Commercial Vehicle Tyre Tread Groove Depth Variation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial vehicle tires experience uneven wear across the tread width due to increased radial surface pressure on shoulder areas with wider circumferential grooves, leading to elongation of the ground contact area and excessive wear in these areas, resulting in non-uniform abrasion patterns.
Innovation Solution
The average depth of shoulder-side circumferential grooves is reduced by 0.8 mm to 2.0 mm compared to the central grooves, with the groove empty volume of shoulder-side grooves being at least 2.4 to 4 times that of the central grooves, which stiffens the tread ribs and reduces radial surface pressure, thereby improving wear uniformity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If wider circumferential grooves are provided in the shoulder areas of the tread, then the rolling resistance is reduced, but the radial surface pressure on the shoulder side increases, leading to non-uniform tread wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different groove depths in different tread zones: shallower grooves (10-20mm) in shoulder areas and deeper grooves (20-30mm) in central areas. This localized differentiation allows the shoulder grooves to reduce rolling resistance while the deeper central grooves compensate for increased radial pressure, maintaining uniform tread wear across the entire tread width.
2Loss of energy
If the groove empty volume of shoulder-side circumferential grooves is increased, then the rolling resistance is reduced, but the ground contact area elongates into the shoulder areas, causing excessive wear in these areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by varying groove dimensions across the tread width. Shoulder grooves have larger empty volume (wider or shallower) to reduce rolling resistance, while central grooves have deeper configurations to maintain structural integrity and prevent excessive wear, thereby balancing durability requirements with energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting groove depth and width parameters across different tread zones. By changing the geometric parameters of the grooves (depth: 10-30mm, width variations) from shoulder to center areas, the patent optimizes both rolling resistance reduction and tread durability, preventing ground contact area elongation while maintaining low energy loss.
3Reliability
If deeper circumferential grooves are provided in the central tread area, then the wet grip is improved, but the radial surface pressure distribution becomes uneven, affecting tread wear uniformity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing deeper circumferential grooves (20-30mm depth) specifically in the central tread area where wet grip is most critical, while maintaining shallower grooves (10-20mm) in the shoulder areas. This localized depth differentiation improves wet grip through enhanced water evacuation in the center while preventing excessive radial pressure and wear in the shoulders, achieving both reliability and wear uniformity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a tyre for a commercial vehicle of a radial type of construction, comprising a tread (1) with circumferential grooves (7) at the shoulders, each delimiting on the inner side of the tread a profile rib (9) at a shoulder, and with at least two middle circumferential grooves (8) in the region of the tread between the circumferential grooves (7) at the shoulders, wherein each circumferential groove (7) at a shoulder has an average depth (T1) and an average width (B1), measured at a depth determined in the radial direction of 4.5 mm, and each middle circumferential groove (8) has an average depth (T2, T2', T2'') deviating from the average depth (T1) of the circumferential groove (7) at a shoulder and also an average width (B2), which is likewise measured at a depth determined in the radial direction of 4.5 mm and is smaller than the average width (B1) of each circumferential groove (7) at a shoulder. The average depth (T1) of each circumferential groove (7) at a shoulder is less than the average depth (T2, T2', T2'') of the middle circumferential groove(s) (8) with the greatest average depth (T2, T2', T2''), wherein the average width (B1) of each circumferential groove (7) at a shoulder corresponds at least to twice the average width (B2, B2', B2'') of the middle circumferential groove (8) that has the greatest average width (B2, B2', B2'') of all the middle circumferential grooves (8), and/or the groove void volume (V1) of each circumferential groove (7) at a shoulder corresponds to at least twice the groove void volume (V2) of the middle circumferential groove (8) with the greatest groove void volume (V2).