Method of improving tire sidewall resistance to damage
AssigneesMichelin Recherche et Technique S.A., Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin
InventorsFang Zhu, Drew R. Howlett, Craig Jurs
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of improving the resistance of a tire sidewall to damage such as splitting or puncture is provided. More particularly, a method for determining the size and positioning of tread features along the sidewall of a tire so as to improve the protection of the sidewall against damage when contacting obstacles during operation of the tire is provided.
Claims15
A method of improving the protection of a tire sidewall against obstacles contacting the sidewall, the tire having an equator, the tire also having at least one tread block and tread groove located along a shoulder of the tire, the method comprising the steps of:
- identifying a first area in which an obstacle would move along the sidewall if the obstacle slipped off the tread block as the tire rotates past the obstacle;
- identifying a second area in which the obstacle would move along the sidewall if the obstacle slipped off a tread groove as the tire rotates past the obstacle;
- identifying LPN, the radial position at which the obstacle would first contact the sidewall if the obstacle slipped off an edge of the tread block as the tire rotates;
- identifying LPG, the radial position at which the obstacle would first contact the sidewall if the obstacle slipped off an edge of the groove as the tire rotates;
- and
- determining one or more contact regions using the first and second areas, LPG, LPN and the equator providing said tire with tread features upon the sidewall, wherein the tread features are positioned at the contact regions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.