Tread Block Recess Layout for Off-Road Tire Side Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tires lack sufficient side grip, particularly in off-road conditions, due to the design of tread patterns that do not effectively enhance frictional forces and traction.
Innovation Solution
The tire features a tread portion with lateral and circumferential grooves, forming block groups with recessed blocks that have a recessed surface at the lateral edge and a center of gravity between the tire equator and inner tread end, improving side grip through increased ground-contact pressure and friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional tread patterns are used, then the tire structure is simple, but side grip is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The tread pattern is segmented into multiple functional zones: lateral grooves dividing the tread into block groups, circumferential grooves creating sub-blocks, and recessed blocks with additional recesses. This segmentation increases the number of independent contact elements, improving side grip through enhanced friction and traction while maintaining a systematic design approach.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the tread are given different properties: lateral grooves provide lateral flexibility, circumferential grooves enhance longitudinal grip, and recessed blocks with localized recesses at lateral edges create specific friction zones. The center of gravity positioning of recessed blocks between the equator and inner tread end optimizes weight distribution for side grip without excessive complexity.
2Reliability
If more grooves and blocks are added to improve side grip, then traction is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mold is designed with segmented cavity structures that correspond to the lateral and circumferential grooves, allowing standardized manufacturing of complex tread patterns. Each block group and recessed block can be formed using consistent molding techniques, reducing overall manufacturing difficulty despite the increased number of features.
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 demonstrates improved side grip and traction performance on rough terrain, as evidenced by test results showing enhanced grip scores compared to a comparative example.
Implementation Method 1
improving side grip through increased ground-contact pressure and friction
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a tire having further improved side grip. A tread portion 2 includes an outer tread end To, an inner tread end Ti, a plurality of lateral grooves 3, and a plurality of circumferential grooves 5. Each region between the lateral grooves 3 adjacent to each other in a tire circumferential direction and between the outer tread end To and the inner tread end Ti forms a block group 10 in which a plurality of blocks are arranged. Each block group 10 includes at least one recessed block 25. A ground-contact surface of the recessed block 25 has a recess 26 formed so as to be locally recessed at a lateral edge 25a defined by the lateral groove 3. A center of gravity 25G of the ground-contact surface of the recessed block 25 is located between a tire equator C and the inner tread end Ti.