Abstract: A tire includes a tread portion including first and second tread edges, a first shoulder land portion including the first tread edge, and a first shoulder circumferential groove located inwardly in a tire axial direction of and adjacent to the first shoulder land portion and extending continuously in a tire circumferential direction. The first shoulder land portion is provided with a plurality of first shoulder lateral grooves extending from the first shoulder circumferential groove across the first tread edge, each of the plurality of first shoulder lateral grooves has a pair of first groove walls, and the pair of first groove walls is provided with a pair of first chamfer portions that extends from the first shoulder circumferential groove to a first location beyond the first tread edge.

Abstract: A tire for motorcycles, having a tread band includes a central annular portion, two lateral annular portions and two shoulder annular portions. The axial extension of these portions is not greater than 25%, 35%, and 20% of the axial development of the tread band, respectively. The tread band includes a module repeated along the circumference of the tire in which at least two substantially longitudinal grooves, mainly extending in the lateral annular portions, include, moving axially away from the equatorial plane of the tire, at least three substantially straight and substantially consecutive segments, wherein the first segment forms an angle with respect to the equatorial plane greater than 150°; and the second segment has a length measured along its extension smaller than the length of the first segment.

Abstract: Road-going assembly consisting of a vehicle comprising a front axle and a rear axle, and of a set of tires which are mounted on their mounting rim in order to be fitted to the front axle and the rear axle of this vehicle, the tires of the rear axle having grooves the mean depths of which are at least equal to 3 mm and at most equal to 5 mm, the tires of the front axle having grooves the mean depths of which are greater than 5 mm, this road-going assembly having, at least in the case of the rear axle, static setups (camber, toe-in) of close to zero, that is to say a camber of each wheel-tire assembly on the said axle of between ?0.8 degrees and +0.8 degrees and a toe-in at each wheel of between ?0.15 degrees and +0.15 degrees, the static setups of the tires of one and the same axle being equal in terms of absolute value and symmetric with respect to a plane perpendicular to the road surface.

Abstract: Motorcycle tire suitable for mounting on the rear wheel of a motorcycle, including a tread band having a tread pattern includes a module which is repeated in a direction of circumferential extension of the tire, the module having: at least two substantially longitudinal first grooves which are inclined opposite to each other with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire; and at least two substantially longitudinal second grooves which are inclined opposite to each other with respect to the equatorial plane. Each substantially longitudinal first groove alternates with a second longitudinal groove. The substantially longitudinal first grooves have, in a direction axially away from the equatorial plane of the tire, two substantially consecutive curvilinear sections, the first section of which has a convexity and the second section of which has a concavity directed in the rolling direction of the tire.

Abstract: There is provided a pneumatic radial tire for a motorcycle enabling safe running the motorcycle in conformity to various road conditions by achieving both performances of wet performance, i.e., hydroplaning and traction performances in particular, and linearity in handling at high level. In the pneumatic radial tire for a motorcycle, (a) tilt lug grooves are disposed at a tilt angle of 5 to 85° relative to a tire circumferential direction, (b) a ratio of the minimum length Lmin thereof to the surface length W thereof along one side of a tread is 0.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising at least one component, the at least one component comprising a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising: at least one diene based elastomer; and a reinforcing amount of at least two fillers comprising carboxymethylcellulose and at least one of silica and carbon black.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a pneumatic tire for a motorcycle capable of improving turning performance on a wet road surface as compared to that of conventional tires. The pneumatic tire for a motorcycle comprises a tread 28 consisting of a tread central portion having a width of 60% of a tread developed width and tread side portions located outside of the tread central portion in the width direction of the tire and a plurality of wide inclined grooves 42 and narrow inclined grooves 44 inclined at an angle of less than 90 degrees with respect to the circumferential direction of the tire formed in the tread side portion such that the grooves continuously extend over a region of 50% or more of a width of the tread side portion. A groove width of the narrow inclined grooves 44 is set within a range between 0.3 mm and 2.5 mm. A total area of the wide inclined grooves 42 is set to not more than 20% of an area of the tread side portion.

Abstract: A tread portion of a tire 1 to be mounted to a front wheel is divided in the tire widthwise direction into three regions comprising the center tread region A and respective shoulder tread regions C. Two types of tread rubber are used for the tread portion of the front tire. JIS-A hardness of tread rubber of the center tread region A is larger than JIS-A hardness of tread rubber of each shoulder tread region C. A tread portion of a rear tire 11 is divided in the tire widthwise direction into five regions comprising the center tread region A, respective intermediate regions B and respective shoulder tread regions C. Three types of tread rubber are used for the tread portion of the rear tire. JIS-A hardness of tread rubber of the intermediate tread region B is larger than JIS-A hardness of tread rubber of the center tread region A and JIS-A hardness of tread rubber of each shoulder tread region C.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pneumatic tire including a plurality of land portions and a plurality of fine grooves. The plurality of land portions are formed of blocks and a rib, and are defined in a tread part of the pneumatic tire. The fine grooves with a depth of 0.1 mm to 0.8 mm, a width of 0.1 mm to 0.8 mm and a pitch of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm are formed in the tread surface of each of the land portions to be inclined at an angle of 42° to 60° relative to the circumferential direction of the tire. The inclined directions of the fine grooves relative to the circumferential direction of the tire are reverse to each other on the left and right sides of the equator of the tire.

Abstract: A method for fitting tires (P) to a driving axle of a vehicle carrying heavy loads, which consists, after having determined the type of journey made by said vehicle, in: when the route is of type A (ascending under load with a driving torque and descending empty with a braking torque), fitting to each driving axle tires such that for each transverse groove (31) in the edge portions (B) of the tread (1), the angle of inclination of the rubber faces (310, 311) delimiting the transverse grooves (31) which first come into ground contact is smaller than the angle of inclination of the rubber face opposite delimiting the same transverse groove, or when the route is of type V (ascending empty and descending under load with a braking torque), fitting to each driving axle tires such that for each transverse groove (31) in the edge portions (B) of the tread, the angle of inclination of the rubber face (310, 311) delimiting said transverse groove which first comes into ground contact is larger than the angle of incli

Abstract: A pneumatic tire suitable for competitive sports has a specified tread pattern comprising a central region and both shoulder regions, in which a plurality of bell-shaped wide-width main grooves each extended substantially bell-shapedly into both sides approximately centering on an equator of the tire are disposed in the tread at a given interval in the circumferential direction of the tire wherein the bell-shaped wide-width main groove has specified inclination angles in the central region and the shoulder region and specified groove width and groove depth, and a width of a connecting land portion at a position coming the bells-shaped wide-width main grooves closest to each other is not less than 1.5 mm, and the tire has a given negative ratio at the central region.

Abstract: In the method of mounting a pneumatic radial tire comprising a spiral belt and a pair cross belt members arranged in parallel to each other at both sides of an equational plane of the tire and at a given opening space onto a vehicle body, the tire is mounted as a front tire and/or a rear tire so as to contact a portion of the cord in the belt member facing the opening space with ground under a given condition in a forward rotating direction of the tire.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire in which a sipe, which is substantially parallel to a contour line of a trailing edge of a ground-contact configuration, is formed in a trailing edge region of each block at shoulder sides of the pneumatic tire. From a time of step-in to a time of kick-out of a block, the effect of shearing strain which is transmitted to a trailing edge from a preceding trailing edge portion is mitigated, and movement of the trailing edge of the block with respect to a road surface is suppressed. Accordingly, wear at the trailing edge of the block, i.e., heel-and-toe wear, is suppressed, and noise caused by heel-and-toe wear is reduced.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises: a tread portion provided with an asymmetric block pattern and having an inside tread edge and an outside tread edge to be placed on the inside and outside of a vehicle, respectively; outside lateral grooves extending from the outside tread edge to a tread center region, each having a groove center line X0 inclined towards one direction with respect to the tire circumferential direction at an angle &thgr;0 of from 40 to 60 degrees with respect to the tire circumferential direction; inside lateral grooves extending from the inside tread edge to the tread center region, each having a groove center line X5 inclined at an angle &thgr;5 of from 70 to 100 degrees with respect to the tire circumferential direction; each portion between the circumferentially adjacent outside lateral grooves being divided into outside blocks by first to fourth outside connecting grooves extending thereacross; the first outside connecting groove having a first groove center line X1, the second outside connect

Abstract: A vehicle comprises Anti Lock Brake System (ABS) and front tires and rear tires which are capable of displaying maximum braking effect when the ABS is in operation, each of the tires comprises a plurality of tread elements divided by tread grooves, and the tread pattern rigidity Pr of the rear tire is more than the tread pattern rigidity Pf of the front tire, wherein the tread pattern rigidity P (Pr, Pf) is defined as a quotient of the total of circumferential rigidity of all the tread elements existing in a ground contacting region of the tire which is divided by the area of the ground contacting region, and the circumferential rigidity K of each tread element is defined as a quotient of a tangential force F in kgf received at the ground contacting region which is divided by a displacement y in mm at the ground contacting region.

Abstract: A very high performance tire (1, 101) for vehicles comprises a tread (14) provided with a plurality of transversal grooves (15) circumferentially distributed along the tread (14) in groups alternately extending from opposite shoulder zones (F, G) of the tread (14). The transversal grooves (15) define in an equatorial zone (E) of the tread (14) a substantially isotropic matrix of substantially continuous portions (18) of the tread (14) terminating at an equatorial portion (17) of a same transversal groove (15) of the axially opposite group of grooves.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire. A central circumferential main groove is disposed to extend along a tire circumferential direction, along a ground contact center line of tread of the pneumatic tire. Inboard side circumferential main grooves and inboard side lateral main grooves, which are continuous with the central circumferential main groove, are provided at an inboard side of the ground contact center line. Outboard side lateral main grooves, which are continuous with the central circumferential main groove, and outboard side slanted longitudinal main grooves, which are continuous with the outboard side lateral main grooves, are disposed at an outboard side of the ground contact center line. Thus, irregular wear of land portions is continuously suppressed and controlling stability is improved. Moreover, water at the ground contact center line, which water is difficult to drain, can be efficiently drained from the ground contact area due to less water resistance.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to A plurality of vehicle tires having tread patterns of substantially the same outer appearance, wherein the tread patterns comprise a primary tread pattern comprising blocks and/or ribs separated by broad cut-outs and a secondary tread pattern on the blocks and/or ribs of the primary tread pattern comprising fine cuts. At least one vehicle tire has fine cuts of low depth and at least one different tire has sections of the fine cuts that have a different depth of fine cuts. The at least one vehicle tire has different driving characteristic from the at least one different vehicle tire. The advantage of the vehicle tires of the present invention is that a performance characteristic of the tire can be chosen by altering the structure of specific sections of the tire, without varying the fundamental opial appearance of the tire.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire combination for four-wheeled automobile or light truck vehicles. The tire combination has a pair of front steer position tires and a pair of rear position tires. The front steer position tire has a footprint when the tire is normally inflated for normal load that has a footprint shape factor of greater than 1.00 at a 50% load, and about 1.00 at both 85% load and 100% load, the footprint shape factor being defined as the maximum circumferential extent of the tire's footprint at the centerplane of the tire's footprint width divided by the average of the circumferential extent of the tire's footprint width as measured at 40% of the footprint from both sides of the central plane of the footprint. The rear position tire footprint, when the tire is normally inflated for normal load, has a footprint shape factor of about 1.00 at 50% load, and 1.00 or less than 1.00 at 85% load and 100% load when measured similar to the method described for the front position tires.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire combination for four-wheeled automobile or light truck vehicles. The tire combination has a pair of front steer position tires and a pair of rear position tires. The front steer position tire 10 has a first tread arc 46 when the tire is normally inflated for normal load but unloaded, of decreasing radii extending toward the lateral edges 42, 44 and a straight line 50 drawn between the intersection of the tread arc curvature and the centerplane is inclined at an angle &thgr;F of greater than 5° relative to a tangent line L, L being tangent to the tread arc at the centerplane and parallel to the axis of rotation R. The rear tire 20 when similarly measured has a tread arc having an angle &thgr;R of less than 5°.

Abstract: A farm tractor has a vehicle having a pair of pneumatic agricultural tires 20 having an asymmetric directional tread 32 with lugs 50A,50B,50C arranged in a chevron type pattern 70,72. The chevron pattern 70,72 is asymmetric having the apex or point 74 lying entirely on one-half 32A or 32B of the tread 32 thus creating soil discharge channels 89,82 that are greater on one tread half 32A or 32B relative to the other tread half 32A or 32B. This tread pattern permits the employment of lugs 50A, 50B of substantially equal lug length ll insuring more uniform wear characteristics.

Abstract: A vehicle tire having an outside tread part and an inside tread part to be placed on the outside and inside of a vehicle, respectively, the inside tread part provided with inside axial grooves to be circumferentially divided into inside blocks, the outside tread part provided with outside axial grooves and outside circumferential grooves to be circumferentially and axially divided into outside blocks, and the inclinations of the grooves when looking down the tire are as follows: the outside axial grooves are inclined toward one direction such that the outer ends thereof are positioned backward of the inner ends, and the inclination angle &agr; is in the range of from 60 to 80 degrees with respect to the tire equator C; the outside circumferential grooves are inclined toward one direction such that the outer ends thereof are positioned forward of the inner ends, and the inclination angel &ggr; is in the range of from 15 to 45 degrees with respect to the tire equator C; and the inside axial grooves are inclined

Abstract: A tire tread band for medium/heavy duty motor-vehicles having circumferential grooves confining three pairs of respectively center, intermediate and shoulder ribs. Respective tread blocks are defined along the center and intermediate ribs and they are confined by transverse cuts. The center cuts impart a cusp-shaped end conformation and a hollow-shaped end conformation to the respective blocks, and the shapes of said end portions mutually match. The intermediate cuts run in the linear extension of the center cuts to give the respective blocks a rhomboidal configuration. The tire can be alternately associated with a driving axle or a driven axle, by merely reversing its direction of rotation, so that the following results are selectively achieved: an increase in the traction capability by the intermediate blocks or an increase in the directional capability as a result of the mutual wedging between the center blocks at the ground-contacting area.

Abstract: A tire for a two-wheeled vehicle comprising a ground contacting tread having at least one tread groove formed therein and extending axially from the tread center to the tread edge, wherein in a first region of the tire tread, which is the central tread region and is the region of contact between the tire and the ground when the motorcycle is in the condition of moving in a straight line, the alignment of the tread groove is substantially circumferential, and in a second region of the tire tread, which is at the axial edge of the tread and is the region of contact when the motorcycle is in the condition of turning under maximum cornering, the alignment of the tread grooves is substantially transverse, and in a third region, which is the tread region between the first central region and the second axial region and which is the ground contacting region when the motorcycle is turning at less than the maximum cornering condition, the groove alignment changes progressively axially outwardly from substantially circu

Abstract: A tire for a vehicle having at least one wheel at each corner, the tire comprising a ground contacting tread extending axially between first and second edge regions and having tread grooves formed therein, wherein in the first axial edge region of the tread the tread grooves are aligned substantially in the tire circumferential direction and in the second axial edge region of the tread the grooves are aligned substantially in the tire axial direction and in a third axial region of the tread axially between the first and second edge regions the alignment of the grooves changes progressively from circumferential to axial.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire wherein a plurality of righthand oblique groove groups each group of which has a plurality of righthand oblique grooves as extending obliquely to a reverse tire turning direction from a tread center portion to a righthand shoulder end and a plurality of lefthand oblique groove groups each group of which has a plurality of lefthand oblique grooves extending obliquely to the reverse tire turning direction from the tread center portion to a lefthand shoulder end are disposed alternately in a tire circumferential direction on a tread surface which has a tire turning direction designated in one direction in such a manner that one main rib is defined in a zigzag shape in the tire circumferential direction by starting end portions of the righthand oblique groove groups and by starting end portions of the lefthand oblique groove groups and lefthand and righthand sub ribs are branched from the main rib along the righthand oblique groove groups and the lefthand oblique groove groups, respectively.