Modern tire wear presents complex challenges across varied operating conditions, with current passenger vehicle tires experiencing material loss rates of 0.06 to 0.09 mm per 1000 km under normal usage. The interaction between rubber compounds, road surfaces, and environmental factors creates wear patterns that affect both tire longevity and vehicle performance.

The fundamental challenge lies in developing materials and structures that resist abrasion while maintaining critical performance characteristics like wet grip, rolling resistance, and noise generation.

This page brings together solutions from recent research—including inverse vulcanizate compositions for enhanced breaking strength, multi-depth sipe designs for sustained performance, optimized steel-reinforced carcass structures, and targeted rubber compounds for specific wear conditions. These and other approaches demonstrate how tire engineering continues to evolve to meet increasing demands for durability without compromising safety or efficiency.

1. Tire Tread Rubber Composition with Specific SBR and BR Proportions, Reinforcing Silica Filler, and Hydrocarbon Resin

BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS TIRE OPERATIONS LLC, 2025

A tire tread rubber composition for improving dry grip and wear while reducing rolling resistance. The composition contains specific proportions of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and polybutadiene rubber (BR) with a reinforcing silica filler, low carbon black, hydrocarbon resin, oil, and vulcanization package. The SBR has high molecular weight and low vinyl content, the BR has ultra-low Tg, and the total SBR+BR content is 90-100 parts. The composition has total SBR+hydrocarbon resin+oil content less than 60 parts.

US12371553B2-patent-drawing

2. Pelletized Fiber Blends with Short and Fibrillated Fibers and Binding Agent

DOWCO LLC, 2025

Pelletizable fiber blends for enhancing physical properties of composite materials without extensive fiber dispersion. The blends contain short fibers, including highly fibrillated fibers, and a binding agent. The fibers and binder are pelletized to increase density and improve storage, transport, and processing. Adding the pelletized fiber blend directly to polymers or rubbers without melting allows homogenous composite formation via pellet breakage. The pellets disperse fibers better than unpelletized fibers, improving composite properties like modulus, strength, tear resistance, and abrasion resistance.

US2025230310A1-patent-drawing

3. Conjugated Diene-Based Polymers with Silane-Linked Grafted Chains and Modified Chain Ends

LG CHEM LTD, 2025

Modified conjugated diene-based polymers with improved affinity to fillers like silica for rubber applications. The polymers have a unique structure with a first chain derived from a conjugated diene monomer, a second chain derived from a macroinitiator with a compound having a formula like 1, and a functional group derived from a silane modifier connecting the chains. The modifier functional group enhances polymer-filler interactions. Preparation involves modifying the chain ends, then reacting with a macroinitiator to form the grafted chains.

4. Pneumatic Tire with Asymmetric Groove Configuration and Angled Center Lug Grooves

THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO LTD, 2025

A pneumatic tire with improved heal-and-toe wear resistance and traction. The tire has circumferential main grooves only in the inner half of the tread width. The outer shoulders have shoulder lug grooves that divide into see-through sections. The center has center lug grooves that connect innermost circumferential grooves. The center lug grooves have angled sections on the tire equator. This configuration balances edge effect for wear resistance with block rigidity for traction.

5. Pneumatic Tire with Center and Middle Land Portions Featuring Lug Grooves, Notched Blocks, and Interconnected Sipes

THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO LTD, 2025

Pneumatic tire design with improved uneven wear resistance and wet traction. The tire has specific features in the shoulder and center regions. The center land portion has multiple center lug grooves with blocks between them. The middle land portion has multiple middle lug grooves, blocks, a notch on the center groove side of each block, and a middle sipe extending from the notch to the shoulder side. This configuration helps prevent uneven wear and improves wet traction by providing interconnected sipes and lugs that can channel water and provide biting edges.

6. Rubber Composition for Pneumatic Tire Treads with Specified Styrene-Butadiene and Polybutadiene Ratios and Heat Aging Stability

SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD, 2025

Tread rubber composition for pneumatic tires that provides excellent abrasion resistance. The composition contains specific amounts of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and polybutadiene rubber (BR) along with crosslinking agents, fillers, and other additives. The composition satisfies relationships involving hardness and swell changes before and after heat aging. This composition structure improves abrasion resistance compared to typical rubber compositions. The relationships involve adjusting the rubber composition to reduce the change in hardness and swell between new and aged rubber. This reduces differences between new and aged rubber properties that can degrade abrasion resistance.

7. Exploring Effect of a Ternary Filler System on Low Hysteresis and Improved Wet Grip Properties of Sustainable and Fuel‐Efficient Tyre Tread Formulations

v bijina, k abhitha, youhong tang - Wiley, 2025

ABSTRACT Significant advancements in developing highperformance, sustainable tyre tread compounds have been achieved through the strategic integration of modified silica into carbon black (CB)/thermally exfoliated graphite hybrid filler systems. While benefits fillers such as CB, graphite, and are recognized, limited understanding their interaction mechanisms with polymer chains has hindered widespread adoption. This study investigates mechanical, thermal, dynamic mechanical properties an ecofriendly, green compound, focusing on both binary (CB/silica) ternary (CB, graphite/modified silica) The key aspect this research is utilization prepared by latex imprinting technique along epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) a compatibilizer to enhance between NR matrix. partial replacement CB thermally novel lateximprinted enhanced surface area provides excellent properties, low rolling resistance, improved wet grip, reduced heat buildup. porosity silica, coupled system, play crucial role reducing hysteresis, resulting resistance (0.0376), grip (0.0796), very buildup (13C). attribu... Read More

8. Heavy Truck Tire Tread with Hidden, Open, and Partially Hidden Grooves and Lateral Sipes for Enhanced Wear Life

COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, 2025

Heavy truck tire tread design that improves wear life without compromising wet braking performance. The tread has a unique groove configuration with hidden, open, and partially hidden grooves. This configuration provides more contact surface area for wear resistance without increasing the contact pressure that can harm wet braking. It also has lateral sipes that extend across multiple grooves to prevent irregular wear. The hidden grooves have undersurface channels that open to the contact surface as the tread wears. This provides additional contact surface without increasing the total depth. The open grooves have bottom surfaces that become visible as the tread wears. The partially hidden grooves have bottom surfaces that partially become visible. The sipes have a height greater than half the tread depth. The hidden grooves, open grooves, and partially hidden grooves along with the sipes provide a more complex contact pattern as the tread wears, preventing irregular

US12337617B2-patent-drawing

9. Tire Tread with Circumferential Main and Narrow Grooves, Chamfered Portions, and Inclined Grooves

THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO LTD, 2025

A tire design with improved wet steering stability, vehicle external noise resistance, and wear resistance in a balanced manner. The tire has four circumferential main grooves, defining lands, chamfered portions, and inclined grooves. At least one circumferential narrow groove is added in the lands. This configuration provides balanced wet steering stability, noise reduction, and wear resistance. The narrow grooves in the lands improve wet grip, the chamfered portions reduce edge effects, the inclined grooves further reduce noise, and the overall design maintains wear resistance.

US12337619B2-patent-drawing

10. Conjugated Diene-Based Polymer with Alkoxysilane-Amine Coupled Macromonomer Graft Structure

LG CHEM LTD, 2025

Modified conjugated diene-based polymer with improved filler affinity and processability for rubber applications. The polymer has a unique structure with a first chain of conjugated diene repeating units and a second chain derived from a macromonomer containing a compound with a specific structure. The first and second chains are coupled by a derived unit from an alkoxysilane-based modifier. The modifier contains an amine group that improves filler interaction. The polymer preparation involves reacting the modified first chain with the macromonomer to create the graft structure. The polymer has high N content from the amine groups and improved filler affinity.

11. Rubber Composition for Tire Treads with Specific Natural Rubber to Styrene-Butadiene Rubber Ratio and High Surface Area Fillers

THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO, 2025

Rubber composition for tire treads with improved wear resistance, suitable for heavy-duty truck tires. The composition uses a specific ratio of natural rubber to styrene-butadiene rubber (70:30 or more), along with high surface area silica and carbon black fillers. Process aids like resins, waxes, and liquid plasticizers are used. The cure package contains ultra-accelerators like BDBZTH. This composition provides better wear performance in tires compared to conventional formulations.

US2025197614A1-patent-drawing

12. Tire Tread with Central Groove Featuring Tapered and Wide Straight Sections for Enhanced Wear Life and Cut Resistance

BRIDGESTONE CORP, 2025

Tire design to balance wear life and cut resistance in construction and mining tires. The tire has narrow grooves in the tread to increase rubber volume and wear life. However, narrow grooves can lead to cut separation between the tread and belt due to road cuts. To address this, the tire has a unique groove configuration in the center of the tread. The center groove has a tapered section that gradually widens towards the base, followed by a wide straight section. This design provides initial rubber volume for wear resistance, but in the middle of wear when cuts are more likely, the wide straight section appears to prevent separation between the tread and belt.

US12330452B2-patent-drawing

13. Synergistic Enhancement of Bio‐Based <scp><i>Eucommia Ulmoides</i></scp> Gum Nanocomposites Through Epoxidized Natural Rubber and Silane Coupling Agent Integration: Advancements in High‐Performance Engineering Tires

zhi chen, dexian yin, xin wang - Wiley, 2025

ABSTRACT As the global transportation industry evolves, there is a rapid surge in market demand for engineering tires. Nevertheless, working environment becoming increasingly complex and challenging, tires are now subject to more stringent performance requirements, including reduced rolling resistance, decreased heat generation, enhanced wear cut resistance. In this work, type of Eucommia ulmoides gum (EUG)/natural rubber (NR)/styrenebutadiene (SBR) nanocomposite was effectively prepared with silica as nanofiller. Subsequently, epoxidized natural (ENR) introduced into EUG/NR/SBR nanocomposites address issue agglomeration within enhance comprehensive nanocomposites. The relationship between ENR content further investigated. results demonstrate that reduces surface activity via hydrogen bond effect grafting reaction, thus enhancing dispersion. Moreover, at an 9 phr, dynamic temperature rise 25.2C volume abrasion 0.135 cm 3 1.61 km 1 , representing 12.2% reduction 21.1% decrease compared without ENR. This work develops innovative approach dispersion fillers EUGbased multifu... Read More

14. Rubber Composition with High Styrene-Butadiene Content and Silane-Coupled White Filler

THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO LTD, 2025

Rubber composition for tires with improved wear resistance, wet performance, rolling resistance, and temperature dependency of rolling resistance. The composition contains a diene rubber with at least 55% of a specific styrene-butadiene rubber having a Tg of -50°C or lower. This rubber enhances silica dispersion, wear, and low rolling resistance. Additionally, the composition has a white filler of 30-100 parts, thermoplastic resin, and a silane coupling agent blended with the filler at 3-20 mass%. This balance improves dispersibility, reduces rolling resistance temperature dependency, and prevents gelling.

US2025179274A1-patent-drawing

15. Adducts of Sulfur-Containing Pyrrole Derivatives with sp2 Hybridized Carbon Allotropes

PIRELLI TYRE S.P.A, 2025

Adducts between pyrrole derivatives containing sulfur atoms and sp2 hybridized carbon allotropes like carbon black, graphene, and nanotubes. The adducts improve elastomer reinforcement by enhancing compatibility between the filler and matrix. They can be obtained by reacting the pyrrole derivatives with the carbon allotropes. The adducts have applications in crosslinkable elastomer compositions for tire compounds. The process involves mixing the carbon allotrope and pyrrole derivative at room temperature. The adducts formed provide reduced Payne effect and improved reinforcement at high deformations compared to unreacted filler.

US12320059B2-patent-drawing

16. Enhancing Silica Dispersion and Properties of <scp>SSBR</scp> Composites via a Novel Surfactant Strategy

dali shi, jian zhang, haodong cai - Wiley, 2025

ABSTRACT A facile strategy to improve silica dispersion and enhance the dynamic performance of silicafilled green tire treads is herein proposed. In this study, sulfurized (Z)sorbitan mono9octadecenoate (SS80) was synthesized characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), liquid chromatographymass spectrometry (LCMS), elemental analysis. It confirmed that (S80) can react with sulfur form larger molecular weight SS80 disulfur or polysulfur bonds. subsequently used in conjunction bis (triethoxysilylpropyl)disulfide (TESPD) modify prepare silica/SSBR composites. Particle size analysis transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed incorporating reduced particle modified enhanced its composite. Dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA), rubber process (RPA), tests demonstrated composites exhibit loss, modulus, improved wear resistance, maintained propertiesprimarily due dispersion. Overall, study provides a universal costeffective for enhancing dispersibility hydrophobic matrix.

17. Rubber Composition with Carbon Black Having Defined Oil Absorption, Surface Area, and Hydrogen Evolution Parameters

BRIDGESTONE CORP, 2025

Rubber composition for tires with improved wear resistance, breaking strength, and processability. The composition contains a rubber component and carbon black with specific properties. The carbon black has an oil absorption number of 105-122 mL/100g, CTAB specific surface area of 130-153 m2/g, D50/Dst ratio of 0.75-0.88, oil absorption difference of 11-33 mL/100g, and hydrogen evolution of 2300-3500 ppm. This carbon black provides wear resistance and breaking strength while avoiding excessive structure and agglomeration for better processability compared to conventional carbon blacks.

18. Tire Tread Rubber Composition with Defined Proportions of Liquid Polybutadiene, Aluminum Hydroxide, and Vulcanizing Agent

KUMHO TIRE CO INC, 2025

Tire tread rubber composition that improves wet braking, wear, and snow braking performance while maintaining fuel efficiency. The composition contains specific amounts of liquid polybutadiene, aluminum hydroxide, and vulcanizing agent relative to the total rubber. Using these optimized levels provides a tire compound that dramatically enhances wet grip, wear resistance, and snow traction compared to conventional rubber formulations.

US2025163253A1-patent-drawing

19. Improved Rubber Performance Through Phenolic Resin-Modified Silica: A Novel Coupling Mechanism for Enhanced Recyclability

pilar bernalortega, rafal anyszka, raffaele di ronza - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2025

Passenger car tires (PCTs) usually consist of a silica/silane-filled Butadiene Rubber (BR) or Solution Styrene (SSBR) tread compound. This system is widely used due to improvements observed in rolling resistance (RR) as well wet grip compared carbon black-filled compounds. However, the covalent bond that couples silica via silane with rubber increases challenge recycling these products. Furthermore, this strong unable reform once it broken, leading deterioration tire properties. work aims improve negative aspects silica-filled compounds by developing novel coupling based on non-covalent interactions, which exhibit reversible feature. The formation new was accomplished reacting and phenolic resin order obtain simultaneous interactions hydrogen bonding. reaction performed using two different silanes (amino epoxy silane) an alkyl phenolformaldehyde resin. implementation resulted improved crosslink density, better mechanical performance, superior fatigue behavior, similar indicator.

20. Tire Tread with Alternating Narrow and Wide Crown Blocks for Enhanced Stability and Wear Resistance

SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD, 2025

Tire design with improved stability and wear resistance. The tire has a tread layout with alternating narrow laterally elongated blocks (first crown blocks) between wider longitudinally elongated blocks (second crown blocks). This configuration reduces sideslip while enhancing wear resistance compared to a continuous narrow block tread. The narrow first crown blocks are interspersed between wider second crown blocks that overlap in the circumferential direction. The first crown blocks have shorter width than length, while the second crown blocks have longer width than length.

US2025153513A1-patent-drawing

21. Method for Uniform Curing of High-Modulus Graphene Oxide/Natural Rubber Tires Using Specific Ingredient Ratios

22. Small Diameter Tire with Specific Tread Groove Distribution and Variable Groove Area Ratio

23. Pneumatic Tire with Zigzagging Circumferential Grooves and Sub-Groove Configuration

24. Rubber Composition with Silica, Surface-Treated Aluminum Hydroxide, Styrene-Butadiene Copolymer, Liquid SBR, and Tackifier Resin

25. Rubber Composition for Tire Treads with Specific Polybutadiene, Styrene-Butadiene, Silica, and Organosilane Ratios

The evaluated patents show different methods for improving tire wear resistance and striking a balance between durability and other crucial performance factors. The constant attempts to increase tire longevity while upholding performance criteria are reflected in these advancements, which range from sophisticated rubber formulations to improved tread designs.

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