43 patents in this list

Updated:

Designing tires that deliver both performance and efficiency is a complex challenge in the automotive industry. Low rolling resistance materials are crucial for reducing energy loss and improving fuel efficiency, making them a focal point for engineers and researchers. The demand for high-performance tires that maintain grip and durability while enhancing vehicle efficiency is ever-increasing, spurred by environmental and economic pressures.

Achieving low rolling resistance without sacrificing safety and performance requires navigating a delicate balance of material properties. Engineers face the challenge of integrating compounds that minimize energy loss while maintaining traction and durability. This involves precise formulation and layering of materials like carbon black, silica, and specialized rubber compounds to optimize performance under various driving conditions.

This page explores a range of material compositions and structural designs found in recent patents, such as multi-layered tread structures and dual-layer compounds. These solutions aim to enhance tire performance by optimizing the rubber matrix and tread design, resulting in improved energy efficiency and road handling. The strategies presented offer insights into achieving the desired balance of low rolling resistance and high performance in modern tire design.

1. Pneumatic Tire with Multi-Layered Tread Structure Incorporating Carbon Black Formulation

HANGZHOU HAICHAO RUBBER CO LTD, ZHONGCE RUBBER GROUP CO LTD, 2023

Pneumatic tire that can improve the performance of the tire and reduces the investment of equipment. The tire is formed with a tread layer and shoulder rubber, wherein the shoulder rubber is arranged on two sides of the tread layer and the tread layer comprises an upper tread rubber, a lower tread rubber and a base rubber; the upper tread rubber is responsible for the tread performance such as abrasion, wet land braking, control and the like and controls rolling resistance and control, and the lower layer tread adopts a carbon black formula or a carbon black white carbon black combined formula to provide lower rolling resistance and higher modulus to achieve the high control and low rolling resistance performances of the tire.

CN117162706A-patent-drawing

2. Five-Component Dual-Layer Tire Tread Rubber with Crosslinked Interfaces

Zhongce Rubber Group Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Haichao Rubber Co., Ltd., HANGZHOU HAICHAO RUBBER CO LTD, 2023

Tire tread rubber with a five-component material structure that provides low rolling resistance and good wet grip. The tread rubber has two layers with different upper and lower compositions. This allows the upper layer to have lower rolling resistance while the lower layer has better grip. The five components are compounded and extruded into the tread shape. After vulcanization, the interfaces between the layers crosslink to prevent separation. The resulting tread provides a tire with low rolling resistance, good wet grip, and control performance.

CN114874510B-patent-drawing

3. Five-Component Rubber Structure with Dual-Layer Tread Compound

HANGZHOU HAICHAO RUBBER CO LTD, ZHONGCE RUBBER GROUP CO LTD, 2022

Tire tread compound with a five-component rubber structure that provides low rolling resistance, high wet grip, and good handling control. The tread compound has an upper layer and lower layer made of different rubber formulations. This two-part structure allows optimizing rolling resistance in the lower layer while maintaining grip and control in the upper layer. The compound can be used in electric vehicle tires to improve driving range. The tires have a tread made using the compound.

CN114874510A-patent-drawing

4. Double-Layer Tire Tread with Differential Compound Composition and Specified Layer Thickness Ratio

HANGZHOU HAICHAO RUBBER CO LTD, ZHONGCE RUBBER GROUP CO LTD, 2022

A double-layer tire tread design that reduces rolling resistance while maintaining good braking performance. The tire has an upper tread layer with high wear resistance and dry braking ability, and a lower tread layer with lower rolling resistance. The lower tread thickness is between 30% and 60% of the total tread thickness. This allows reducing rolling resistance by using a lower rolling resistance lower tread compound, while still maintaining adequate braking performance from the upper tread layer.

CN114805954A-patent-drawing

5. Tire Inner Layer Composition Comprising Isoprene Rubber, Carbon Black, Metal Salts, and Crosslinking System

Michelin Group Headquarters, MICHELIN GROUP CORP, 2022

Tire inner layer composition with improved durability and rolling resistance compared to traditional high stiffness tire compounds. The inner layer contains a rubber composition with specific ingredients to enhance durability without compromising rolling resistance. The composition uses a rubber like isoprene, carbon black filler, salt of alkaline earth metals, alkali metals, or lanthanides, and a crosslinking system. This allows improving stiffness for durability without degrading rolling resistance like conventional stiffness methods.

6. Pneumatic Tire with Tread Compound of Natural Rubber, Modified Styrene-Butadiene Rubber, and Thermoplastic Resin, and Case Compound with Silica Filler and Low Surface Area Carbon Black

BRIDGESTONE CORP, 2020

Pneumatic tire with both wet grip and low rolling resistance. The tire has a tread compound with specific ratios of natural rubber, modified styrene-butadiene rubber, and thermoplastic resin. It also has a tire case compound with silica filler and a low surface area carbon black. This allows the tread to have improved wet grip and the case to have low rolling resistance. The modified SBR improves wet grip by raising glass transition temperature and loss tangent at low temperatures. The thermoplastic resin further raises glass transition temperature. The silica filler in the tread improves grip on wet roads. The low surface area carbon black in the case reduces rolling resistance without increasing electrical resistance.

EP3677437A1-patent-drawing

7. Rubber Composition with Specific Carbon Black and Silica Content for Tire Sub-Treads

HANKOOK TIRE & TECH CO LTD, HANKOOK TIRE & TECHNOLOGY CO LTD, 2020

Rubber composition for tire sub-treads that improves rolling resistance, fatigue resistance, and crack resistance compared to conventional sub-tread rubber compositions. The composition contains a specific range of carbon black (77-87 mg/g iodine adsorption) and silica (10-20 parts by weight) along with other typical rubber ingredients. This composition provides lower heat generation, better fatigue resistance, and reduced cracking compared to conventional sub-tread rubber compositions.

KR102117031B1-patent-drawing

8. Rubber Composition with Continuous Electrically Conductive Phase and Dispersed Phase Containing Precipitated Silica and Silica Coupler

GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO, 2018

Rubber composition for tires with reduced rolling resistance, improved electrical conductivity, and balanced hysteresis. The composition has a continuous electrically conductive phase containing a high carbon black load, and a dispersed phase with precipitated silica and a silica coupler. The continuous phase prevents carbon black migration into the dispersed phase. This balances hysteresis by using a high carbon black content in the continuous phase while still providing electrical conductivity from the dispersed phase.

9. Dual-Layer Tread Air-Inflation Tire with Centralized Conductive Rubber Thickness

TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO LTD, 2013

Air-inflation tire with improved road grip and reduced rolling resistance compared to conventional tires. The tire has a tread with a top layer of non-conductive rubber and a bottom conductive rubber layer. The conductive layer thickness is larger in the middle compared to the edges. This configuration balances road holding and rolling resistance. It allows the non-conductive rubber to provide low rolling resistance while the thicker conductive layer in the center improves grip.

CN102896982A-patent-drawing

10. Rubber Composition with Specific Ratios of Natural/Isoprene, Styrene-Butadiene, and Butadiene Rubbers and Controlled Alkylphenol/Sulfur Chloride Condensate and Carbon Black

SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD, 2012

A rubber composition for tire insulation that improves rolling resistance and durability while reducing cost compared to using a tire sidewall compound. The composition contains specific ratios of natural/isoprene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, and butadiene rubber, along with controlled amounts of alkylphenol/sulfur chloride condensate and carbon black. The composition balances rolling resistance, durability, and processability for tire insulation applications.

JP5092058B1-patent-drawing

11. Tire with Dual-Compound Tread Structure Featuring Lower Modulus and Loss Factor Inner Base

CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND, CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH, 2012

Reducing rolling resistance in commercial vehicle tires by using a specific composition for the inner tread base compared to the outer tread cap. The tread base is made from a rubber compound with lower modulus (E') and lower tan delta (loss factor) compared to the outer tread cap. This reduces rolling resistance without sacrificing wear performance.

DE102010060575A1-patent-drawing

12. Pneumatic Tire with Conductive Outer Layer on Silica-Based Tread

SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD, 2012

A pneumatic tire with improved electrical conductivity and rolling resistance. The tire has a tread rubber with a conductive layer on the outer surface of the base rubber. This conductive layer connects the tire rim ends and exposes on the ground contact surface. The base rubber is non-conductive silica rubber like the tread reinforcing cords. This allows the tread to have low rolling resistance from silica while avoiding static buildup by conducting ground contact electricity to the rim.

13. Pneumatic Tire with Differential Resistivity Rubber Compounds for Static Electricity Management

SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD, 2011

Pneumatic tire with low rolling resistance and reduced static electricity generation. The tire has specialized rubber compounds in the tread, sidewall, and breaker regions that have high electrical resistivity to prevent static buildup. This is balanced with lower resistivity rubber in the cover, sidewall conductive layer, and energizing layer to maintain performance while minimizing static. The overall tire resistivity is set to a threshold to mitigate static and prevent sparks during fueling.

KR20110089390A-patent-drawing

14. Pneumatic Tire with Conductive Carcass and Embedded Conductive Layer

SUMITOMO RABBER INDASTRIZ LTD, SUMITOMO RUBBER IND, 2010

Pneumatic tire design that reduces rolling resistance and static electricity generation during driving. The tire has a tread, breaker, sidewall, carcass, and belt. The tread, breaker, and sidewall rubbers have high volume resistances. The carcass has a conductive shoulder rubber. A conductive bead rubber contacts the conductive shoulder rubber. The carcass also has a conductive layer embedded in the tread. This connects to the road through the sidewall. A top cover on the breaker. This configuration allows low rolling resistance while preventing static electricity buildup during driving.

RU2389612C2-patent-drawing

15. Tire with Layered Tread Structure Featuring Low Tan Delta Sidewall Layer and Carbon Black Blended Rubber Compound

BRIDGESTONE CORP, 2009

Tire with reduced rolling resistance and improved grip without sacrificing wear resistance. The tire has a tread with a specific layering structure. The outermost layer on the sidewall has the lowest tan delta (loss tangent) value in the tread. This layer provides low heat generation. The thickness of the outermost layer is limited to below 30% of the cap rubber layer. This prevents excessive wear. Blending carbon black with a grade of HAF or lower in the rubber compound further reduces rolling resistance.

16. Conductive Fiber-Enhanced Rubber Composition with Coated Short Fibers for Tire Clinch Apex

SUMITOMO RUBBER IND, SUMITOMO RUBBER IND LTD, 2008

Rubber composition for tire clinch apex that reduces rolling resistance, electric resistance, and improves crack resistance compared to traditional rubber formulations. The key is adding conductive short fibers to the clinch apex rubber. The fibers are coated with a conductive material to impart electrical conductivity. Blending 1.5-5 parts by weight of conductive short fibers per 100 parts diene rubber reduces electric resistance and cracking compared to using carbon black or silica alone.

JP2008213770A-patent-drawing

17. Rubber Composition with Modified Natural Rubber, Carbon Black, and Silica Filler Containing Specific Polar Group Content and Defined Tan Delta and Glass Transition Temperature

BRIDGESTONE CORP, 2008

Rubber composition for heavy duty tires with improved wear resistance without impairing low heat buildup. The composition contains specific amounts of a modified natural rubber, carbon black, and silica filler. The modified natural rubber has a polar group content in the range of 0.001 to 0.5 mmol/g. The composition also has a tan delta value at 25°C below 166 and a glass transition temperature below -50°C. These properties optimize low rolling resistance and wear.

WO2008032836A1-patent-drawing

18. Halogenated Butyl Rubber and Hydrogenated Carboxylated Nitrile Rubber Composite for Tire Treads

LANXESS INC, 2007

Rubber compound for tire treads containing a combination of halogenated butyl rubber and hydrogenated carboxylated nitrile rubber (HXNBR) to improve wet traction, rolling resistance, and wear resistance compared to using just butyl rubber. The HXNBR provides dynamic damping and wear resistance, while the butyl rubber enhances wet traction. The compound can also contain fillers and vulcanizing agents.

19. Pneumatic Tire with Silica Tread Compound and High Carbon Black Belt Layer

YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO LTD, YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO LTD:THE, 2005

Pneumatic tire with improved braking and handling performance at high speeds while maintaining low rolling resistance. The tire has a tread compound with high silica content for reduced rolling resistance and wet grip. But to maintain rigidity and prevent deformation at high temperatures, a belt layer made of a high carbon black content compound is placed between the shoulder ends. This belt provides higher rigidity in the circumferential direction to compensate for the lower rigidity of the silica tread at high temps.

20. Tire Composition with Fatty Acid Amides and Zinc Carboxylate in Rubber Matrix and Corresponding Tread Band Construction

PIRELLI PNEUMATICI SPA, 2005

A tire composition and tire construction that improves tire performance and reduces rolling resistance without sacrificing durability. The tire composition contains specific chemicals like fatty acid amides and zinc salt of carboxylic acids added to the rubber matrix. This composition can be used to make tire components like tread bands. The tire construction involves using these chemically modified rubber compounds in the tread bands to improve properties like wear resistance, while reducing rolling resistance compared to traditional tire compounds. The tires with these chemically modified rubber compounds have improved performance and reduced rolling resistance without sacrificing durability.

JP2005523967A-patent-drawing

21. Rubber Composition for Pneumatic Tire Incorporating Starch-Poly(ethylenevinyl alcohol) Composite with Silica and Carbon Black

22. Rubber Composition with Dispersed Polyethylene Powder and Inorganic Filler at Low Mixing Temperature

23. Reinforced Rubber Tire with Silica-Enriched Tread Cap and Carbon Black Base

24. Radial Tire with Specialized Rubber Compounds and Fiber Orientation

25. Tire with Selective Low Tan Delta Compound Distribution in Tread for Reduced Internal Friction

Request the full report with complete details of these

+23 patents for offline reading.