Prediction of tread pattern block deformation in contact with road

Tire tread patterns re arrangements of grooves, blocks, sipes, and channels, which effects on the performance of the tire, such as braking, turning, noise and side slip properties. For analyzing the performance in static and dynamic conditions, deformation behavior of the tread block was investigated under the on-road condition. A new tread pattern block deformation test device has been developed for measuring the forces and deformation. A modified analytical model of the tread block was developed, which considered the influence of the compression on the deformation under sliding conditions. Finite element models of six different typical tread pattern blocks of TBR tires have been developed by ABAQUS for analyzing the dynamic stiffness and contact pressure. Results indicated that the predicted stiffness of the tread blocks was in good agreement with the experimental data.