
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this tool is to generate a flexible and physically accurate tire model based on a tire measurements and tread pattern. It accounts for both symmetrical and asymmetrical patterns.
Key parameters derived from real-world tire specifications include:
Tire Width (mm): The width of the tire from sidewall to sidewall in millimeters.
Aspect Ratio (%): The ratio of the tire's sidewall height to its width, expressed as a percentage.
Wheel Diameter (inches): The diameter of the wheel on which the tire is mounted, measured in inches.
HOW THESE PARAMETERS WORK
Tire Width affects tread and sidewall dimensions.
Aspect Ratio determines sidewall height.
Wheel Diameter defines the central opening of the tire.


PATTERN TILING AND ADJUSTMENTS
Once the tire's profile is defined, the tread pattern is tiled. The minimum division for the tread sections is set to 32 to ensure proper meshing. The tile is represented by a curve that spans from the outer circle to the inner circle of the tire.
To avoid issues such as point overlaps or misalignments along the length of the tile, each section is adjusted by calculating the angle (θ) for every spline section point. Corrections ensure a seamless, closed-loop cylinder without manual adjustments.


PREPARING FOR EXTRUSION
After generating the base tire shape, the next step involves dividing polygons vertically and horizontally to enable controlled extrusion. Standard tools proved inadequate due to variations in polygon sizes and orientations, leading to the development of a custom tool.
This approach ensures uniform splitting by calculating edge weights and iteratively dividing groups while maintaining consistent polygon edge lengths. It also preserves circular radii, preventing distortions during processing.


RADIAL POLYGON DISPLACEMENT
A tool allows grouping of edge loops for radial displacement, supporting symmetrical and asymmetrical tread patterns. Soft selection provides smooth transitions, ensuring precision and flexibility in design.


UV MAPPING
Two types of UV maps are generated:
1. Pattern-Based UVs – Divides the tire into quadrants to map tread patterns and sidewalls separately.
2. Cylindrical UVs – Ensures seamless mapping along the tire's circular profile.
This dual UV setup allows for precise application of materials, easy customization of patterns, and efficient baking of textures, such as normal and displacement maps.
SIDEWALL MARKINGS
An SVG export tool enables detailed sidewall customization by converting geometry to splines and creating editable tiles. Edited patterns are re-applied to the tire model. This tool can also be applied to custom surfaces, including non-tire geometry, expanding its usability.


TREAD PATTERN CREATION
Artists can use standard modeling operations (extrusion, deletion, displacement) to design tread patterns. Automated calculations handle:
1. Seamless Tiling: Ensures the pattern loops perfectly around the tire.
2. Height Adjustment: Calculates and maintains uniform depth for extruded areas.
3. Alignment with Tire Profile: Conforms the pattern to the curved surface of the tire without requiring manual corrections.
This workflow provides creative flexibility for artists while maintaining procedural consistency.
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