation arrangement optimizes snow shearing force while maintaining tread rigidity through strategic structural reinforcement.
Solution Approach 2:
Middle inclined grooves are introduced with an inclination angle relative to the circumferential direction, adding a dimensional aspect to snow interaction. This inclination allows the grooves to effectively shear snow while the lug grooves provide structural connectivity, thereby improving on-snow performance without significantly compromising tread rigidity.
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
This design improves on-snow performance by compressing and shearing snow effectively while maintaining steering stability by ensuring the rigidity of the outboard middle land portion, even under cornering conditions.
Implementation Method 1
improve the on-snow performance by increasing snow-shearing force
Data Source
AI summary
Performance on snowy roads is improved. Provided is a pneumatic tire, of which the mounting orientation on a vehicle is indicated. An outer middle land part is formed between a first major groove and a second major groove. The first major groove has first portions and second portions alternately formed in the tire circumferential direction, the second portions being wider than the first portions. The outer middle land part is provided with a plurality of middle inclined grooves not directly interconnected with either the first major groove or the second major groove, a plurality of outer middle lug grooves connecting the second portions of the first major groove and the middle inclined grooves, and inner middle lug grooves connecting the middle inclined grooves and the second major groove. The outer middle lug grooves are provided to different positions in the tire circumferential direction than the inner middle lug grooves.