Tire Tread Pattern with Zigzag Grooves and Transverse Sipes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tires lack sufficient traction performance on ice, despite previous designs featuring zigzag main grooves and longitudinal sipes, indicating a need for enhanced tread patterns to improve on-ice grip and stability.
Innovation Solution
The tire design incorporates a tread portion with first and second main grooves extending in a zigzag manner, a longitudinal sipe with inclined sipe portions, and multiple lug grooves, along with transverse sipes across block widths, creating a complex pattern of edges for enhanced friction and deformation to improve traction on ice.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional zigzag main grooves and longitudinal sipes are used, then basic snow discharge capability is achieved, but on-ice traction performance is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The tread pattern is segmented into multiple functional elements: main grooves for snow discharge, longitudinal sipes for edge generation, transverse sipes for additional friction surfaces, and lug grooves for block division. Each segment performs a specific function to collectively improve on-ice traction while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the tread pattern have specialized characteristics: the main grooves provide deep channels for snow evacuation, longitudinal sipes create directional edges for gripping, transverse sipes add cross-directional friction surfaces, and lug grooves create discrete blocks with varying orientations. Each local region is optimized for its specific function to maximize overall traction performance
2Reliability
If multiple types of grooves and sipes are added to improve traction, then on-ice performance improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex tread pattern with multiple groove types and sipes is pre-formed during the tire molding process using specialized molds. The main grooves, longitudinal sipes, transverse sipes, and lug grooves are all created in a single manufacturing step, eliminating the need for post-manufacturing operations and reducing overall manufacturing complexity despite the intricate pattern design
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
The tire achieves improved traction and steering stability on ice by providing multiple directional frictional forces and effective snow discharge, as demonstrated by test results showing better performance compared to conventional designs.
Implementation Method 1
each of the first blocks and the second blocks being provided with not less than three transverse sipes extending across the entire width of the each of the first blocks and the second blocks
Implementation Method 2
a first main groove and a second main groove each extending continuously in a zigzag manner in the tire circumferential direction
Data Source
AI summary
A tire comprises a tread portion 2 provided with a first main groove 3 and a second main groove 4 each extending in a zigzag manner and a land region 10 defined between them. The land region 10 is provided with a longitudinal sipe 15 extending in a zigzag manner in the tire circumferential direction, first lug grooves 16, and second lug grooves 17. The land region 10 comprises first blocks 21 divided by the longitudinal sipe 15 and the first lug grooves 16, and second blocks 22 divided by the longitudinal sipe 15 and the second lug grooves 17. Each of the first blocks 21 and the second blocks 22 is provided with not less than three transverse sipes 25 extending across the entire width of the each of the first blocks 21 and the second blocks 22.