Tyre Tread Band Pattern for Sport Touring Performance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Tyres for 'Sport Touring' motor vehicles face challenges in balancing traction and acceleration with mileage and noise/vibration performance, as well as controllability on various road surfaces, particularly when cornering on slippery or uneven terrain.

Innovation Solution

A tread band pattern with grooves inclined relative to the equatorial plane, where central grooves extend to the outer annular portions for traction and acceleration, and shoulder grooves are shorter to provide stiffness and stability during cornering, ensuring effective water drainage and optimal performance in both straight-line driving and cornering.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If grooves are formed in the tread band to promote grip and water drainage, then traction and water drainage performance are improved, but the structure of the tread band is weakened making it more subject to wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraction and water drainage performanceVSAvoidtread band mileage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different groove configurations to different regions of the tread band. The central region has grooves extending fully across the tread band for optimal water drainage and grip, while the shoulder regions have grooves that do not extend to the outermost portion, preserving structural strength where needed. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing high traction and drainage where required without compromising overall tread band durability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If grooves extend to the axially outermost portion of the shoulder region to provide stability during cornering, then lateral stability is improved, but the tread band structure is weakened increasing wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelateral stability during corneringVSAvoidtread band mileage
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifically designs the shoulder region grooves to terminate before reaching the axially outermost portion of the shoulder region. This creates a gradient where grooves provide lateral stability in the intermediate zones while preserving structural integrity at the outermost edges that contact the road during cornering. The selective placement resolves the contradiction between stability and durability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Power

If the tread band has high structural mobility for traction and acceleration, then power transfer performance is improved, but the tyre generates more noise and vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower transfer for traction and accelerationVSAvoidnoise and vibrations
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates different structural characteristics in different tread regions. The central region has a groove pattern that allows structural mobility for effective power transfer during acceleration, while the shoulder regions have a more continuous structure that reduces vibrations and noise. This spatial differentiation resolves the contradiction by localizing the mobility function where it is most needed for power transfer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If the tyre is optimized for traction and controllability on slippery ground, then grip performance is improved, but performance on dry motorway streets is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrip on slippery groundVSAvoidperformance on dry motorway streets
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes different tread regions for different functions: the central region has aggressive groove patterns for superior grip on slippery surfaces and effective water evacuation, while the shoulder regions have a more conservative design suitable for stable high-speed driving on dry surfaces. This regional specialization enables the tyre to perform well across diverse road conditions, resolving the contradiction between specialized grip performance and general versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS8997807B2Tyre for motor vehicles
Publication Date: 2015.04.07 PIRELLI TYRE SPA
  • US8997807B2 patent drawing
  • US8997807B2 patent drawing
  • US8997807B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A tyre for motor vehicles, in particular for rear wheels of motor vehicles, has a tread band including an annular central portion, two first annular side portions and two second annular side portions, each arranged between the annular central portion and a respective first annular side portion and being narrower than the first annular side portion. The tread band has at least one module replicated along a circumferential direction of the tyre and includes grooves inclined with respect to the equatorial plane, at least two first grooves, each extending from a second annular side portion to a first annular side portion; at least two second grooves spaced from the first grooves in the circumferential direction, each extending only on a respective second annular side portion and at least two third grooves arranged along the circumferential direction on the opposite side to the first grooves with respect to the second grooves, each of said third grooves extending from a second annular side portion to a first annular side portion.