Variable Chamfer Tire Tread for Cornering Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tires with transversely orientated chamfers on their treads experience noise issues during cornering maneuvers due to load transfer and changes in footprint shape, which existing tread designs fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
The tire tread design features a distribution of chamfers on relief elements, with a higher proportion of blocks having chamfers on the inner side and fewer or no chamfers on the outer side during cornering, maintaining a specific ratio of contact surfaces to reduce noise and maintain traction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chamfers are provided on all transverse edges of the tread, then braking performance and straight-line running performance are improved, but noise is generated during cornering maneuvers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different chamfer configurations to different regions of the tread. Specifically, chamfers are provided on transverse edges in the central region of the tread (within a distance less than half the tread width from the centerline) but are omitted or reduced in the lateral regions. This local differentiation allows the central blocks to provide effective braking performance while the lateral blocks without chamfers reduce noise generation during cornering when load transfers to the outer edges.
2Strength
If chamfers are provided on transverse edges, then adhesion and contact mechanics are improved, but the tread generates noise when stressed in cornering configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tread into different functional zones based on chamfer presence. The central zone contains blocks with chamfers optimized for adhesion and braking, while the lateral zones contain blocks without chamfers optimized for noise reduction during cornering. This segmentation allows each region to perform its specific function without compromising the other.
3Reliability
If chamfers are provided on all blocks, then straight-line running performance is maintained with consistent footprint shape, but noise is generated during cornering due to load transfer to outer blocks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by providing chamfers only on blocks located in the central region of the tread, defined as blocks whose transverse edges are at a distance from the tread centerline less than half the tread width. This ensures that straight-line running performance is maintained through consistent footprint shape in the central region, while lateral blocks without chamfers prevent noise generation during cornering when load transfers to the outer blocks.
Data Source
AI summary
Tread having a plurality of generally circumferentially orientated grooves delimiting a plurality of relief elements, this tread further comprising a plurality of cut-outs in the form of transversely orientated grooves and/or slits, each relief element comprising a contact face intended to come into contact with the road and lateral faces cutting this contact face along edges intended to come into contact with a road during running, this tread having chamfers on at least a plurality of transverse edges of the relief elements, this tread having, in straight-line running, a total contact surface S comprising a part Sc in which all the transverse edges have chamfers and a part Snc in which all the transverse edges are free of chamfers, this tread having, in a cornering maneuver corresponding to a transverse acceleration of 0.3 g (where g is the acceleration due to gravity), a total footprint surface S* formed by a part Sc* comprising chamfers on all the transverse edges of its relief elements and a part Snc* free of any chamfer, this tread being such that the ratio Snc/Sc is equal to not more than 2% and that the ratio Snc*/Sc* is equal to or greater than 10%.