Vehicle Tyre Sidewall Texture Step Height Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle tires have a significant step height due to the difference between the engraving and texture depths, which affects their aerodynamics, durability, and legibility of sidewall information, with prior art tires having a maximum engraving depth of 0.50 to 0.60 mm and texture depth of 0.30 mm, leading to a step height of 0.15 to 0.30 mm.
Innovation Solution
Reducing the maximum engraving depth to 0.05 to 0.35 mm, texture depth to 0.01 to 0.20 mm, and step height to less than or equal to 0.09 mm, resulting in an almost 'smooth' sidewall surface, achieved through advanced milling or laser techniques in vulcanization mold production, allowing for improved aerodynamics, durability, and legibility while maintaining necessary contrast for information readability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the maximum engraving depth is reduced to 0.05 to 0.35 mm and texture depth to 0.01 to 0.20 mm, then the step height is reduced to less than or equal to 0.09 mm, improving aerodynamics and durability, but the contrast for information legibility may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different surface treatments to different areas of the sidewall: the information areas have reduced engraving depth (0.05-0.35 mm) while surrounding areas maintain deeper texture (0.01-0.20 mm). This local differentiation allows the information to be readable with minimal step height (≤0.09 mm) while maintaining sufficient contrast through the texture difference between information and non-information areas.
2Loss of energy
If the step height is reduced to less than or equal to 0.09 mm, then aerodynamics are improved and rolling resistance is reduced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for engraving depth (0.05-0.35 mm), texture depth (0.01-0.20 mm), and step height (≤0.09 mm). These controlled parameter changes enable the manufacturing process to achieve the desired smooth transition while maintaining readability, balancing aerodynamic performance with manufacturability.
3Reliability
If the maximum engraving depth is reduced from 0.50 to 0.35 mm, then the risk of cracking is minimized, but the information contrast against the surrounding surface is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates local quality differences by applying reduced engraving depth specifically to information areas (0.05-0.35 mm) while maintaining deeper texture in surrounding areas (0.01-0.20 mm). This localized approach preserves crack resistance through minimal step height (≤0.09 mm) while maintaining visual contrast through texture differentiation rather than depth alone.
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 reduced relief depth enhances aerodynamics, reduces rolling resistance, and minimizes the risk of cracking, while ensuring the information remains easily legible, with a preferred embodiment of maximum engraving depth of 0.15 to 0.25 mm and texture depth of 0.1 to 0.2 mm creating a minimal step of 0.05 mm, thus improving tire performance and appearance.
Implementation Method 1
the durability is also improved since the notch effect and thus the risk of cracking is reduced by the reduced or missing step
Implementation Method 2
This combination of reduced engraving depth, reduced texture depth and reduced step height results in an almost 'smooth' to stepless sidewall surface, which has advantages in terms of aerodynamics
Implementation Method 3
The contrast is formed by reflection and/or by casting shadows
Implementation Method 4
The contrast is formed by reflection and/or by casting shadows
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
Vehicle tyre of a radial type of construction which is vulcanized in a vulcanizing mould and comprises a tread, bead regions and sidewalls (1), wherein the sidewalls (1) have on the sidewall surface thereof items of information (2), which are arranged as a texture (3) in a smooth sidewall surface (4) or which are arranged as a smooth sidewall surface in a texture, wherein - the texture (3) has a texture depth (5), which is measured in the axial direction (rR) from the surface of the texture (6) to the base of the texture (7), - a maximum engraving depth (8) is determined, measured in the axial direction (rR) from the smooth sidewall surface (4) to the imaginary, extended base of the texture (10), - and the maximum engraving depth (8) is greater than the texture depth (5), and so a step (9) is formed on the surface of the sidewall at the transition from the smooth sidewall surface (4) to the surface of the texture (6). The step height (11) is less than or equal to 0.09 mm, the maximum engraving depth (8) is 0.0 to 0.40 mm and the texture depth (5) is 0.05 to 0.30 mm.