Abstract: A tire has at least one tread wear indicator. Each wear indicator is a single mark that provides continuous information to the consumer, while changing its presentation based upon the amount of tread wear. The mold blade employed to form the ear indicator has a series of stacked portions, each portion having a different configuration, the configuration being constant for the length of each portion.

Abstract: A method of forming a tire includes a) forming a carcass, the carcass comprising at least one carcass reinforcing ply, a pair of opposing sidewalls, and a pair of bead portions, b) placing a belt structure on the carcass, c) forming a tread stock, d) placing the tread stock on the belt structure, and e) curing the tire in a mold wherein the mold has at least one rib to form a groove on the radially outer surface of the tire. A tube is placed adjacent to or within the tread stock prior to the curing the tire, wherein the tube creates a buried groove in the cured tire. After wear of the tire tread to a preset level, the tube is exposed and opened during further wear to create increased grooving in the tread after the tire has experienced some tire wear.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an improved device for molding keyhole sipes larger in size, i.e. sipes having a wider passage, than currently being formed in treads that will avoid damaging the tread during formation and removal thereof from a mold. The device includes an elongated deformable body member having a blade extending in a direction away therefrom and substantially along the length thereof. The body member also includes a stiffening member securely fixed in position therein that extends substantially the length thereof. The stiffening member provides a desired rigidity to the deformable body member, thereby limiting flexion along its length under the stress of a rubber formulation when the mold is closed during the molding process. Also, the deformable body member provides low stress on the tread when a slit of the keyhole sipe is pulled around the body member during removal of the tread from a mold.

Abstract: A tire having an outer surface and plurality of circumferential and lateral grooves formed into the outer surface. The circumferential and lateral grooves extend to at least one groove depth to define a groove bottom surface. The circumferential and lateral grooves also define a plurality of tread blocks disposed around the circumference of the tire. The tire further includes at least one tie bar extending between at least two of the tread blocks and across at least one of the circumferential and lateral grooves. The tie bar is spaced from the groove bottom surface. In one aspect of the invention, the tire is manufactured in a mold and the tie bar is formed by a supplemental molding member that is removed from the molded tire after the main molding member has been removed from the tire.

Abstract: A tire includes a plurality of tread blocks disposed circumferentially around the tire. At least one sipe is formed into at least one of the tread blocks and is defined by first and second confronting sidewalls. The sipe has a cross-sectional profile in a plane generally perpendicular to the top surface of the tread block, which profile has a generally arcuate central portion and first and second ends separated by the central portion. The sidewalls are spaced apart at least one first width at the central portion of the sipe, and are spaced apart at least one second width at the ends, wherein the second width is greater than the first width. In one embodiment, the sipe has a cross-sectional profile having a stepped configuration.

Abstract: A tire has at least one tread wear indicator. Each wear indicator is a single mark that provides continuous information to the consumer, while changing its presentation based upon the amount of tread wear. The mold blade employed to form the ear indicator has a series of stacked portions, each portion having a different configuration, the configuration being constant for the length of each portion.

Abstract: A tire with a changing tread pattern is formed by first forming a tire having a tread, the tread having at least one circumferential or lateral groove. A wearable filler, having a configuration corresponding to at least a portion of the circumferential or lateral groove formed in the tire, is located in the radially outer portion of the circumferential or lateral groove or a portion of the circumferential or lateral groove, and secured within the grooves so as to create a groove void radially inward of the wearable filler, the void being exposed upon wear of the tire tread.