Directional Tire Tread Groove Structure for Winter Braking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pneumatic vehicle tires face challenges in balancing braking performance and drainage properties, particularly in winter conditions, where improving braking performance often compromises drainage efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates base elevations in transverse grooves with inclined cover surfaces that provide greater support to the incoming block edge, stiffening this area while maintaining effective drainage by concentrating the stiffening effect and minimizing rubber volume, thereby enhancing braking performance without significantly affecting drainage capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If base elevations with inclined cover surfaces are added to transverse grooves to stiffen the incoming block edge, then braking performance is improved, but the complexity of the tread structure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebraking performanceVSAvoidtread structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base elevation with inclined cover surface is applied locally only at specific transverse grooves where incoming block edges are located, rather than uniformly across the entire tread. This localized application provides targeted stiffening exactly where braking forces are most effective, while avoiding unnecessary complexity in other areas of the tread pattern.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The cover surface of the base elevation is inclined at an acute angle relative to the tread periphery, creating an asymmetric structure that is specifically oriented to support the incoming block edge. This asymmetric design provides optimal mechanical support during braking while maintaining drainage capability, resolving the contradiction between structural reinforcement and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Strength

If the cover surface is inclined at an acute angle to concentrate the stiffening effect, then braking performance improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblock edge stiffnessVSAvoidcover surface inclination precision
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cover surface is designed with a specific acute angle inclination parameter that optimizes the stiffening effect. By carefully selecting this angular parameter, the design achieves maximum structural support for the incoming block edge while maintaining feasibility for standard manufacturing processes. The acute angle creates an efficient load path that concentrates support where needed without requiring extreme precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4363242B1Pneumatic vehicle tyre
Publication Date: 2025.09.17 CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
  • EP4363242B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4363242B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4363242B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a pneumatic vehicle tyre comprising a directional tread having at least one row of tread blocks (1) with tread blocks (3) which are separated from one another by transverse grooves (4) and which have an incoming block edge (6a), that enters the underlying surface first as the tyre rolls during forward travel (R), and an outgoing block edge (6b) on each of the adjacent transverse grooves (4), each transverse groove (4) having groove walls (4a, 4b) extending from the block edges (6a, 6b), and transverse grooves (4) being provided in each of which at least one base raised portion (7) is formed which reaches up to both groove walls (4a, 4b) and which is delimited in the radial direction by a cover surface (8) that is inclined at an acute angle (δ) relative to the periphery of the tread in the cross-section of the transverse groove (4). The cover surface (8) of the base raised portion (7) is inclined relative to the periphery of the tread in such a way that the transverse groove (4) has, in the region of the cover surface (8), a depth (tG) determined in the radial direction that increases continuously from the groove wall (4a) extending from the incoming block edge (6a) to the groove wall (4b) extending from the outgoing block edge (6b).