Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion extending in a tire circumferential direction and a pair of sidewall sections disposed on both sides of the tread portion in a tire width direction. At least one sidewall section includes a surface pattern region having a plurality of minute regions arranged along the circumferential direction and a tire radial direction. The minute regions are visually distinguishable from surrounding regions due to light reflection characteristics or surface unevenness. Width dimensions along the circumferential direction of adjacent minute regions juxtaposed with each along the circumferential direction vary among at least three different widths. The width dimensions of adjacent minute sections vary continuously or in steps along the circumferential direction. The adjacent minute regions are juxtaposed next to each other at at least three different interval sizes, and are arranged along the circumferential direction at prescribed intervals whose sizes vary continuously or in steps.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire 1 according to the present invention comprises a plurality of land blocks 10-14 defined by circumferential grooves 2-5 extending in a tire circumferential direction and lateral grooves 6 extending in a tread width direction, wherein a stepped portion 10a-14b extending in the tread width direction is provided at at least one of circumferential edges of each of the land blocks 10-14. The stepped portion 10a-14b is formed to have the same width dimension as a width of the land block. A height of the stepped portion 10a-14b is the smallest for the land block 12 closest to a tire equator line CL and becomes gradually larger toward an outer side in the tread width direction. A maximum height of the stepped portion 10a-14b is smaller than a height of a tread surface Tr of the land block 10-14.

Abstract: Embodiments include retreaded tires having a precured tread band bonded to a prepared bonding surface of a base portion of the tire, the tread band including a primary groove having a top open to a ground contacting front face of the tread band and a secondary groove having a bottom open to a back face of the tread band, the back face bonded to the prepared bonding surface, wherein the groove top of the secondary groove is higher than a groove bottom of the primary groove so that the secondary groove top is opened to the ground contacting front face of the tread band prior to disappearance by wear of the primary groove. A base groove may be formed in the base portion of the tire and open to the prepared bonding surface of the tire, wherein the secondary groove bottom opens in fluid communication with the base groove.

Abstract: A side wall portion including, in a specific region in a tire radial direction, a decorative region including two or more decorative portions that are continuously disposed so as to be contiguous in a tire circumferential direction, the decorative portions including multiple convex ridges that are disposed on an outer surface so as to be adjacent in the tire circumferential direction. The ridges in the same decorative portion have a same ridge arrangement angle, and the ridge arrangement angle of the contiguous decorative portion differs therefrom not less than 20° and not more than 160°. In all regions in the tire circumferential direction, at least one side in the tire radial direction of the decorative portion overlaps with the contiguous decorative portion. A distance between a first imaginary boundary line and a second imaginary boundary line is less than 1 mm.

Abstract: Tire support rings mounted within a tubeless tire to prevent the tire from collapsing upon the occurrence of a leak in the tire and to support a vehicle until the leak can be repaired.

Abstract: A self-balancing pneumatic tire is provided having a built-in balancing gel system. In one embodiment, the tire, before cure, includes a green pneumatic tire assembly having an uncured tread defining an outermost layer; a first barrier layer; a second barrier layer situated adjacent the first barrier layer and intermediate the first barrier layer and the tread; and first and second gel precursors. The gel precursors are non-flowable prior to cure but flowable after cure. The gel precursors are respectively contained within spaced-apart first and second circumferential regions defined by confronting, non-contacting surfaces of the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer, each circumferential region further situated proximate opposing sidewalls of the tire and having a width of about 5 percent to about 25 percent of a final tread width obtained upon curing of the uncured tire assembly. In one example, the first and/or second barrier layers can be discontinuous.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having inconspicuous sidewall surface irregularities. The pneumatic tire includes a plurality of sidewall parts and a tread portion extending between the sidewall parts. At least one sidewall part has a pattern extending in the tire circumferential direction that can be visually differentiated from the surrounding regions of the sidewall surface by an irregularity or reflectance properties of light of the sidewall surface. The pattern includes a plurality of linear protrusions or grooves that extend in a wave shape in a tire circumferential direction while deflecting in a tire radial direction with a period of ?1. The line protrusions or grooves have intervals in a tire radial direction, and are non-intersecting. Outer and inner circumferences of the pattern of the tire radial direction are formed by the plurality of linear protrusions or grooves to extend in a wave shape in a tire circumferential direction.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire 2 includes a tread 4, a pair of sidewalls 6, a pair of beads 8, and a carcass 10. In the pair of beads 8, each bead 8 includes a core 30 and a bead filler 32 extending outward from the core 30 in the radial direction. A minimal value ?a of the inclination angle of the bead filler 32 is greater than or equal to 30 degrees, and is not greater than 44 degrees. A ratio Wa/Wb of a width Wa of the bead filler 32 to a width Wb of a bead portion is greater than or equal to 0.30, and is not greater than 0.45.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises, on a tread surface, a circumferential groove which extends in a tire circumferential direction, a land portion which is zoned by the circumferential groove, and a plurality of lag grooves in which one end is open to a side of the circumferential groove and another end is terminated within the land portion, wherein the land portion has a rib-like portion which is successive in a tire circumferential direction and a wing portion which is zoned by the lag grooves, and wherein a plurality of small holes are formed on a surface of the land portion along a line connecting trailing end portions of the lag grooves adjacent to each other.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire has a carcass ply which extends between bead cores arranged in a pair of bead portions. The carcass ply is wound up to an outer side in a tire radial direction around the bead cores. A chafer is arranged in such a manner as to wrap around the carcass ply from an inner side to an outer side in a tire width direction, around the bead core. An inner end of the chafer positioned in the inner side in the tire width direction is arranged in the outer side in the tire radial direction than a winding end of the carcass ply. A reinforcing rubber tapering off toward the outer side in the tire radial direction is provided adjacently to the outer side in the tire radial direction of the inner end of the chafer.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion provided on each side of the tire equator with a land zone defined between two circumferential main grooves, wherein the land zone is provided with axial grooves extending between the main grooves and inclining to a first circumferential direction at an angle of from 30 to 50 degrees with respect to the tire axial direction, and auxiliary grooves inclining to a second circumferential direction opposite to the first circumferential direction. The axial groove is shallow in its axially-inner-main-groove side in comparison with its axially-outer-main-groove side. The auxiliary groove is deep in its axially-inner-main-groove side in comparison with its axially-outer-main-groove side.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire (10) provided with: a rib-like land portion (110), a rib-like land portion (210), and a rib-like land portion (240) which are divided by circumferential grooves (11, 12, 21, 22) extending in the circumferential direction of the tire; and resonators which are recessed inward in the radial direction of the tire, which each form a predetermined space when the rib-like land portion (110) makes contact with the road surface, and which communicate with circumferential grooves. The resonators include first resonators which are provided in the circumferential direction of the tire, and also include second resonators which are, when the tire is mounted on a vehicle, located further toward the inboard side than the first resonators and are arranged in the circumferential direction of the tire. The number of the second resonators is greater than the number of the first resonators.

Abstract: A tire is disclosed having a tread extending from a first tread edge to a second tread edge and having a plurality of blocks defining a plurality of lateral grooves. The lateral grooves have a groove bottom defining a radial groove depth. A first biting side extends outwardly from the groove bottom to a first biting edge, and a first non-biting side extending outwardly from the groove bottom to a first non-biting edge. At least one peak is disposed in at least one of the lateral grooves. The peak extends outwardly from the groove bottom and terminates radially at an outer end and axially at a distance from the equatorial plane less than or equal to one half of the tread width. The peak has a height between 25 percent and 75 percent of the depth of its lateral groove. Multiple peaks may be disposed within a groove.

Abstract: Tire having a visible surface comprising patterns contrasting with said surface, said pattern comprising, over the entire surface thereof, a plurality of tufts distributed with a density of at least five tufts per mm2 or a plurality of blades which are substantially parallel to one another and arranged with a pitch of less than 0.5 mm, each tuft having a mean cross section having a diameter of between 0.03 mm and 0.5 mm or each blade having a mean width of between 0.03 mm and 0.5 mm, characterized in that the walls of the tufts or of the blades have, over at least one quarter of the area thereof, a mean roughness Rz of between 5 ?m and 30 ?m.

Abstract: A tire (2) includes a tread portion (T) and a pair of side portions (S). An agitating portion (32) is provided on an inner part in a radial direction with respect to a position (PA) indicative of a maximum width over an external surface (34) of each of the side portions (S). The agitating portion (32) includes a large number of dimples (36) which are dented inward from the external surface. An edge of the dimple (36) has a circular contour. A ratio of a depth of the dimple (36) to an outside diameter of the dimple (36) is equal to or higher than 0.2 and is equal to or lower than 0.5. A ratio of a distance between a center of one of the dimples (36) and a center of the other dimple (36) which is close to the one of the dimples 36 to the outside diameter is equal to or higher than 1.2 and is equal to or lower than 2. It is preferable that the outside diameter of the dimple (36) should be equal to or greater than 3 mm and be equal to or smaller than 5 mm in the tire (482).

Abstract: Included are tread bands for use on retreaded tires and methods for retreading a tire using such tread bands. Embodiments of such tread bands include a primary groove having a top opening that is open to a ground contacting front face of the tread band and a secondary groove having a bottom opening that is open to a back face of the tread band. The groove top of the secondary groove is higher than a groove bottom of the primary groove so that the secondary groove top is opened to the ground contacting front face of the tread band prior to disappearance by wear of the primary groove. Particular embodiments may also further include an overflow reservoir having a reservoir opening that is open to the back face of the tread band, the reservoir opening being positioned adjacent to an edge of the secondary groove bottom opening.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion extending in a tire circumferential direction and a pair of sidewall sections on both sides of the tread portion, respectively, with regard to a tire width direction. At least one of the sidewall sections includes partitions and a plurality of first and second minute regions. The partitions have a prescribed spacing in the tire circumferential direction and extend linearly in a tire radial direction. The first and second minute regions are provided in each of a plurality of partitioned regions and are visually distinguishable from surrounding sidewall surface regions. The first minute regions are also visually distinguishable from the second minute regions. The first and second minute regions are provided alternately along the tire radial direction, and the radial positions of the first minute regions and the second minute regions are varied with respect to the tire circumferential direction.

Abstract: Embodiments include a retreaded tire having a precured tread band bonded to a prepared bonding surface of a base portion of the tire. The precured tread band may include a tread groove having a bottom and a top, the top of the groove open to a ground contacting front face of the tread band, the precured tread band further comprising a back face, the back face bonded to a prepared bonding surface of a base portion of the tire. A base groove may be formed in the base portion of the tire and open to the prepared bonding surface of the tire, wherein the tread groove bottom is aligned over a length of the base groove. In some embodiments, the tread groove bottom may be open to the base groove over at least 50% or the entire length of the base groove.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprising: a pair of center circumferential direction grooves, first lug grooves that connect to the center circumferential direction grooves and the directions of inclination of which is alternately in opposite directions in the tire circumferential direction, second lug grooves that extend from the center circumferential direction grooves to the edges of the tread and the directions of inclination are in opposite directions on one side and the other side across the equator in the tire width direction, a pair of shoulder circumferential direction grooves that delineate second blocks with the center circumferential direction grooves and the second lug grooves, and sub-grooves that traverse the second blocks in the tire circumferential direction to connect the second lug grooves, and extend in a direction that is orthogonal to the direction of inclination of the second lug grooves.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a carcass ply extending from one bead structure to another bead structure. Each bead structure includes a plurality of circumferentially wound metal wires defining a cross-sectional profile of a bead. The profile has a radial height to axial width ratio greater than 1.0 and a bead orientation angle between 30 degrees and 60 degrees.