Tire Tread Composition for Faster Warm-Up and Consistent Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tires exhibit significant performance differences between cold and warmed-up states, with a need for improved consistency and faster warm-up behavior, particularly in motorcycle tires, to enhance grip levels.
Innovation Solution
A tire tread composition comprising 80-100 phr solution-polymerized styrene butadiene rubbers, 80-200 phr carbon black filler, 10-100 phr liquid diene-based polymers, and 10-80 phr terpene resin, which improves warm-up behavior and dry grip consistency by using an alpha-pinene-based terpene resin with specific molecular weight and glass transition temperature ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional rubber compositions are used, then the tire can provide basic grip performance, but the performance differs substantially between cold and warmed-up states
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the rubber compound by incorporating specific ratios of solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber (80-100 phr), carbon black filler (80-200 phr with at least 40 phr), liquid diene-based polymers (10-100 phr), and terpene resin (10-80 phr). This compositional parameter change enables the rubber to maintain consistent viscoelastic properties across a wider temperature range, reducing performance variation between cold and warmed-up states.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite rubber material by combining multiple components with complementary properties: solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber provides baseline elasticity, carbon black enhances structural integrity and temperature resistance, liquid diene-based polymers contribute to flexibility, and terpene resin improves adhesion and thermal stability. This multi-component composite structure achieves performance consistency across temperature variations that single-component materials cannot provide.
2Strength
If the tire is designed for high grip performance, then the warm-up time may be extended, but the overall grip level can be improved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the compositional parameters to achieve high grip strength without excessive warm-up time. The specific ratio of terpene resin (10-80 phr) to other components, along with the selection of solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber with controlled molecular weight and composition, creates a compound that achieves optimal adhesion quickly. The carbon black content (80-200 phr) is calibrated to provide sufficient structural support for high grip while allowing faster thermal response.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different material properties to different functional requirements within the same rubber compound. The liquid diene-based polymers (10-100 phr) provide rapid initial adhesion for quick warm-up, while the carbon black-reinforced structure (80-200 phr) maintains structural integrity for sustained high-grip performance. This localized functional differentiation within the composite enables both fast warm-up and high grip level simultaneously.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A tire is disclosed having a tread, the tread (10) comprising a rubber composition comprising from 80 phr to 100 phr of one or more solution-polymerized styrene butadiene rubbers; from 80 phr to 200 phr of filler comprising at least 40 phr of carbon black; from 10 phr to 100 phr of one or more liquid diene-based polymers; and from 10 phr to 80 phr of a terpene resin. The tire may be a motorcycle tire.