Abstract: The invention includes methods for forming a retreaded tire and treads there for. Particular embodiments of such methods include providing a tire carcass configured to receive a tire tread along an annular tread-receiving area and a pre-formed tread comprising a tread body and a submerged void arranged along a bottom side of the tread and extending into the tread thickness to a top end located below the top side of the tread, the submerged void having a length and an opening arranged along the bottom side when the tread is in an uninstalled configuration, where the opening of the submerged void extends in a direction of the submerged groove length along an alternating, non-linear path. Further steps include assembling a retreaded tire by arranging the tire tread atop a bonding layer arranged between the tire tread and the tire carcass and comprising uncured bonding material.

Abstract: The invention includes methods for forming a retreaded tire and treads there for. Particular embodiments of such methods include providing a tire carcass configured to receive a tire tread along an annular tread-receiving area and a pre-formed tread comprising a tread body and a submerged void arranged along a bottom side of the tread and extending into the tread thickness to a top end located below the top side of the tread, the submerged void having a length and an opening arranged along the bottom side when the tread is in an uninstalled configuration, where the opening of the submerged void extends in a direction of the submerged groove length along an alternating, non-linear path. Further steps include assembling a retreaded tire by arranging the tire tread atop a bonding layer arranged between the tire tread and the tire carcass and comprising uncured bonding material.

Abstract: The invention includes methods for forming a retreaded tire, and treads there for. Particular embodiments of such methods provide a tire tread, the tire tread having a bottom side and a top side configured for engaging a ground surface, a thickness extending between the top side and the bottom side, and a pair of opposing lateral sides defining a width of the tread, the bottom side having one or more submerged voids extending from the bottom side into the tread thickness to form a tread pattern, the submerged voids having a depth less than the thickness and the top side being free of any exposed voids comprising a groove. Further steps include applying the tire tread to a tire carcass, curing the tire tread to the tire carcass, and forming one or more voids into the tread thickness the top side of the tread after the step of bonding.

Abstract: The invention includes methods of forming a retreaded tire, and treads there for. Particular embodiments of such methods provide a tire carcass configured to receive the tire tread along an annular tread-receiving area and a pre-cured tire tread including a tread body and a detachable connector. The connector is arranged within a thickness of the tread between a top void portion and a bottom void portion and extending across a width of the top void portion and of the bottom void portion. The detachable connector is configured to separate from the tread upon application of a separation force. Further steps include assembling a retreaded tire by arranging the tire tread atop a bonding layer arranged between the tire tread and the tire carcass, bonding the tire tread to the tire carcass, and removing the detachable connector from the top void portion after the step of bonding.

Abstract: The present invention concerns tire treads having projecting features comprising wear indicators, stone ejectors, and/or noise suppressors arranged within voids submerged below the top, outer side of a tread. Particular embodiments of the invention provide a tire tread having a submerged void extending into to the tread thickness from the bottom side of the tread to a terminal location spaced below the tread top side, the top side forming a ground-engaging side of the tread. Such embodiments further include a plurality of projecting features arranged within the submerged void below the terminal location of the submerged void, the plurality of projecting features being further arranged in a spaced arrangement along a length of the submerged void, each of the plurality of projecting features extending partially across a width of the submerged void, which may comprise a groove, for example. The invention includes methods of forming the tread and a treaded tire.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods for forming a retreaded tire, which includes the steps of providing an annular tire carcass and providing a plurality of tread components each comprising an independent structure, which are then assembled to form an assembled tire tread. The tread is subsequently bonded to the tire carcass to form a retreaded tire, the tire tread being arranged along an outer circumference of the annular tire carcass with a bonding layer between the tire tread and the tire carcass, the bonding layer comprising an uncured elastomeric material being cured during the step of bonding. The tire tread is assembled such that the plurality of tread components are concurrently arranged around the outer circumference of the tire carcass to form a tire tread.

Abstract: The present invention includes an improved tire tread having recessed lateral grooves, and a tire having the same. Particular embodiments of the tread include a tread thickness bounded depthwise by a top side configured to engage a ground surface during tire operation and a bottom side configured to attach to a tire carcass, the thickness extending laterally between a first side edge and a second side edge and longitudinally in a lengthwise direction of the tread. The tread further includes a longitudinal groove in fluid communication with the top side or the bottom side of the tread thickness and a lateral groove in fluid communication with the bottom side of the tread thickness extending from the first side edge intersecting the longitudinal groove forming a vent passageway extending from the longitudinal groove and to the first side edge. The invention includes methods of forming such treads and molds there for.

Abstract: The invention includes methods of forming a retreaded tire, and treads there for. Particular embodiments of such methods provide a tire carcass configured to receive the tire tread along an annular tread-receiving area and a pre-cured tire tread including a tread body and a detachable connector. The connector is arranged within a thickness of the tread between a top void portion and a bottom void portion and extending across a width of the top void portion and of the bottom void portion. The detachable connector is configured to separate from the tread upon application of a separation force. Further steps include assembling a retreaded tire by arranging the tire tread atop a bonding layer arranged between the tire tread and the tire carcass, bonding the tire tread to the tire carcass, and removing the detachable connector from the top void portion after the step of bonding.

Abstract: The invention includes methods for forming a retreaded tire and treads there for. Particular embodiments of such methods include providing a tire carcass configured to receive a tire tread along an annular tread-receiving area and a pre-formed tread comprising a tread body and a submerged void arranged along a bottom side of the tread and extending into the tread thickness to a top end located below the top side of the tread, the submerged void having a length and an opening arranged along the bottom side when the tread is in an uninstalled configuration, where the opening of the submerged void extends in a direction of the submerged groove length along an alternating, non-linear path. Further steps include assembling a retreaded tire by arranging the tire tread atop a bonding layer arranged between the tire tread and the tire carcass and comprising uncured bonding material.

Abstract: The invention includes methods for forming a retreaded tire, and treads there for. Particular embodiments of such methods provide a tire tread, the tire tread having a bottom side and a top side configured for engaging a ground surface, a thickness extending between the top side and the bottom side, and a pair of opposing lateral sides defining a width of the tread, the bottom side having one or more submerged voids extending from the bottom side into the tread thickness to form a tread pattern, the submerged voids having a depth less than the thickness and the top side being free of any exposed voids comprising a groove. Further steps include applying the tire tread to a tire carcass, curing the tire tread to the tire carcass, and forming one or more voids into the tread thickness the top side of the tread after the step of bonding.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods for retreading a tire, which include providing a tire carcass for retreading, the tire carcass having a pre-existing tread layer including one or more voids extending into the tread layer thickness from an outer side. A bonding layer is applied along an outer side of the pre-existing tread layer, the bonding layer substantially filling the voids arranged along the outer side of the pre-existing tread layer to provide an outer surface for receiving a pre-cured tread layer. The pre-cured tread layer is applied along an outer side of the bonding layer such that the bonding layer is arranged between the pre-cured tread layer and the pre-existing tread layer. The pre-cured tread layer is bonded to the tire carcass to form a retreaded tire having a retreaded tire tread. Grooves are then formed in the retreaded tire tread along a ground-engaging, outer side of the retreaded tire tread.

Abstract: The invention comprises a tire tread, and tire, and a method of forming a tire having the tire tread. Particular embodiments of the tire tread comprise a tread thickness bounded by a top side and a bottom side and opposing lateral sides and a groove extending into the tread thickness from the tread top side and terminating within a thickness of the tread at a groove bottom, the groove having a width defined by a pair of opposing sides and the groove bottom being spaced from the bottom side of the tread by an undertread thickness. Such tire tread further includes a plurality of strengthening members forming protrusions extending into the groove from the groove bottom and from at least one side of the pair of opposing groove sides, the plurality of strengthening members being arranged along a length of the groove.

Abstract: Particular embodiments of the invention comprise multi-wear layer tire treads for retreaded tires and methods of forming retreaded tires. In particular embodiments, a multi-wear layer tire tread includes a thickness bounded depth wise by a ground-engaging top side and a bottom side, the thickness extending laterally between opposing side edges and longitudinally in a lengthwise direction of the tread. Such tire tread may further include a removable tread portion recessed from the top side to form a subsequent wear layer, the removable tread portion extending into the tread thickness from the bottom side and terminating a distance below the top side, the removable portion having a width arranged between opposing interior surfaces of the tread recessed below the top side.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods and apparatus for preparing a tread for application to a tire carcass by abrading a bottom side of the tread. In particular, the tread has a thickness extending depthwise between a top side and a bottom side of the tread. The tread thickness extends in a longitudinal direction and in a lateral direction between opposing sides of the tread. The tread further includes a void extending within the tread thickness and an extension of the tread extending across a width of the void and as a portion protruding outwardly from the tread bottom side by a distance. Such methods include stretching the tread such that the width of the tread void increases and the distance by which the extension protrudes from the bottom side decreases. Such methods further include abrading the bottom side of the tread.

Abstract: The invention comprises a tire tread, and tire, and a method of forming a tire having the tire tread. Particular embodiments of the tire tread have a tread thickness bounded by a top side and a bottom side, and a groove extending into the tread thickness from the top side and terminating within the tread thickness at a groove bottom. A thickness of the tread extends from the groove bottom to a protruding portion of the bottom side of the tread below the groove bottom such that portions of the bottom side adjacent the protruding portion are recessed within the tread thickness. Such tire tread further includes a plurality of strengthening members forming protrusions extending into the groove from the groove bottom and from at least one side of the pair of opposing groove sides, the plurality of strengthening members being arranged along a length of the groove.

Abstract: The present invention concerns tire treads having projecting features comprising wear indicators, stone ejectors, and/or noise suppressors arranged within voids submerged below the top, outer side of a tread. Particular embodiments of the invention provide a tire tread having a submerged void extending into to the tread thickness from the bottom side of the tread to a terminal location spaced below the tread top side, the top side forming a ground-engaging side of the tread. Such embodiments further include a plurality of projecting features arranged within the submerged void below the terminal location of the submerged void, the plurality of projecting features being further arranged in a spaced arrangement along a length of the submerged void, each of the plurality of projecting features extending partially across a width of the submerged void, which may comprise a groove, for example. The invention includes methods of forming the tread and a treaded tire.

Abstract: Particular embodiments of the present invention comprise methods for retreading a tire and a retreaded tire formed by such methods. Such methods include assembling a retreaded tire by: applying a bonding layer along an outer side of a pre-existing tread layer of a tire carcass and within the one or more voids arranged within the pre-existing tread layer and applying a new, uncured tread layer along an outer side of the bonding layer. Such methods further include arranging an annular mold about the outer side of the tread of the assembled retreaded tire such that one or more void molding elements are arranged to terminate overtop and adjacent one of the one or more voids arranged within the pre-existing tread layer outer side. Such methods further include molding the new tread layer to the tire carcass according to hot retreading operations.

Abstract: The present invention includes an improved tire tread having recessed lateral grooves, and a tire having the same. Particular embodiments of the tread include a tread thickness bounded depthwise by a top side configured to engage a ground surface during tire operation and a bottom side configured to attach to a tire carcass, the thickness extending laterally between a first side edge and a second side edge and longitudinally in a lengthwise direction of the tread. The tread further includes a longitudinal groove in fluid communication with the top side or the bottom side of the tread thickness and a lateral groove in fluid communication with the bottom side of the tread thickness extending from the first side edge intersecting the longitudinal groove forming a vent passageway extending from the longitudinal groove and to the first side edge. The invention includes methods of forming such treads and molds there for.

Abstract: Particular embodiments of the present invention include multi-wear layer treads having variable depth grooves for retreaded tires, retreaded tires, and methods of forming retreaded tires. In particular embodiments, such multi-wear layer tire treads include a thickness bounded depthwise by a top side configured to engage a ground surface during tire operation and a bottom side configured for attachment to a tire carcass, the thickness extending laterally between opposing side edges and longitudinally in a lengthwise direction of the tread. Such tread may further include a top groove extending a variable depth into the tread thickness from the top side, the top groove having a groove bottom that varies depthwise within the tread thickness to form multiple wear layers. In other embodiments, top grooves may or may not be variable depth grooves, while the tread further include a bottom groove extending a variable depth into the tread thickness from the bottom side.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods and apparatus for constraining a tread in a desired arrangement about a tire carcass during retreading operations. Such methods include the steps of providing a annular tire carcass configured for receiving a tread. Such methods also include the step of arranging a tread annularly about the precured tire carcass in a desired position to form an assembled retreaded tire. Such methods further include the step of arranging a retread curing membrane about an outer side of the tread, the curing membrane including an interior surface arranged to engage the outer side of the tread and including one or more protrusions extending from the membrane interior surface and into a void of the outer side of the tread. In other embodiments, a separate insert containing protrusions is arranged between a curing membrane and a tire tread for retread curing operations.