Abstract: A tire mold segment containing a mold surface with a plurality of groove forming and sipe forming protrusions arranged to form tread portions of tires. At the end faces of the tire mold segment, the portion of sipe forming protrusions with an end that terminates at or near the mold segment end face have an increased width to provide a countermeasure against irregular tread wear and tire noise. The sipe forming protrusions having an end that terminates at or near a tire mold segment end face have a width of about 0.7 mm or more. The remaining sipe forming protrusions positioned on the tire mold segment can a reduced thickness to accommodate high sipe density tread designs.

Abstract: A tire includes a circumferential tread extending in a circumferential direction circumscribing an axis of rotation. The circumferential tread includes a transverse groove having a plurality of protrusions protruding from a bottom portion of the transverse groove. One or more of a depth, a width, and a length of the transverse groove decreases in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation. The plurality of protrusions are circumferentially spaced apart across the bottom portion of the transverse groove.

Abstract: A tire includes a pair of sidewalls and a circumferential tread having a zigzag circumferential groove. The zigzag circumferential groove is defined by a groove bottom, a pair of groove walls, and a pair of groove edges defining an intersection between each groove wall and a top surface of the circumferential tread, wherein each of the groove edges smoothly widens and narrows along the groove. The circumferential tread has a first circumferential pitch with first and second circumferential pitch lengths. The first circumferential pitch includes a first zigzag circumferential groove segment and a second zigzag circumferential groove segment that form a first intersection angle. The second circumferential pitch includes a third zigzag circumferential groove segment and a fourth zigzag circumferential groove segment that form a second intersection angle different from the first intersection angle.

Abstract: A tire is provided comprising a tread. The tread includes a rib having a first axially-facing side and a second axially-facing side. A plurality of axial grooves traverse the rib, dividing the rib into a plurality of tread blocks. Each tread block includes one or more block sidewalls, where the one or more block sidewalls of each tread block includes a first axially-facing block sidewall and a second axially-facing block sidewall. A first circumferential groove is positioned on the first axially-facing side of the rib and a second circumferential groove positioned on the second axially-facing side of the rib. Furthermore, a first circumferentially-extending channel is provided on the first axially-facing block sidewall of each tread block and having an opening at the first circumferential groove and a first corner within each tread block. The first channel is defined by two walls that extend from the block sidewall into each tread block and intersect to form the first corner having about a 90 degree angle.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire is disclosed having a tread portion including a tread groove having a groove bottom and groove sidewalls. The tread groove has a groove width defined as a shortest distance between the groove sidewalls. The groove has a groove length extending generally parallel to the groove sidewalls. A sequence of circumferentially spaced stone ejector ribs span between the opposed groove sidewalls.