Patents Assigned to Brodgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC
  • Patent number: 6971427
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a body having a plurality of main body cords. The tire includes an upper section above the maximum section width and a lower section below the maximum section width. The modulus of the body cords is configured to be larger in the lower section than in the upper section. This modulus ratio decreases the rolling resistance of the tire. The increased modulus in the lower section is achieved by providing intermediate body cords disposed between the main body cords. In another embodiment, the increased modulus is achieved by changing the material and/or size of the cords in the lower section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Brodgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventors: Carolyn W. Bernstorf, Jean-Yea Chen, Jie Jin, Masahiro Takayama, Hidetoshi Yokota