Tire Tread Incision Wedging Structure for Snow and Wet Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pneumatic vehicle tires face challenges in maintaining optimal snow and wet performance as tread wear progresses, with existing wedging structures failing to effectively retain traction and drainage capabilities.
Innovation Solution
The wedging structure is designed with a semicircular, dome-shaped inner zone and a U-shaped outer zone, with continuously curved wall sections that form U-shaped and dome-shaped projections, optimizing the wedging effect and improving power transmission, traction, and wet grip properties by maintaining a high wedging effect and effective drainage as the tread wears.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If traditional wedging structures are used in incisions, then power transmission is improved, but snow and wet performance deteriorates as tread wear progresses
Solution Approach 1:
The wedging structure is segmented into two distinct functional zones: an inner structural zone with dome-shaped projections for power transmission and wedging effect, and an outer structural zone with U-shaped projections for snow traction and water drainage. This segmentation allows each zone to independently optimize its function, resolving the contradiction between power transmission and snow/wet performance maintenance during tread wear.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the wedging structure are given different geometric properties and functions. The inner zone features dome-shaped projections with specific curvature for maximizing wedging effect during power transmission, while the outer zone has U-shaped projections with opening orientations designed for snow engagement and water channeling. This local differentiation ensures that power transmission and snow/wet performance requirements are met in their respective operational contexts.
2Reliability
If incisions extend to the tread periphery, then snow performance is improved, but structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The U-shaped projections in the outer structural zone are designed to extend toward but not reach the tread periphery, extracting the snow performance benefit while avoiding the structural instability that would result from incisions reaching the edge. The U-shape geometry with oriented openings provides snow engagement capability without compromising the overall structural integrity of the tread.
3Ease of manufacture
If the wedging structure is simplified, then manufacturing is easier, but traction capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The wedging structure employs continuously curved surfaces for both the dome-shaped inner zone projections and the U-shaped outer zone projections. These curved geometries are generated through systematic radial and circumferential patterning that, while geometrically complex, can be manufactured using standard tire molding techniques. The curvature provides mechanical advantage for traction while maintaining manufacturability through consistent geometric generation rules.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a vehicle pneumatic tire with a tread having profile positives (4, 5) which are provided with incisions (6) extending at an angle of 0° to 50° to the axial direction in plan view, each having a width (bE) of 0.4 mm to 2.0 mm, a maximum depth (tE) of 70% to 100% of the tread depth, a incision base (8c) and two incision walls (8a, 8b) with at least one local wedging structure (9) spaced apart from the tread periphery, wherein the wedging structure (9) is formed by two opposing, corresponding, continuously curved wall sections (10) of the incision walls (8a, 8b) and wherein unstructured surfaces (10') of the incision walls (8a, 8b) adjoin the continuously curved wall sections (10).The wedging structure (9) is designed in a circular segment shape, in particular a semicircular shape, and consists of a dome-shaped bulging inner structural zone (9II) and an outer structural zone (9I) surrounding it in a U-shape, bulging in the opposite direction to the inner structural zone (9II) with U-legs pointing towards the periphery of the tread, so that the continuously curved wall section (10) of one cut wall (8a, 8b) forms a U-shaped projection (11") and the continuously curved wall section (10) of the other cut wall (8a, 8b) forms a dome-shaped projection (11I) projecting into the U-shaped projection (11").