Zigzag Shoulder Groove Tire Noise and Wet Performance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pneumatic tires face challenges in reducing tire noise and maintaining wet performance, as existing designs that mitigate pipe resonance often compromise drainage efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic tire design featuring a tread portion with a circumferentially extending shoulder main groove in a zigzag pattern, including linear and curved portions, and strategically placed lateral grooves that enhance drainage and reduce noise by disturbing air vibrations and improving water dispersion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a zigzag main groove is used to reduce pipe resonance, then tire noise is reduced, but wet performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The groove system is segmented into multiple functional components: the zigzag shoulder main groove for noise reduction, lateral grooves for drainage, and intermediate grooves for connecting functions. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function without compromising overall performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the groove system have different characteristics optimized for their specific functions. The shoulder main groove has zigzag patterns for noise reduction, while lateral grooves have straight configurations for drainage efficiency. This local optimization resolves the contradiction between noise reduction and wet performance.
2Reliability
If a straight main groove is used to improve drainage, then wet performance is improved, but pipe resonance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The groove system divides drainage function and noise reduction function into separate segments. Lateral grooves handle drainage while the zigzag shoulder main groove handles noise reduction, allowing both functions to be optimized independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove configuration uses asymmetric patterns where the zigzag shoulder main groove differs from the straight lateral grooves. This asymmetry allows each groove type to be optimized for its specific function without being constrained by uniform design requirements.
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
The design effectively reduces tire noise and enhances wet performance by minimizing pipe resonance and improving drainage, as demonstrated by improved sound pressure levels and lateral hydroplaning indices in comparative tests.
Implementation Method 1
Since a space being surrounded between the main groove and the ground works as a pipe where air flows, pipe resonance is generated therein during tire is traveling
Implementation Method 2
improving water dispersion
Data Source
AI summary
A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion provided with a shoulder main groove, shoulder lateral grooves extending from the shoulder main groove toward axially outwardly, the shoulder main groove extending in a zigzag manner comprising linear portions and curved portions which are arranged alternately in a circumferential direction of the tire, each linear portion inclined with respect to the circumferential direction of the tire, each curved portion having a radius of curvature of from 12-80 mm, the curved portion protruding toward axially outwardly of the tire, the shoulder main groove having a pair of groove edges and a circumferential space therebetween which straightly extends along the circumferential direction of the tire without coming into contact with both groove edges and the circumferential space with an axial width of from 0.2 to 0.7 times an axial groove width of the shoulder main groove.