Tire Tread Block Zigzag Sipe Design for Wet Traction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tires, particularly winter tires, face challenges in achieving longer life and improved wet performance due to limitations in tread design, where the existing sipe configurations either lead to block deformation or inadequate engagement force when interacting with the ground.
Innovation Solution
A tire design featuring a tread portion with blocks that include a zigzag sipe configuration extending inwardly in the tire radial direction, with specific amplitude and wavelength ranges, and angled sipe longitudinal directions to enhance block rigidity and engagement, thereby improving tire life and wet performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the sipe extends inwardly in the tire radial direction with a zigzag opening configuration, then the apparent rigidity of the block is enhanced and deformation is suppressed, but the sipe configuration becomes complex with specific amplitude and wavelength requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The sipe is configured with a zigzag opening configuration that oscillates in the sipe longitudinal direction, creating a curved/undulating path rather than a straight line. This curvature allows the sipe walls to engage with each other more effectively when the block contacts the ground, enhancing apparent rigidity while distributing stress along the curved path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for the zigzag configuration: half-wavelength between 0.10 to 0.24 times the maximum sipe depth, and slope angle between 45 to 65 degrees. By optimizing these parameters, the sipe achieves maximum engagement force and block rigidity enhancement while avoiding excessive complexity.
2Force
If the sipe walls are configured as walls with unevenness surfaces varying periodically, then the engagement force between sipe walls is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sipe walls are configured with unevenness surfaces that vary periodically in the tire radial and axial directions. This periodic variation creates multiple engagement points along the sipe length, distributing the engagement force across several contact zones rather than concentrating it at a single point, thereby improving overall engagement while maintaining manufacturability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent defines specific parameter ranges for the periodic unevenness: half-wavelength ratio (0.10-0.24 times maximum depth) and slope angle (45-65 degrees). These parameter specifications provide clear manufacturing targets that balance engagement force optimization with achievable manufacturing precision.
3Reliability
If the sipe longitudinal direction is angled at 5 to 15 degrees with respect to the tire axial direction, then wet performance is improved, but the sipe configuration becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The sipe longitudinal direction is intentionally angled at 5 to 15 degrees relative to the tire axial direction, breaking the symmetry of traditional radial sipe configurations. This asymmetric orientation allows the zigzag sipe walls to engage more effectively with the ground during lateral movements and wet conditions, improving traction while the angle range is optimized to avoid excessive complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A tire includes a tread portion provided with a plurality of blocks. At least one of the plurality of blocks is provided with a sipe. The sipe extends in a sipe longitudinal direction to form a zigzag opening configuration on a ground contact surface of the at least one of the plurality of blocks. The sipe extends inwardly in a tire radial direction such that the zigzag opening configuration oscillates in the sipe longitudinal direction repeatedly with a total amplitude and a wavelength while maintaining the zigzag opening configuration. A half of the wavelength of the sipe is in a range of from 0.10 to 0.24 times a maximum depth of the sipe, and a slope of the half of the wavelength with respect to the total amplitude has an angle in a range of from 45 to 65 degrees.