Abstract: By shifting the peak height of the tread on one side of the tire from the centerline (CL), for a tire intended for cambered use on a vehicle and/or exposure to lateral loading, improvements in the footprint shape, pressure distribution, area and footprint shape factor (FSF) are obtained. In an illustrated embodiment, 0.127 cm to 5 cm (deep) of mold material are removed from one side of the centerline (CL) of the crown in a conventional mold, at 15% to 85% of the distance from the centerline to the shoulder area of the mold (one-half inch to five and one-half inches in the illustrated tires), to obtain a mold shape having the designated change in tread peak height.

Abstract: A radial ply pneumatic tire 30 has a unique cross sectional profile. The tires rum flange width W is greater than the tread width TW and the maximum section width SW is located radially less than 50% of the section height SH as measured from the nominal rim diameter ND.

Abstract: A method for characterizing the level of noise generated by a tire having a specific footprint configuration through analyzing the shape of the tire's footprint and taking into account the tire's aspect ratio. The method includes: a) measuring the noise level if the solution to the calculation is inside of a predetermined range; or b) reconfiguring the footprint if the solution to the calculation is outside of a predetermined range. The advantage of this method is that a tire designer can design a tire, taking into account the noise level.