Heavy Load Tyre Tread Pattern Segmentation and Groove Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heavy load vehicle tires face challenges in achieving excellent traction, controllability, and mileage while minimizing noise and vibrations, as these features are often conflicting, with prior solutions compromising on traction or controllability to improve wear resistance and durability.
Innovation Solution
A tread pattern with at least four rows of blocks in the central portion, where central rows have reduced dimensions and deep grooves to allow movement, and shoulder blocks are circumferentially tied for strength, combined with undulating circumferential grooves for drainage and pressure distribution, ensuring uniform wear and reduced noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the number of blocks in the central portion of the tread band is increased to improve traction, then traction on wet, snow-covered and dirt grounds is improved, but controllability deteriorates due to yielding sensations and noise increases due to continuous impacts of block edges on the road surface
Solution Approach 1:
The tread band is segmented into multiple rows of blocks (at least four rows) in the central portion, with each row containing multiple blocks. This segmentation allows the blocks to be distributed across different circumferential positions, reducing the continuous impact effect and improving controllability while maintaining sufficient traction through the collective action of all blocks
Solution Approach 2:
The blocks are arranged in discrete rows with grooves between them, creating a periodic structure along the circumferential direction. This periodic arrangement ensures that block impacts on the road surface occur at intervals rather than continuously, reducing noise and improving controllability while the overall periodic pattern maintains consistent traction
2Strength
If the blocks in the circumferential portion are tied together by reducing the depth of grooves to improve handling and strength, then handling is improved, but uneven wear phenomena occur at block transverse edges and traction is reduced particularly in the second part of service life
Solution Approach 1:
The groove depth is varied in the circumferential direction: grooves have a first depth in a first circumferential portion and a second depth (greater than the first) in a second circumferential portion. This local variation allows blocks to be tied together in regions where handling strength is needed while maintaining deeper grooves in other regions to prevent uneven wear and preserve traction over the service life
3Force
If groove depth is increased to allow blocks to move freely for better traction, then traction is improved, but handling deteriorates due to reduced block strength
Solution Approach 1:
The groove depth varies along the circumferential direction, with shallower grooves in regions where handling strength is prioritized and deeper grooves in regions where traction is prioritized. This local differentiation allows the tread to exhibit both strong handling characteristics and good traction performance simultaneously
Data Source
AI summary
Tyre (1) having a tread comprising a central portion (L1) and two shoulder portions (L2,L3), whereby the central portion (L1) has at least one first (9) and one second (10) central row of central blocks (32,33) and at least one first (11) and one second (12) lateral rows of central lateral blocks (34,35) which are longitudinally separated respectively by transverse grooves (16,17); the central blocks (32) of the first central row are axially separated from the central blocks (33) of the second central row by a first circumferential groove (4) with a " zig-zagging" course comprising first inclined segments (4a) alternated with a plurality of second counter- inclined segments (4b); the first and the second segments (4a, 4b) define on each central block (32,33) a first inclined side and a second counter- inclined side, and each block (32) of the first central row is arranged with respect to the blocks (33) of the second central row so that its inclined and counter- inclined sides respectively face an inclined or counter- inclined side of two distinct blocks (33) of the second central row.