Tire Tread Zigzag Groove Geometry for Snow Performance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tires with zigzag main grooves struggle to enhance on-snow performance beyond snow shearing force, necessitating further improvements for better traction and stone resistance on snowy roads.
Innovation Solution
The tire features main grooves with alternating first and second inclined portions, projecting portions, intersecting portions, and stone ejectors, which enhance snow shearing force, traction, and stone resistance by optimizing groove geometry and structure for improved snow handling and steering stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If only zigzag main grooves are used to improve snow shearing force, then on-snow performance is improved, but further performance enhancement becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The main groove is segmented into multiple functional portions: first inclined portions, second inclined portions, first intersecting portions, second intersecting portions, and projecting portions. Each segment performs a specific function in snow handling, allowing comprehensive improvement of on-snow performance through coordinated action of all segments
Solution Approach 2:
The groove design extends from two-dimensional zigzag patterns to three-dimensional structures with projecting portions extending from groove bottoms and stone ejectors on groove walls, adding vertical dimensionality to enhance snow shearing force and stone resistance
2Force
If the main groove has complex structure with multiple portions, then snow shearing force is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex groove structure is divided into standardized repeating units of first inclined portions, second inclined portions, and intersecting portions, which can be manufactured using modular mold designs, reducing overall manufacturing complexity despite the detailed structure
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the groove have locally optimized features: first inclined portions with specific angles for snow compression, second inclined portions for snow discharge, and projecting portions positioned at specific locations for enhanced shearing, allowing each local region to contribute optimally to snow shearing force
Data Source
AI summary
A tire comprises a tread portion having at least one main groove extending in a zigzag manner in a tire circumferential direction. The main groove includes first inclined portions and second inclined portions arranged alternately in the tire circumferential direction. The first inclined portions are inclined in a first direction and the second inclined portions are inclined in a second direction opposite to the first direction with respect to the tire circumferential direction. A length of each of the first inclined portions is larger than a length of each of the second inclined portions. The main groove is provided in a groove bottom thereof with projecting portions extending in a groove width direction of the main groove. The projecting portions includes first projecting portions arranged in the first inclined portions.