Pneumatic Tire Tread With Wave-Like Underline Contour

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Pneumatic vehicle tires face a challenge in stabilizing certain circumferential areas without compromising aquaplaning properties, as traditional measures for stabilization often impair water drainage and handling performance.

Innovation Solution

A tread profile with a three-wave elevation undercarriage contour, where the middle elevation covers 50% to 60% of the ground contact area width, and lateral elevations 20% to 30%, ensuring localized stabilization and improved rigidity while maintaining effective water drainage through adapted groove depth profiles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If traditional measures are used to stabilize circumferential areas of the tread, then the tread stability and rigidity are improved, but the water drainage capability and aquaplaning properties are impaired

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetread stabilityVSAvoidwater drainage capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a three-wave elevation underline contour with different elevation widths (middle elevation 50-60% of contact patch width, lateral elevations 20-30%) that provide localized stabilization. This allows specific circumferential areas to have enhanced rigidity while other areas maintain groove depth for water drainage, resolving the contradiction between overall stability and local water evacuation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If the underline contour is designed without bulges or deformations, then the manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but the tread stability in circumferential areas is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidtread stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces curvature into the underline contour by designing a wave-like shape with three elevations instead of a straight or simple circular contour. This curved, wave-shaped underline contour (with radially highest points 1.0-3.0 mm from tread periphery) provides structural support and stability while remaining manufacturable through conventional tire molding processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP3450211B1Pneumatic tyres for a vehicle
Publication Date: 2020.04.15 CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
  • EP3450211B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

A radial-type pneumatic tire with a profiled, grooved tread (1), wherein an envelope extending along the groove bases forms a continuous underline contour (5) over the circumference of the tread (1). The underline contour (5) extends axially and across the width (B) of the tread (1) in a wave-like shape, which is composed of at least three protrusions (6), wherein the radially lowest points of the wave troughs are located at the tread depth between the protrusions (6) and wherein the radially highest points of the protrusions (6) are spaced 1.0 mm to 3.0 mm from the tread periphery.