Pneumatic Tyre Tread Spike Zones for Winter Traction and Cornering
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Pneumatic vehicle tires face a challenge in balancing traction force and cornering force on wintry roads, with existing designs often compromising one for the other, leading to suboptimal performance.
Innovation Solution
The tire design features at least two additional spike zones in each tread half, with the longitudinal axes of the spike pins taking on larger angles relative to the axial direction as they move outward, creating a harmonious transition from traction to cornering forces across the tread width, utilizing a base spike zone in the central area for optimal traction and additional spike zones for enhanced cornering capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single spike zone configuration is used across the entire tread width, then device complexity is reduced, but performance on wintry roads deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating spike orientations across different tread zones. In the central tread area, spikes have axial alignment (0° to +/-7°) for optimal traction, while in shoulder areas, spikes are angled (±15° to ±45°) for cornering. This spatial variation in spike orientation allows each region to specialize in its primary function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The tread is segmented into distinct functional zones: a central traction zone with axially aligned spikes and shoulder cornering zones with angled spikes. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each zone's spike configuration, enabling the tire to simultaneously achieve good traction and cornering performance through differentiated local characteristics.
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
This design effectively balances traction and cornering forces, enhancing winter performance by maintaining power transmission and cornering stability through a harmonious distribution of spike angles across the tread width, resolving the conflict between these two objectives at a higher level.
Implementation Method 1
The improved traction is achieved by the fact that the end section of the spike pin penetrates the winter road surface while the tire is rolling and leads to a mechanical connection between the tire and the road surface
Implementation Method 2
the longitudinal axes of the end sections of the spike pins taking on the greater angle to the axial direction, the further axially outside the spike zone of the spike is positioned and that the longitudinal axes of the end sections of the spike pins of the spikes positioned in these further spike zones assume angles β, γ, δ in a range from +/- 5° to +/- 90° in relation to the axial direction
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A pneumatic vehicle tyre having a tread which has two shoulder regions (1a, 1b) and a central tread region (2) between said shoulder regions (1a, 1b), wherein spikes (4) are arranged in the profile positive (3) of the tread, which spikes run in encircling fashion over the circumference of the tread in spike lanes, and wherein the spike lanes (5B, 1,2 - n) are assigned to spike zones (10B, 1,2 - n), which likewise run in encircling fashion over the circumference of the tread, wherein at least one spike lane (5B, 1,2 - n) is arranged in each spike zone (10B, 1,2 - n), wherein a spike (4) has a spike pin with an end portion (6) which projects beyond the tread surface, wherein said end portion (6) is, in a plan view of the tread, of non-circular and elongate form and, in a greatest extent, defines a longitudinal axis (7), wherein, in the central tread region (2), there is positioned a base spike zone (10B) with a spike (4) of which the longitudinal axis (7) of the end portion (6) of the spike pin assumes an angle α of 0° to +/-7° with respect to the axial direction (aR), and wherein the base spike zone (10B) divides the tread into a right-hand tread half (8) and a left-hand tread half (9). In one tread half (8, 9), at least 2 further spike zones (101, 2 - n) with spikes (4) are arranged in addition to the base spike zone (10B), of which the longitudinal axes (7) of the end portions (6) of the spike pin assume greater angles with respect to the axial direction (aR) the further axially to the outside the spike zone (101, 2 - n) of the spike (4) is positioned, and the longitudinal axes (7) of the end portions (6) of the spike pin of the spike (4) positioned in said further spike zones (101, 2 - n) assume angles β, γ, δ in a range from +/- 5° to +/- 90° with respect to the axial direction (aR).