Having Specified Tread Shoulder Structure Patents (Class 152/209.16)
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Patent number: 8056591Abstract: A pneumatic tire is mounted onto a rim with maximum loading, and with an air pressure corresponding to maximum loading, such that the ground contact shape has a gradually decreasing circumferential direction length from the tire width direction center to the portion corresponding towards the tire width direction outermost circumferential groove, followed by the ground contact shape having a gradually increasing circumferential direction length towards the tire width direction outside. In the ground contact shape, the relationships 0.02?(A?B)/L?0.1, and 0.02?(C?B)/L?0.1 are satisfied, in which A is the maximum length in the circumferential direction of the tire width direction outermost rib, L is the circumferential direction length of the tire width direction center, and B and C are distances in a tire circumferential direction which depend on the width of the tire width direction outermost rib and the width of the second rib from the outside in the tire width direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2005Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Bridgestone CorporationInventors: Mie Nonaka, Naomichi Funato
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Patent number: 8037909Abstract: Pneumatic radial tires are described having belt layers deposited under a tread and a ring-shaped water-splash control rib (100) formed on the sidewall (20), wherein the upper profile Lb of the rib is positioned above a continuation line (Ca) which extends along an average profile of an outmost belt layer and which is divided in to upper and lower profile of the outmost belt layer, the rib comprising drainage grooves or drainage protuberances in the upper profile of the rib, the height h of the rib is 0.085-0.115 times the width TW of the tread (0.085TW?h?0.115TW).Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2007Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: Kumho Tire Co., Inc.Inventors: Kang-Jong Song, Sung-Wan Park, Kang Byeon
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Publication number: 20110198005Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided with a large number of holes that are arranged in the tire's circumferential direction. These holes are provided in land portions that are provided in both shoulder sections of a tread. The land portions can have different pitch lengths. Each of the holes has formed there inside a projection having an upper end with a flat surface or a convex surface. The distance between the outer wall of the projection at the upper end thereof and the inner wall of the hole is set in the range from 1 to 5 mm. The upper end of the projection is located at a position below the opening of the hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2009Publication date: August 18, 2011Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.Inventors: Atsushi Tanno, Hiroshi Fujii
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Patent number: 7992606Abstract: The offset amount that a sacrificial rib road contact surface is recessed to the inner side of a tire with regards to a shoulder rib road contact surface is equal to 0, and a circumferential fine groove is provided such that the opening side thereof is located on the inner side when the tire is filled to a proper internal pressure. The dimension Ws in the tire width direction of the shoulder rib road contact surface and the dimension Wa in the tire width direction of the sacrificial rib road contact surface are set such that 0.10?Wa/Ws?0.2. The dimension Wb in the tire width direction of the sacrificial rib road contact surface when the groove depth of the circumferential main grooves has worn 20% is set in a range such that 0.25?Wb/Ws?0.30.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2009Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.Inventors: Taisuke Sakaguchi, Hiroshi Ilzuka
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Publication number: 20110125465Abstract: The present invention provides structures on the tread of a tire that improve the evacuation of mud, soil and the like. In particular, different tread features are provided that may improve the evacuation of mud, soil and the like by themselves or by strategically combining them. These different tread features may be tested to see how they affect mud evacuation at different rotational speeds by a test apparatus that mimics the performance of a tire. For example, a tread that has offset shoulder tread blocks, which shows good mud evacuation at lower speeds, may be combined with shoulder grooves with pockets that show good mud evacuation at intermediate speeds to see if this combination provides a solution that has the lowest change of speed necessary to evacuate 50-87% of the mud found in the grooves.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2010Publication date: May 26, 2011Inventor: Patrick J. BURESH
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Publication number: 20110056601Abstract: A pneumatic tire in which: a carcass layer is laid between paired bead sections; a belt layer is buried, on the outer peripheral side of the carcass layer, in a tread section; and multiple main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction are provided in the tread section. In the pneumatic tire, a maximum groove depth of each of the main grooves is 8.5 mm to 15.0 mm, a ratio ? of a section height SH of an actual tire to a section height SHstd calculated from a tire size is set in a range of 0.97???0.99, a contact area ratio is 65% to 70% under a measurement condition where an air pressure is 200 kPa and a load is 50% of a load carrying ability with the air pressure of 200 kPa, and an average contact pressure P is 300 kPa to 400 kPa under the measurement condition. The tire achieves enhanced wet performance without increasing tire weight.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2009Publication date: March 10, 2011Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.Inventor: Masahiro Ebiko
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Patent number: 7882875Abstract: A pneumatic tire having shoulder blocks defined on a shoulder side of the tread surface by lateral grooves extending in the widthwise direction of the tire beyond a ground contact end of the tire, the shoulder blocks being arranged in the circumferential direction of the tire. A bottom-raising portion is provided only on a bottom of every other lateral groove of the lateral grooves. Two shoulder blocks adjacent in the circumferential direction of the tire are connected by the first bottom-raising portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2008Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masaharu Sekoguchi, Shinichi Mori
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Patent number: 7870881Abstract: A method for reducing tire microsliding includes defining a rotation point and rotating a cross section profile about it. A cross section of a radially-external reference profile of a tread band includes a first rectilinear segment near at least one circumferential rib of a first shoulder portion. The first rectilinear segment extends axially outward beyond a corresponding shoulder edge point. A cross section profile of the at least one circumferential rib of the first shoulder portion includes a second rectilinear segment. The rotation point is on the first rectilinear segment, either the corresponding shoulder edge point itself or axially outward of it. The cross section profile of the first rectilinear segment is rotated to define the cross section profile of the second rectilinear segment, so that an axially-inner end of the second rectilinear segment is closer to the carcass structure than an axially-inner end of the first rectilinear segment.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2005Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.Inventors: Alberto Carra, Fabio Montanaro
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Publication number: 20110005650Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a pneumatic tire capable of preventing the step-wear in shoulder land portion and increases anti-irregular wear performance. In order to achieve the object, a thin groove is included on the tread surface, the thin groove comprises a first cut groove and a second cut groove, both of which have a start point thereof on an inner side wall of the thin groove as viewed in the width direction of the tire, the second cut groove is located at the inner side than the first cut groove as viewed in the diameter direction of the tire, and the bottom of the first cut groove is located at the inner side than an upper position of the opening of the second cut groove as viewed in the diameter direction of the tire.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2010Publication date: January 13, 2011Applicant: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.Inventor: Akinori Miyake
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Publication number: 20100314012Abstract: A pneumatic tire 1 having excellent on-snow performances improved with maintaining steering stability and uneven wear resistance and including tread portion 2 having a pair of crown circumferential grooves 3 which extend continuously in the tire circumferential direction on both sides of tire equator C and have groove edges, one edge 3m extending in such a zigzag form that italic L-shaped groove edge segments 3s are continuously connected to each other in the circumferential direction, and the other edge 3n extending in such a wavy form that circular arc groove edge segments 3o each having a circular arc shape convex toward a groove center are continuously connected to each other in the circumferential direction, wherein each of the italic L-shaped groove edge segments 3s comprises long side part 3c inclined at an angle of 1 to 20° with respect to the circumferential direction, and short side part 3t having a circumferential length smaller than that of the long side part 3c and inclined in the opposite directType: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2010Publication date: December 16, 2010Inventor: Yoshihiro HADA
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Publication number: 20100300588Abstract: A land ratio of a shoulder portion Sh of a tread portion 2 is 57 to 72%, and a land ratio of a center portion Ce is 40 to 55%. In the center portion Ce, one row block made up of center blocks 6 is formed. Each of the center blocks 6 has its width gradually reduced from a position establishing an axial maximum width BW toward both a leading end and a trailing end relative to the tire rotating direction, each of the center blocks being provided with, at the leading end thereof, a tip portion 6a that sharpens toward the leading end, and being provided with, at the trailing end thereof, a concave portion 6b that smoothly concaves toward the leading end. In each of the center blocks 6, a ratio (BL/BW) between the axial maximum width BW and a maximum length BL in the circumferential direction is 1.00 to 1.20.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2008Publication date: December 2, 2010Inventor: Hideki Otsuji
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Patent number: 7836925Abstract: In a pneumatic tire in which a tread with a plurality of grooves 1 and 2 including main grooves 1 extending in the tire circumferential direction formed and in which block 3 is formed on shoulder portions of tread T by grooves 1 and 2, on intersection line L between a surface of tread T and a surface of side portion S, the first sipes 11 extending in the tire circumferential direction R are formed, and the depth direction of the sipes 11 and 12 is parallel to tire equatorial plane C, and the sipes 12 are deeper than the sipes 11 and the sipes 12 are wider than the sipes 11, and height difference between a surface of wearing region 13 and a surface of side portion S is not greater than 2.0 mm.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2007Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shinichi Kaji, Yuichi Nakamura, Hiroaki Sugimoto, Harunobu Suita
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Patent number: 7832439Abstract: A pneumatic tire capable of preventing wandering without impairing wear resistance, including tread portion 2 having circumferential shoulder grooves 6c extending at locations near ground contact edges E and lateral shoulder grooves 7d extending between circumferential groove 6c and ground contact edge E, and having square shoulders such that tread surface 2a and buttress face 14 extending radially inwardly and axially outwardly from ground contact edge E intersects to form an edge or corner, wherein each shoulder block B4 is provided with circumferential sipe 11 in a region apart axially inwardly from ground contact edge E by a distance of 2 mm or more and a distance of 10 mm or less, the buttress face 14 is provided with recess 15 extending circumferentially in at least a part of projection region Z obtained by projecting circumferential sipe 11 onto buttress face 14, and radially innermost end 15B of recess 15 is located at a radial position corresponding to a region ranging from 50 to 100% of the depth ofType: GrantFiled: March 5, 2008Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Akio Ikeda, Naoki Kageyama, Masaki Terashima, Noriko Kishimoto
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Publication number: 20100269967Abstract: A heavy duty radial tire comprises a tread portion divided into four or five circumferential ribs and a tread reinforcing belt including a maximum width belt ply. The width Bw of the maximum width belt ply is 0.90 to 0.98 times the tread width Tw. The contour shape of the tire footprint has a ground contacting length CB at a 70% width position and a ground contacting length CC at a 97% width position, wherein the ratio CB/CC is 1.00 to 1.06. In a tread edge near region J, (1) the axially outermost shoulder rib is provided with no circumferential groove having a width of less than 5 mm, and a ratio Rs/Rc of an axial width Rs of the shoulder rib to an axial width Rc of a center rib is 1.25 to 1.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2010Publication date: October 28, 2010Inventor: Kiyoto MARUOKA
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Patent number: 7819153Abstract: A tire having an equatorial plane and a circumferential tread is provided. The tread includes at least one recess defined by at least one concave surface having a plurality of sipes formed therein. Optionally, the at least one concave surface can include one or more channel disposed therein.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2006Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Inventors: Francis J. Byrne, Keith Dumigan
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Publication number: 20100236680Abstract: A pneumatic tire capable of improving drainage performance and noise-reduction. The pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion being provided with central longitudinal grooves 3a, shoulder longitudinal grooves 3b, and intermediate land portions 4a each defined between the central longitudinal groove 3a and said shoulder longitudinal groove 3b. The intermediate land portion 4a is provided with a thin groove 5 extending the tire at a position away axially inside from the shoulder longitudinal groove 3b, intermediate slant grooves 6 each extending from the thin groove 5 toward said central longitudinal groove 3a while inclining terminating without being connected to the central longitudinal groove 3a, and connection grooves 7 each extending so as to connect between the adjacent intermediate slant grooves 6 in the circumferential direction of the tire. Each of the connection groove 7 inclines in the same direction as the intermediate slant groove 6 at an angle smaller than that of the intermediate slant groove 6.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2008Publication date: September 23, 2010Inventor: Tomoyuki Mukai
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Publication number: 20100218866Abstract: Tire having a tread, sidewalls axially and radially extending towards the inside of the tread, the tread having a running surface, intended to be in contact with the ground during running, and axially lateral faces on either side of the tread, this tire having, furthermore, at least on one of the sidewalls and near the tread, a circumferential rib intended to modify the height of expelled water in the transverse direction (corresponding to a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the tire) in the case of the tire running on wet ground. The circumferential rib comprises a deflector device for deflecting the stream of expelled water in the case of the tire running on water-covered ground, this deflector device being formed from a plurality of protuberances projecting from the circumferential rib and being arranged in an oblique direction with respect to the transverse direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2008Publication date: September 2, 2010Applicants: Societe De Technologie Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.Inventors: Jean-Marc D'Harcourt, Fabien Sonilhac
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Patent number: 7784511Abstract: A tire has a tread and a pair of opposing shoulders. In the first sidewall, a series of extension blocks creates a pair of concentric rings. In the second sidewall, a different configuration of extension blocks may be present. The second sidewall has alternating extension blocks where one of the blocks has a portion that is located radially inward of the other block.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2007Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Delwyn Lovell Harvey, John Fleming Brainerd, II, Brian David Digman
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Publication number: 20100200135Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a pneumatic tire excellent in running performance on a rough road. In order to achieve the object, a pneumatic tire comprises a tread surface having a plurality of lug grooves each of which opens to a sidewall, the sidewall includes a plurality of protrusions disposed thereon, wherein each of the lug grooves includes a protruding strip portion disposed on a groove bottom of the lug groove and extending along an extending direction of the lug groove, the protruding strip portion has a start point thereof at an inner side than a ground-contact point in a width direction as viewed from a front side thereof, and extends up to one of the protrusions beyond an open end of the lug groove located at the sidewall side and is connected to the protrusion.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2010Publication date: August 12, 2010Applicant: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masaaki Ohara
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Patent number: 7757735Abstract: A pneumatic tire has longitudinal grooves formed continuously in a circumferential direction of the pneumatic tire in a region of a buttress part disposed between a tread part and a sidewall part; a plurality of transverse grooves formed continuously with the longitudinal grooves in the above-described region of the buttress part in an axial direction of the pneumatic tire, with the transverse grooves spaced at certain intervals in the circumferential direction of the pneumatic tire; and a concave portion formed in each of a plurality of blocks surrounded with the longitudinal grooves and the transverse grooves, with the concave portion extended in the circumferential direction of the pneumatic tire. The above-described region of the buttress part is adjacent to a periphery of an end of a contact surface of the tread part. The number of the concave portions is varied according to a circumferential length of each of the blocks.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2006Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Kazuya Suzuki
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Publication number: 20100147427Abstract: In a pneumatic tire for a front wheel, turning performance on a wet road surface is improved compared with a conventional tire. In a pneumatic tire for a front wheel 10, a tread shoulder region 28S extends from a tread edge 20E toward a tire equatorial plane across a width of 20% of a developed width of a tread 28, and a land portion 56 defined by lateral portions 50 is disposed at the tread shoulder region 28S. Regarding the land portion 56, a wall surface 56K of the land portion at a trailing side is parallel to the tire radial direction; a wall surface 56H of the land portion at a leading side inclines from a groove bottom toward a groove opening, and an angle thereof relative to the tire radial direction is 35 degrees. It is effective especially for circumferential leaning deformation of the land portion 56 when braking force acts thereon, whereby lifting of an edge of the land portion at the leading side arisen from the tilting deformation can be suppressed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2006Publication date: June 17, 2010Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATIONInventor: Makoto Ishiyama
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Publication number: 20100122759Abstract: [Problem] To improve uneven wear resistance. [Resolution Means] The offset amount H that the road contact surface of a sacrifice rib 42 is recessed to the inner side in the tire radial direction with regards to the road contact surface of a shoulder rib 41 is equal to 0, and a circumferential fine groove 5 is provided at an angle such that the opening side thereof is located on the inner side in the tire width direction when the tire is filled to a proper internal pressure. Furthermore, with regards to the dimension Ws in the tire width direction of the road contact surface of the shoulder rib of a new tire, the dimension Wa in the tire width direction of the road contact surface of the sacrifice rib of a new tire is set such that 0.10?Wa/Ws?0.2, the dimension Wb in the tire width direction of the road contact surface of the sacrifice rib when the groove depth of the circumferential main grooves has worn 20% is set in a range such that 0.25?Wb/Ws?0.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2009Publication date: May 20, 2010Inventors: Taisuke Sakaguchi, Hiroshi Ilzuka
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Publication number: 20100059157Abstract: A tire has a circumferential tread, the tread including shoulder tread regions configured for off-road performance separated by and interlocking with a center tread region configured for on-road performance. The shoulder tread regions are defined by a repeating pattern of two or more distinct shoulder tread elements and the center tread region is defined by a repeating pattern of two or more distinct center tread elements. The shoulder tread elements each have a ground contacting surface area greater than a ground contacting surface area of the center tread elements. The center tread elements extend at a relatively greater angle of inclination with respect to an equatorial centerplane of the tire and the shoulder tread elements extend at a relatively lesser angle of inclination with respect to the centerplane.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2008Publication date: March 11, 2010Inventors: Charles Joseph Ashton, Mark Leonard Bonko, Robert Edgar Boore, Michael Howard Curtis, Max Harold Dixon, Joshua Randall Elsass, John David Renner
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Publication number: 20100043934Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a circumferential tread disposed between opposing tread edges and opposing sidewalls disposed radially inward from the opposing tread edges. Each sidewall has a rectangular extension block and a triangular extension block. The rectangular extension block protrudes axially outward by a first amount. The triangular extension block protrudes axially outward by a second amount. The first amount is less than the second amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2008Publication date: February 25, 2010Inventor: Delwyn Lovell Harvey
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Publication number: 20100038002Abstract: A pneumatic tire 10 having a radially outer tread 12, the tread 12 having a plurality of tread elements defined by grooves arranged circumferentially and laterally around the tread 12 between a pair of lateral tread edges TE to define a tread pattern. The tread 12 has a plurality of tread elements extending across the width of the tread between the lateral edges including central tread elements 24, 26, 28 and shoulder tread elements 20, 22 having leading 21, 25 and trailing tread edges 23, 27. The shoulder tread elements 20, 22 are arranged in two rows SH1, SH2, one row adjacent each lateral edge TE. At least one row of shoulder elements has the leading edges inclined relative to the direction of rotation of the tire 10 having an axially outward portion of the leading edge entering and exiting a footprint contact patch 100 prior to the axially inner portion of the leading edge of the shoulder tread elements 20, 22.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2008Publication date: February 18, 2010Applicant: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Ben Baicheng Wen, Joel Joseph Lazeration
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Publication number: 20100006196Abstract: There is provided a pneumatic tire capable of surely restraining uneven wear for a long term.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2007Publication date: January 14, 2010Applicant: Bridgestone CorporationInventor: Yasunori Abe
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Publication number: 20090159166Abstract: Protrusions 11 are provided in a buttress portion 20, the protrusions 11 are composed of a center portion 11a extending from the groove bottom 4 of the transverse grooves 2 toward the tire rotational axis and side portions 11b, the center portion 11a and the side portions 11b are integrally formed, the side portions 11b extend from the same cross-sectional height as, that of the center portion toward the tire rotational axis, the protrusions 11 extend at least to a virtual line 22 in which the inner most belt layer 21a is virtually extended to the buttress portion 20, and the width W of the side portions 11b is 7% to 30% of the depth D of the transverse grooves 2, and the thickness L of the protrusions 11 on the virtual line 22 is 1 mm to 10 mm.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2008Publication date: June 25, 2009Applicant: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.Inventor: Sachio Sakamoto
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Publication number: 20090107600Abstract: A lightweight truck and passenger vehicle tire having an improved tread design that provides numerous biting edges for increased grip in mud, snow, loose debris, and when climbing rocks as well as providing increased protection from punctures and cuts to the tire's shoulder and upper sidewall regions.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2007Publication date: April 30, 2009Inventors: Lisa Marie Missik-Gaffney, Brian David Digman, John Fleming Brainerd, II, Timothy Michael Rooney, Jonathan James Shondel
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Publication number: 20090065115Abstract: A tire tread has a decoupling groove (32) with walls (20, 22) that have a wavy shape in the radial direction with respect to the tire geometry, i.e. at least one axial deviation (26, 28) along the depth of the decoupling groove (18). An axial cut through the tire tread (10) divulges a wavy course of the decoupling groove (18), where the two walls (20, 22) have contours that complement each other. During a road contact of a respective tread section, the decoupling groove (18) closes, and a radially interlocking connection between the shoulder rib (12) and the decoupler rib (14) is made. Under load, the decoupler rib (14) functions like a part of the tread (10), thus protecting the shoulder rib (12) from erosion wear.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2007Publication date: March 12, 2009Inventor: Daniel Stephen Mathews
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Patent number: 7464738Abstract: A tire for a wheel of a vehicle includes a carcass, a belt structure, and a tread. The tread pattern includes at least two circumferential grooves and at least three circumferential ribs. The grooves include a zigzag configuration and a shape repeated according to a circumferential pitch. Within a single pitch, each groove includes at least two directions different from a circumferential direction of the tire, generating at least two ground-gripping fronts in each of two rotation directions of the tire, and at least one blind transverse cut extending from opposite sides of the groove, generating a third ground-gripping front. Ends of the blind transverse cuts are positioned on planes parallel to each other and to an equatorial plane of the tire. The first plane and the second plane delimit a continuous portion of at least one of the circumferential ribs. The continuous portion includes a constant axial width.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2000Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.Inventors: Flavio Junior Bettiol, Luigi Campana
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Publication number: 20080257468Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprising, on a tread face of the tire, a shoulder land portion extending in a circumferential direction of the tire, and a thin groove extending in the circumferential direction of the tire adjacent to a contact end of the shoulder land portion where comes into contact with the ground and segmenting the shoulder land portion into a main land portion located at the inner side thereof as viewed in the width direction of the tire and a sacrifice land portion located at the outer side thereof as viewed in the width direction of the tire, wherein the thin groove includes an enlarged portion extending in the circumferential direction of the tire in which a groove width thereof at groove bottom is enlarged toward the sacrifice land portion side only, and a protruding portion that protrudes toward the groove bottom side along the inner wall located at the sacrifice land portion side and extends in the circumferential direction of the tire.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2008Publication date: October 23, 2008Applicant: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masaaki Ohara
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Patent number: 7431062Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire having a thin groove continuous in a tire circumferential direction at a buttress formed between a shoulder of a tread and a sidewall includes a tire contour portion that is formed between an end portion of the shoulder and a groove floor of the thin groove. A tire transverse direction outermost portion at a shoulder side curved portion is disposed further toward a tire radial direction inner side than a sidewall side end portion of a sidewall side groove wall surface of the thin groove.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2004Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.Inventor: Atsushi Gojo
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Publication number: 20080230163Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire having a thin groove continuous in a tire circumferential direction at a buttress formed between a shoulder of a tread and a sidewall includes a tire contour portion that is formed between an end portion of the shoulder and a groove floor of the thin groove. A tire transverse direction outermost portion at a shoulder side curved portion is disposed further toward a tire radial direction inner side than a sidewall side end portion of a sidewall side groove wall surface of the thin groove.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2008Publication date: September 25, 2008Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.Inventor: Atsushi Gojo
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Publication number: 20080223495Abstract: A pneumatic tire capable of preventing wandering without impairing wear resistance, including tread portion 2 having circumferential shoulder grooves 6c extending at locations near ground contact edges E and lateral shoulder grooves 7d extending between circumferential groove 6c and ground contact edge E, and having square shoulders such that tread surface 2a and buttress face 14 extending radially inwardly and axially outwardly from ground contact edge E intersects to form an edge or corner, wherein each shoulder block B4 is provided with circumferential sipe 11 in a region apart axially inwardly from ground contact edge E by a distance of 2 mm or more and a distance of 10 mm or less, the buttress face 14 is provided with recess 15 extending circumferentially in at least a part of projection region Z obtained by projecting circumferential sipe 11 onto buttress face 14, and radially innermost end 15B of recess 15 is located at a radial position corresponding to a region ranging from 50 to 100% of the depth ofType: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2008Publication date: September 18, 2008Inventors: Akio Ikeda, Naoki Kageyama, Masaki Terashima, Noriko Kishimoto
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Publication number: 20080196806Abstract: A tyre for a motor vehicle, in particular a high-performance tyre, is provided with a tread having an overall width. The tread includes first and second circumferential grooves which separate a central region from first and second shoulder regions. The tread includes a circumferential cut in the first shoulder region at a distance from the first circumferential groove; and a plurality of circumferentially repeated transverse groove modules. A first shoulder portion of each transverse groove module includes at least one main transverse groove which includes a first substantially rectilinear portion inclined by a first angle with respect to a radial plane, a second substantially rectilinear portion inclined by a second angle with respect to the radial plane and arranged between the circumferential cut and the first circumferential groove, and a first curve portion connecting the first and the second substantially rectilinear portions.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2004Publication date: August 21, 2008Inventors: Giuseppe Matrascia, Vito Bello, Maurizio Boiocchi
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Publication number: 20080173380Abstract: The pneumatic tire has the characteristics in that the pneumatic tire is provided with a plurality of main grooves 1 extending in the tire circumferential direction formed on a tread T, a rib 2 formed at least on the shoulder portion of the tread T, a first fine groove 3 extending in the tire circumferential direction formed on the inner side of the tire width direction than a grounding end E, and the thin rib 4 formed by the first fine groove 3 and the grounding end E, wherein a second fine groove 5 is formed on the outer side of the tire width direction than the grounding end E, the second fine groove 5 is on the outer side of the tire width direction than a virtual surface S1 that passes the grounding end E and is vertical to the tire rotational axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2007Publication date: July 24, 2008Applicant: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masaaki Ohara
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Publication number: 20080149241Abstract: A plurality of main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction and a plurality of sub grooves that communicates with the main grooves are formed in a tread portion. A plurality of central land portions is formed in a block shape by the main grooves and the sub grooves, and a plurality of shoulder land portions is formed in a rib shape by the main grooves. A ratio A of a total groove area to an area of a region of a tread development width satisfies 0.25?A?0.32, and a ratio B of the total groove area to an area of a region between the right and left shoulder land portions satisfies 0.35?B?0.45.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2006Publication date: June 26, 2008Applicant: YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.Inventors: Hirokatsu Maruyama, Takumi Morito
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Publication number: 20080142135Abstract: In a tire tread with a decoupling groove (38), the edge (36) of the tread rib (32) adjoining the decoupling groove (38) has a wavy contour. The wavy edge (36) provides protection from step-off wear because erosion at one location is confined to the affected wave. The adjacent edge (44) of the decoupler rib (34) may have a complementary wavy contour. In the area of the contact patch, where the vehicle load on the tire deforms the tread, these two edges (36,44) will interlock with each other, thus protecting the outer edge (36) of the tread rib. Instead, the outer edge of the decoupler rib (34) will be subjected to erosion wear. Toward the bottom of the decoupling groove (38), the wavy contour of the edges (36,44) may taper off. The bottom of the decoupling groove (38) can be arranged in a straight circumferential line.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2006Publication date: June 19, 2008Inventor: Daniel Stephen Mathews
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Patent number: 7341082Abstract: A pneumatic tire with a shoulder rib and lateral grooves defined in a shoulder rib. A tread and shoulder of the tire are joined along a shoulder edge. The tread includes a circumferential groove defining the shoulder rib, which is adjacent to the tire's shoulder. The lateral grooves, which intersect the shoulder edge, extend laterally across the shoulder rib, but do not intersect the circumferential groove.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2004Date of Patent: March 11, 2008Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventor: Olivier de Barsy
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Publication number: 20070267115Abstract: A tire tread has a decoupling groove (18) with an opening angle (?) of approximately 15°. Even if gravel is moved into the groove (18) by the decoupler rib (14), it will easily fall out once the tread section loses touch with the road surface and the groove (18) expands to its relaxed shape. Additionally, the ridge (24) of the decoupler rib (14) is rounded with a radius (R2) of about 2 mm. By this means, it has a much lower tendency to pick up rocks by scooping when bending toward the shoulder rib (16). A rounded bottom of the decoupling groove (18) with a radius (R1) of approximately 1.5 mm, will prevent any rocks from wedging into the bottom of the decoupling groove (18).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2006Publication date: November 22, 2007Inventor: Daniel Stephen Mathews
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Patent number: 7281554Abstract: To provide a pneumatic tire in which noise can be reduced without changing the basic design of the block pattern, a chamfered portion 24 is provided at a tire widthwise-direction outer side end 18A of a leading edge 18A of a block 18. When the tire rolls and the block 18 contacts a road surface, first, with respect to the leading edge 18A, a flat portion 22 contacts the ground, and then the chamfered portion 24 contacts the ground. Because the height of the chamfered portion 24 gradually decreases towards the tire widthwise-direction outer side end, the leading edge 18A at the chamfered portion 24 gradually makes contact with the road surface, whereby force input that generates sound is dispersed in terms of input timing and it is possible to suppress the generation of noise (mainly a striking sound) at the initial state of the block 18 contacting the road surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2002Date of Patent: October 16, 2007Assignee: Bridgestone CorproationInventor: Fumio Takahashi
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Publication number: 20070227638Abstract: In a pneumatic tire in which a tread with a plurality of grooves 1 and 2 including main grooves 1 extending in the tire circumferential direction formed and in which block 3 is formed on shoulder portions of tread T by grooves 1 and 2, on intersection line L between a surface of tread T and a surface of side portion S, the first sipes 11 extending in the tire circumferential direction R are formed, and the depth direction of the sipes 11 and 12 is parallel to tire equatorial plane C, and the sipes 12 are deeper than the sipes 11 and the sipes 12 are wider than the sipes 11, and height difference between a surface of wearing region 13 and a surface of side portion S is not greater than 2.0 mm.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2007Publication date: October 4, 2007Applicant: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shinichi Kaji, Yuichi Nakamura, Hiroaki Sugimoto, Harunobu Suita
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Patent number: 7222651Abstract: A tire for preventing vehicle rollover or oversteer comprises a pair of bead portions, a pair of sidewall portions, a tread portion extending between the pair of sidewall portions, and a portion of low friction material positioned along an edge of the tread portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2003Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: TreadFx, LLCInventor: Steven D. Kaplan
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Patent number: 7178570Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided in the tread portion with circumferential grooves, main oblique grooves and auxiliary oblique grooves. The circumferential grooves include: a pair of axially outer grooves disposed one on each side of the tire equator; and at least one axially inner groove between the axially outer grooves, so as to divide the tread portion into at least four circumferential regions including: a pair of axially inner regions between the axially outer grooves and said at least one axially inner groove; and a pair of axially outer regions axially outside the axially outer grooves. The axially inner regions have an axial width L1 of from 0.15 to 0.25 times the critical tread width TW1. The main oblique groove extends across one of the axially inner regions so that the axially outer end is connected with the adjacent axially outer circumferential groove and the axially inner end is connected with the adjacent axially inner groove.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2004Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Takehiko Murata
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Patent number: 7152641Abstract: A heavy-duty pneumatic tire designed to suppress the occurrence of heel-and-toe wear in the shoulder blocks while maintaining good drainage and traction performance through the final stage of the wear life. In this heavy-duty pneumatic tire, whose shoulder portion is divided into a plurality of shoulder blocks in the tire circumferential direction, and wherein the depth of the lug groove between each two adjacent of the shoulder blocks is set to be equal to the depth of main the grooves, a non-contact rib is provided, in a serial configuration in the tire circumferential direction, to a buttress portion outside a ground contact width, so as to come into contact with the side faces of the shoulder blocks in the state that the tire is in contact with the ground with a specified inflation pressure and a specified load.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2004Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.Inventor: Toshiro Ooyama
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Patent number: 7140410Abstract: An improved truck racing tire includes three belts and reduced tread and undertread thickness for weight reduction. An asymmetric shoulder design is provided and circumferential grooves having wear indicia therein at a preselected depth are incorporated into the tread to divide the tread into plural ribs. Notches are formed within the tread ribs in circumferential patterns of distribution at a depth equivalent to the depth of groove tread wear indicators. The tread is constructed of a relatively softer compound in the cap and a relatively harder compound in the base. The boundary between the cap and the base is at a depth corresponding to the notch depth and the wear indicators within the grooves to provide a further indication and confirmation of wear pattern and magnitude.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2004Date of Patent: November 28, 2006Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Jean-Nicolas Helt, Pascal Patrick Steiner, Fahri Ozel
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Patent number: 7128111Abstract: A pneumatic tire which comprises a tread portion with a pair of tread edges, and a tire shoulder extending radially inwardly from one of the tread edges, provided with a curved surface comprising a convex curve, wherein, on a cylindrical surface centered on the tire axis and intersecting the curved surface, the convex curve swells axially outwards and has a curvature, and the curvature gradually diminishes towards the radially inside from the tread edge. It is possible that the tread portion is provided along the tread edges with a circumferentially extending rib and/or a circumferential row of blocks. In case of circumferential rib, the rib is provided with the curved surface comprising a plurality of the convex curves and a plurality of convex curves alternating therewith so that the curved surface is waved in the tire circumferential direction. In case of blocks in a circumferential row, it is preferable that each block is provided with the curved surface comprising at last one convex curve.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2003Date of Patent: October 31, 2006Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Satoshi Tsuda
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Patent number: 7128110Abstract: An agricultural wheel tire has a tire tread having first and second lateral edges defining the width of the tire tread, and two sets of lugs. Each lug of the first set extends from a center of the tread width and terminates at the first lateral edge of the tire tread. Each lug of the second set extends from the center of the tread width and terminates at the second lateral edge of the tire tread. The first and second sets of lugs extend in an alternating manner in a circumferential direction of the tire tread so that corresponding side and end surfaces of adjacent first and second lugs and corresponding surfaces of the tire tread form substantially spherical-shaped depressed portions of the tire tread.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2004Date of Patent: October 31, 2006Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nobuo Yamazaki, Keiji Iino
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Patent number: 7125023Abstract: A rollover protecting system for a vehicle comprising an actuator for pushing out an upper arm to an external direction of the vehicle by pivoting a pivot arm such that a tire produces a positive camber in relation to the road surface. Protruding ends are formed on a shoulder part of the tire for reducing a contact surface of the tire to the road, thereby reducing the lateral force applied to the tire and preventing an occurrence of rollover.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2003Date of Patent: October 24, 2006Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Hyun-Jong Cho
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Patent number: 7048022Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a tread designed primarily for off-road activities, comprising large lugs. The tread can be defined as having a central tread width that is divided into a central tread zone and opposing lateral tread zones. The tire also has shoulder regions extending from each lateral tread zone. The tread itself has a plurality of tread elements separated by lateral grooves in the lateral tread zones. The lateral grooves in the lateral tread zones are protected by elongated pads, the pads extending from between a pair of the tread elements and into a shoulder region of the tire. Each pad has a radial height less than the adjacent tread elements and has a base width greater than 50% of the width of the lateral grooves.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2003Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Timothy Michael Rooney, James Joseph Nespo