Modern passenger vehicle tires must evacuate water efficiently while maintaining contact patch stability across varying road conditions. Field measurements show that even a 2mm water film can reduce tire-road friction by 50% at highway speeds, while deeper standing water creates hydroplaning risks above 80 km/h. Understanding how tread design, rubber compounds, and surface treatments interact with water films is crucial for vehicle safety.

The fundamental challenge lies in balancing water evacuation capability against tread block stability, wear resistance, and rolling efficiency—properties that often demand opposing design choices.

This page brings together solutions from recent research—including multi-depth sipe architectures, specialized silica-modified compounds, layered tread constructions, and optimized groove geometries. These and other approaches demonstrate how tire designers are addressing wet performance without compromising other critical tire characteristics.

1. Tire Tread Rubber Composition with Specific Elastomer Blend and Silica Filler System

THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO, 2025

Rubber composition for tire treads that balances wet traction, rolling resistance, and snow performance. It uses a specific combination of elastomers, fillers, resins, curing agents, and accelerators. The elastomer blend includes low-cis polybutadiene, functionalized styrene-butadiene rubber, and high-cis polybutadiene. Silica filler with a blocked mercapto silane coupling agent, hydrocarbon traction resin, and a substituted phenol aldehyde tackifying resin complete the composition.

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2. Rubber Composition with Low Styrene SBR and Blocked Mercapto Organosilane for Tire Treads

THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO, 2025

Rubber composition for tire treads that provides improved wet performance, rolling resistance, and snow traction compared to traditional tire tread compounds. The composition contains a specific blend of elastomers, fillers, resins, and curing agents. The elastomer blend includes a low styrene content SBR with a low glass transition temperature, along with polybutadiene. The SBR has functional groups for improved adhesion to silica filler. The composition also contains a blocked mercapto organosilane coupling agent for better silica bonding. This combination provides a balance of wet traction, rolling resistance, and snow traction for all-season and winter tires.

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3. Tire Tread Rubber Composition with Specified Liquid Polybutadiene, Aluminum Hydroxide, and Vulcanizing Agent Proportions

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.

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4. Development of an Intelligent Instrumented Tire for Real-Time Hydroplaning Risk Estimation

alexandru vilsan, corina sandu, gabriel anghelache, 2025

<div>This study introduces an innovative intelligent tire system capable of estimating the risk total hydroplaning based on water pressure measurements within tread grooves. Dynamic represents important safety concern influenced by depth, design, and vehicle longitudinal speed. Existing systems primarily assess using wedge effect, which occurs predominantly in deep conditions. However, shallow water, is far more prevalent real-world scenarios, effect absent at higher speeds, could make existing unable to reliably risk. Groove flow a key factor dynamics, it governed two mechanisms: interception rate pressure. In both cases, groove will increase as result increasing speed for constant depth. Therefore, grooves also approaches critical Unlike conventional systems, proposed design utilizes amplitude shape measured signals from Experimental results indicate that peak increases with hydroplaning. Furthermore, overall signal be By addressing limitations current offers robust solution real-time estimation across diverse driving conditions.</div>

5. Rubber Composition with Specific Tan Delta Curve and Pneumatic Tire Integration

SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD, 2025

Tire rubber composition and pneumatic tire with significantly improved overall performance in terms of wet grip and fuel economy. The rubber composition has a tan delta vs temperature curve with a peak tan delta and half width satisfying a specific relationship (0.025 or greater). This curve shape provides both enhanced wet grip due to the high peak tan delta and improved wet grip and fuel economy due to the sharp curve. The composition can contain modified BR, silica, silane coupling agents, wax, antioxidants, oil, zinc oxide, sulfur, and accelerators.

6. A Simulation of Tire Hydroplaning Based on Laser Scanning of Road Surfaces

wenjin zeng, wenliang wu, zhi li - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2025

To investigate the influence of pavement texture on tire hydroplaning, this study utilized laser scanning to capture surface characteristics three asphalt mixturesAC-13, SMA-13, and OGFC-13across fifteen rutting plate specimens. Three-dimensional (3D) models were reconstructed incorporate realistic data. Finite element simulations, employing fluid-structure interaction explicit dynamics in Abaqus, conducted model tire-water-pavement interactions. The results indicate that anti-skid performance ranks as OGFC > SMA AC. However, despite exhibiting comparable metrics (e.g., pendulum friction value mean depth), OGFCs superior uniformity significantly better hydroplaning resistance. Additionally, tread depth critically influences speed. A novel Anti-Slip Comprehensive Texture Index (ACTI) was proposed evaluate uniformity, providing a more comprehensive assessment performance. These findings underscore importance enhancing safety under wet conditions.

7. Tire Tread with Main Groove Recessed Sections and Specific Depth-to-Width Ratios

SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD, 2025

Tire tread design that maintains ride comfort and wet performance as the tread wears. The tread has a main groove with recessed sections that push water away from the tire contact patch. The recessed sections have a specific ratio of depth to groove width when worn versus new. The ratio is 1.05-1.40 for sea ratio and 0.95-1.04 for hardness ratio. This prevents excessive wear and keeps ride comfort and grip as the tread wears. The recessed sections are alternating on the groove walls. The tread also has a specific rubber composition that changes less with aging.

8. Pneumatic Tire with Zigzag Circumferential Grooves and Sub-Groove Configuration

SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD, 2025

Heavy duty pneumatic tire with improved wet traction and wear resistance. The tire has a zigzagging crown circumferential groove and a zigzagging shoulder circumferential groove. Adjacent crown lateral grooves connect the crowns to shoulders. The crown blocks have smaller sub-grooves with fewer, shorter transverse grooves compared to the wider lateral grooves. This configuration provides enhanced wet traction from the zigzagging main grooves, while the smaller sub-grooves prevent excessive wear.

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9. Conjugated Diene-Based Polymer Modified with Functional Group-Containing Compound for Enhanced Filler Affinity

LG CHEM LTD, 2025

Modifying conjugated diene-based polymers like styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) to improve properties like wet grip, low rolling resistance, and processability. The modification involves reacting the polymer with a specific modifier containing a functional group derived from a compound represented by formula 1: R1-R6 are alkoxy groups, A is an arylene or heteroarylene ring, and L1-L4 are alkylene chains. The modifier has affinity with fillers like silica and improves compounding properties.

10. Rubber Composition with Silica and Surface-Treated Aluminum Hydroxide for Tires

THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO LTD, 2025

Rubber composition for tires that provides improved wet grip, wear resistance, and low heat degradation compared to conventional tire rubbers. The composition contains specific amounts of silica, surface-treated aluminum hydroxide, styrene-butadiene copolymer, liquid SBR, tackifier resin, and optionally a silane coupling agent. The silica has a nitrogen adsorption specific surface area (N2SA) of 100-300 m2/g and a N2SA/CTAB specific surface area (SSA) of 1.10 or less. The surface-treated aluminum hydroxide improves wet grip. The styrene-butadiene copolymer with high styrene content provides wear resistance. The liquid SBR with high vinyl content and unmodified tackifier resin enhance wet grip. The composition also contains a sil

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11. Rubber Composition Incorporating Silane-Modified Resin with Specific Modulus and Melting Temperature for Enhanced Silica Dispersion

TOYO TIRE CORP, 2025

Rubber composition for tires with enhanced wet grip performance, strength, and tensile properties. The composition contains a diene rubber, silica, and a silane-modified resin with a modulus of 700-1200 MPa and melting temperature of 110-140°C. The silane-modified resin improves silica dispersion and rubber matrix interaction compared to conventional silanes.

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12. Tyre Rubber Matrix with Functionalized Carbon Nanoparticles for Enhanced Dispersion and Structural Properties

HAYDALE COMPOSITE SOLUTIONS LTD, 2025

Tyres for vehicles with improved grip, wear resistance, and low weight. The tyres contain a rubber matrix with functionalized carbon nanoparticles like graphene and carbon nanotubes. The functionalization improves dispersion of the carbon nanoparticles in the rubber. This provides better grip, structural and chemical properties, and abrasion resistance compared to unfunctionalized carbon nanoparticles. The functionalization involves treating the carbon nanoparticles with chemicals like nitric acid to modify their surface.

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13. Vehicle Control System with Tire Slip Limit Estimation and Elastic Slip State Maintenance

HONDA MOTOR CO LTD, 2025

Vehicle control system and method that accurately estimate tire slip limits and maintain tires in the elastic slip state for improved traction and stability. The system estimates tire stiffness and road friction based on vehicle dynamics like speed, acceleration, and torque. It then calculates the adhesion limit driving force for each tire. By controlling the drive source and brakes to keep tire forces below this limit, the tires operate at a constant slip angle. This prevents excessive slippage or locking that can lead to instability. The estimated tire properties also account for factors like load changes and attitude to improve accuracy.

14. Pneumatic Tire Tread with Parallel Sipes Featuring Differential Depth Profiles

CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH, 2025

Pneumatic vehicle tires with improved wet grip and better transmission of tractive force as the tread wears. The tires have treads with profile ribs having sipes that extend parallel to each other. The depth of the main portion of each sipe is less than the depth of the edge portion that leads into the cavity between the rib and groove. This configuration allows good wet grip as the depth of the main sipe portion reduces with wear, while still maintaining stiffness from the wider cavity portion.

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15. Rubber Composition with Specific Diene Rubber Structure and High 1,2-Bond Content

KURARAY CO LTD, 2025

Rubber composition for tires with improved wet grip and ice grip performance. The composition contains a specific diene rubber with a weight average molecular weight of 5,000 to 50,000 and a unique structure. The rubber has a high mol % of 1,2-bonds in the butadiene units, but also contains specific structural units represented by the formula (1). This composition, when crosslinked, provides tires with enhanced wet grip and ice grip properties compared to traditional rubber compounds.

16. Pneumatic Tire with Multi-Curved Outer Side Profiles for Balanced Pressure Distribution

THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO LTD, 2025

Pneumatic tire design that improves both wet and dry steering stability without compromising one over the other. The tire has outer side profiles with multiple curved lines of different shapes between the tire edges. This reduces the difference in ground contact pressure between the edges and center. This balances wet steering benefit from better drainage with dry steering by distributing force more evenly. The inner side profile can have 1 or more curved lines.

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17. Polydiene Rubbers with Alkoxy Silyl Group Functionalized Comonomers

ARLANXEO DEUTSCHLAND GMBH, 2025

Polydiene rubbers with improved properties for tire applications, made by polymerizing diene monomers with functionalized comonomers containing alkoxy silyl groups. The functionalized comonomers have repeating units derived from the functionalizing comonomer. The functionalized rubber polymers have better interactions with fillers and improved tire properties compared to non-functionalized diene polymers.

18. System for Predicting Road Surface Friction Using Combined Fleet Data and Real-Time Vehicle Sensors

VOLVO TRUCK CORP, 2025

Predicting road surface operating conditions like friction for improved vehicle control and safety. It uses a combination of shared vehicle fleet data and real-time sensor readings to generate personalized friction models for individual vehicles. The shared model is created by a remote server based on sensor data from many vehicles. Each vehicle then uses the shared model along with its own readings to predict upcoming friction. This provides more accurate friction estimates compared to just using real-time sensors. The shared model enables leveraging fleet-wide experience to improve friction prediction for individual vehicles.

19. Rubber Composition for Tire Treads with Defined Ratios of SBR, EPDM, Silica, and Zinc Oxide

APOLLO TYRES GLOBAL R&D BV, 2025

Rubber composition for tire treads that provides improved wet grip and rolling resistance compared to conventional rubber compositions. The composition contains specific ratios of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), silica, and zinc oxide. The composition also has a specific styrene content in the SBR, vinyl content in the SBR, and glass transition temperature (Tg) of the SBR. Cross-linking the composition improves wet grip and maintains rolling resistance compared to cross-linking conventional rubber compositions.

20. Pneumatic Tire Tread with Specific Groove and Land Dimension Relationships

THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO LTD, 2025

Pneumatic tire with improved wet grip and noise reduction compared to conventional tires. The tire has a tread design with a specific pattern layout and feature sizes. The tread has an outer main circumferential groove extending around the tire circumference. The main groove has multiple circumferential main grooves spaced apart by circumferential land portions. The tread also has multiple lateral grooves extending between adjacent circumferential main grooves. The lateral grooves have multiple lateral land portions between them. The main grooves have a maximum depth greater than the lateral grooves. The lateral grooves have a maximum width greater than the circumferential main grooves. The circumferential main grooves have a maximum width greater than the lateral land portions. This tread layout with specific dimension relationships improves wet grip and steering stability while also reducing noise compared to conventional tires with different tread patterns.

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21. Model Predictive Control System with Real-Time Road Condition Constraints for Autonomous Vehicles

22. Autonomous Vehicle Management System with Slip Index Mapping and Outlier Detection

23. Rubber Composition for Tire Treads with Specified Polybutadiene and Styrene-Butadiene Rubber Ratios

24. Additive Composition Comprising Fatty Acid-Polyamine Reaction Product for Silica-Filled Rubber Compound Integration

25. Polysaccharide-Elastomer Masterbatch with Coagulated and Dried Composition

Tire manufacturers are always working to increase grip and safety in wet situations by fine-tuning tread designs, rubber compositions, and other structural aspects. These developments are essential to giving drivers tires that continue to operate at their best through bad weather, which makes driving on wet roads safer.

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