Abstract: A tread pattern of a radial tire for motor-vehicles offering high performance comprises oblique longitudinal grooves, inclined to the circumferential direction of the tire by an angle included between 2.degree. and 20.degree., the opposite ends of said grooves being axially offset relative to one another: all grooves may be inclined in the same direction or may converge, preferably symmetrically, towards the mid-circumferential plane of the tire, specifically for directional patterns. The longitudinal grooves are associated with a plurality of transverse grooves having their central portion inclined in the opposite sense relative to the longitudinal grooves, according to an angle included between 30.degree. and 80.degree., with respect to the circumferential tire direction. The combination of the longitudinal and transverse grooves according to the established inclinations defines plugs on the tire contact-area.

Abstract: Highly durable, lightweight tires of a pneumatic radial type for passenger cars are constructed with a tread portion having on its outer peripheral surface a plurality of grooves arranged circumferentially of the tire and a belt layer formed from an array of steel cords and disposed in the tread. Each of the steel cords results from twisting a selected number of steel filaments each of specified contents of C, Si and Ni and has a specified level of tensile strength. The distance of rubber from a bottom end of each of the grooves to an outer surface of the steel cord array is defined to be of a specified range as determined cross-sectionally of the tire.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire of the type wherein a plurality main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction are so disposed on a tread surface as to define a plurality of rib lines and a plurality of lug grooves are so disposed in said rib lines as to define a plurality of blocks, characterized in that lug groove angles in each of the rib lines to the tire circumferential direction are changed within a range of a maximum-to-minimum ratio of 1.1 to 1.4 as a repeating unit of a geometric progression, and the lug groove angles in the rib lines positioned on the shoulder side to the tire circumferential direction are set to be greater than the lug groove angles in the rib lines positioned on the center side to the tire circumferential direction.

Abstract: A safety support for supporting the tread of a vehicle tire in case of the oss of inflation pressure of the tire has the shape of a Z. The base of the support is fixed to a wheel rim while the connector between the support base and the support top is oriented so as to join the base on a side thereof opposite that facing the vehicle to which the tire is mounted. The asymmetric shape of the support and its orientation produces improved stability upon intervention of the support.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a bead in which an end portion of a carcass layer is bent from an inner portion to an outer portion of the tire so as to be turned up around a bead core, a reinforcing layer which consists of reinforcing cords covered with coating rubber being provided so as to extend along a turnup portion of the carcass layer, the hardness of the coating rubber in the reinforcing layer is set in the range of JIS Hs 65-95.

Abstract: A bias ply pneumatic tire 40,80 is disclosed. The tire 40,80 has a tread 42,82 with a plurality of circumferentially continuous grooves 52,72 and a plurality of laterally extending grooves 50,70. The grooves define tread elements 60,90 of parallelogram shape. Each lateral groove 50,70 includes a portion 53,73 extending from a tread edge a distance of at least 5% of the tread width (W). The portion of the groove 53,73 adjacent a tread edge is inclined less than 25.degree. relative to a plane passing through the axis of rotation, preferably inclined 23.degree.. The tread elements 60,90 preferably have radially extending groove walls having an outer portion 69A,79A inclined at 10.degree. and an inner portion 69B,79B inclined at least 30.degree. relative to the radial direction. The tire is particularly well-suited for a rear drive tire for Sprint car racing vehicles.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a block design suited for off-road use modified to improve rolling resistance and noise properties when used on paved surfaces has a tread design having angled lateral groove between the blocks in each circumferential row of blocks in the tread. Narrow grooves separate the blocks in several of the rows of blocks, and tie bars are present in the lateral grooves separating blocks in other rows of blocks. Void areas in the shoulder area of the tire enhance traction in mud and sand.

Abstract: An elastomeric tread for a pneumatic tire is disclosed. The tread has a pair of ribs, one rib being adjacent each lateral edge of the tread, and a plurality of large block elements located between the ribs. The large block elements are in two rows extending circumferentially about the tread. The ribs and the two rows of blocks are separated by three circumferential zigzag grooves. The blocks are further separated by a plurality of lateral grooves. The lateral grooves extend from one rib to the opposite rib.

Abstract: An asymmetric directional tread for a tire is disclosed. The tread has a plurality of ground engaging tread elements separated by grooves. The grooves include one wide circumferentially continuous groove having a width W, a plurality of circumferentially continuous grooves of an intermediate width between greater than 1/3 and 3/4W, at least one narrow circumferentially continuous groove having a width 1/10 to less than 1/3W located between a lateral edge and a circumferentially continuous groove of a greater width, and first and second sets of laterally extending grooves. The first set extends from the outboard lateral edges to an end location within 5% of the tread width from the equatorial plane. The second set extends from the inboard lateral edge to an end location within 5% of the tread width from the equatorial plane.

Abstract: A motorcycle tire has a tire body with a running surface and a tire tread. A plurality of main grooves are formed in the tire tread which form a plurality of tread blocks. The main grooves extend at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the tire. Three mutually parallel, narrow longitudinal grooves are forme in the tire tread which extend around the tire body. The longitudinal grooves are formed symmetrically about the longitudinal axis and they intersect at least some of the main grooves. The longitudinal grooves have a depth which is approximately 70 to 100% of the main grooves.

Abstract: A directional pneumatic tire having improved wet traction has an annular aqua channel and curved lateral grooves which direct water from the footprint to the shoulder area of the tire to help prevent hydroplaning. The pitch boundaries between the portions of the tire on either side of the aqua channel may be skewed. The curved lateral grooves and the skewing reduce noise properties of the tire. In addition, the lugs may have rounded or radiused leading and trailing edges, and a leading groove wall angle of about 5.degree. and a trailing groove wall angle of about 1.degree., which are believed to reduce noise and irregular wear. The lugs contain slots which change direction within the lug and tie bars in the slots at each point where the slots change direction. The tread has non-skid depth of 0.75 to 1 cm (0.030 to 0.40 inch) and a ratio of non-skid to tie bar depth of 0.42.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire for passenger cars having a plurality of grooves formed in the tread and extending at least circumferentially of the tire, the tread being provided with two belt plies therein. The grooves have a depth in the range of 6.0 to 8.5 mm, with the thickness of the under-groove rubber layer from the bottom of the grooves to the outer belt ply being fixed within the range of 0.5 to 2.5 mm. The belt plies are both made from aramid fiber cords, or either belt ply is made from aramid fiber cords and the other ply from steel cords. The both edge portions of at least one of the belt plies are folded back toward the center of the tread at a fold percentage of 8 to 100 percent.

Abstract: A directional pneumatic tire having improved wet traction is provided. The tread is divided into two annular portions, each annular portion comprising a plurality of block elements separated by lateral grooves. The block elements extend continuously from a shoulder area of the tire to a mid portion of the tread. The block elements have substantially circumferentially aligned notches in leading and trailing groove walls, wherein each notch is defined laterally by a narrow bridge of rubber. The tread has curved lateral grooves to direct water from the footprint to the shoulder area of the tire to help prevent hydroplaning. The pitch boundaries between annular portions of block elements may be skewed. The curved lateral grooves and the skewing reduce noise properties of the tire.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a pneumatic tire which comprises a case and a tread which covers a crown portion of the case. The tread includes a foamed rubber which has a volume not less than 10% of that of the entire of the tread, and the foamed rubber is formed of a rubber composition which contains rubber components each having a glass transition point not higher than -60.degree. C.

Abstract: The lamella fine cut-outs provided in profile elements of the tread surface of a tire, have three-dimensionally structured wall regions. Such wall regions restrict relative movements of the mutually facing wall regions in lateral as well as in radial direction. In such manner there are improved the travel characteristics as well as the wear characteristics like break-outs and irregular wear of such lamella tires.

Abstract: Rubber areas of a tire having electrical conductivity are used to transmit ignals to an integrated circuit embedded within the thickness of the tire without relying on an inductive or capacitive coupling. Rather, an electric signal from an identification device is conducted to the integrated circuit through a first electrically conductive area of rubber such as a bead cover and/or the tire tread, and a responsive signal is returned to the identification device through a second electrically conductive area.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire for heavy loads, having steel belt layers provided on the inner side of a tread, and a tread pattern having a plurality of divisional ribs separated by a plurality of main grooves extending in the circumferential direction of the tire, characterized in that at least the inner vertical surfaces of left and right outermost main grooves out of the main grooves are formed so as to extend zigzag in the circumferential direction of the tire, narrow grooves which extend continuously in the circumferential direction of the tire being provided at the shoulder side edge portions of ribs internally adjacent to the outermost main grooves, the width W.sub.4 of the narrow grooves being set to a level in the range of 0.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new methods for producing cellulose with high crystallinity by enzymatic hydrolysis and to novel cellulosic materials produced by those methods which exhibit a wide variety of DP's. The method is especially useful in producing microcrystalline celluloses.

Abstract: An improved nonpneumatic tire for a motor vehicle is described. The tire has a rim and one or more elastomeric materials bonded to the rim or to one another. The tire has an equatorial plane, an annular tread rotatable about an axis, and an annular elastomeric body. The elastomeric body has at least 48 openings, a first set of at least 24 openings extend from the first side and a second set of at least 24 openings extend from a second side, both sets extending toward the equatorial plane. The openings form equally spaced columns. The columns formed by the first set of openings are inclined to the radial direction. The columns formed by the second set of openings are inclined opposite to the columns of the first set. The improved tire is characterized by columns having cross sections equidistant from the equatorial plane. The cross section of each of the columns increases in thickness from a minimum to maximums at the radially inner and radially outer extremes of the column.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire tread with at least one circumferentially extending row of high stiffness blocks and one of low stiffness blocks where the low stiffness blocks are between 4 to 10% greater height than the high stiffness blocks.