Variable Thickness Sipes for Tire Tread Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tire treads with sipes experience undesired tread wear due to reduced stiffness, which compromises traction and handling performance, especially in conditions like snow.
Innovation Solution
Designing tire treads with sipes that have a variable thickness, featuring a thick portion around a thin portion, and a void feature in fluid communication with the sipe, which provides additional strength and stiffness while maintaining traction benefits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sipes are employed in tire treads to improve traction, then traction performance is improved, but tread stiffness is reduced leading to increased tread wear
Solution Approach 1:
The sipe thickness is varied locally along its length, with a first portion having a different thickness than a second portion. This local variation allows the sipe to provide traction benefits where needed while maintaining sufficient stiffness in other regions to prevent excessive tread wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The thickness parameter of the sipe is changed along its length to optimize performance. By adjusting the thickness parameter locally rather than uniformly, the sipe can simultaneously achieve the dual objectives of improving traction and maintaining tread stiffness.
2Reliability
If sipes are made thinner to improve traction in snow, then snow traction is improved, but overall tread wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
Specific portions of the sipe are made thinner to enhance snow traction where the sipe contacts the ground, while other portions maintain greater thickness to preserve overall tread stiffness and extend tread service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The sipe is segmented into different thickness zones along its length, allowing each segment to serve a different function - one segment optimized for snow traction while another segment maintains structural integrity to prevent wear.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention includes tire treads having a sipe (18) and a void feature (22) in fluid communication with the sipe. Particular embodiments of the present invention also include methods for forming the same. In various embodiments, the sipe has a length, a height, and a thickness that is variable across the length and height of the sipe. The thickness of the sipe includes a thick portion (24) and a thin portion (26), the thick portion at least partially extending around a perimeter of the thin portion. In particular embodiments, the void feature (22) which is in fluid communication with the sipe extends primarily in a direction of the sipe length and has a width extending in the direction of the sipe thickness equal to or greater than substantially 1 millimeter.