Abstract: A tire includes: a tread band on which is defined a radially outer tread surface, a first plurality of blocks provided on the tread band, and at least a first sipe of the restrained type extending on at least one block of the first plurality in a substantially axial direction defined on the tread band. The first sipe is configured so as to define, between a first and a second block portion divided by the first sipe, at least two separate and distinct couplings of the male/female type, such as to prevent the mutual displacement of the block portions in any direction which, at the block, is substantially tangential to the tread surface, and such as to permit mutual displacement of the block portions in a direction incident to the tread surface. In addition, the first sipe does not intersect any other sipe of the restrained type within the block.

Abstract: A tire for a motor vehicle, in particular a high-performance, tire is provided with a tread having an overall width. The tread includes first and second circumferential grooves which separate a central region from first and second shoulder regions. The tread includes a circumferential cut in the first shoulder region at a distance from the first circumferential groove; and a plurality of circumferentially repeated transverse groove modules. A first shoulder portion of each transverse groove module includes at least one main transverse groove which includes a first substantially rectilinear portion inclined by a first angle with respect to a radial plane, a second substantially rectilinear portion inclined by a second angle with respect to the radial plane and arranged between the circumferential cut and the first circumferential groove, and a first curve portion connecting the first and the second substantially rectilinear portions.

Abstract: A tyre for a motor vehicle, in particular a high-performance, tyre is provided with a tread having an overall width. The tread includes first and second circumferential grooves which separate a central region from first and second shoulder regions. The tread includes a circumferential cut in the first shoulder region at a distance from the first circumferential groove; and a plurality of circumferentially repeated transverse groove modules. A first shoulder portion of each transverse groove module includes at least one main transverse groove which includes a first substantially rectilinear portion inclined by a first angle with respect to a radial plane, a second substantially rectilinear portion inclined by a second angle with respect to the radial plane and arranged between the circumferential cut and the first circumferential groove, and a first curve portion connecting the first and the second substantially rectilinear portions.

Abstract: A tire includes a tread band provided with a tread pattern including a first and a second portion of tread pattern, repeated just the same along the circumferential extent of the tire, forming respectively a short pitch module and a long pitch module of the tread pattern, wherein the modules include a respective first transverse groove in which, starting from an axially outer first end thereof toward an opposed axially inner second end thereof, an initial section and a section of enlarged cross-section are formed, the latter being blind, at least on its axially inner side, when in the footprint area. The initial section and the section of enlarged cross-section have, respectively, a first width and a second width, and the ratio between the second width and the first width of a first transverse groove belonging to a short pitch module is greater than the ratio between the second width and the first width of a first transverse groove belonging to a long pitch module.

Abstract: A tyre for a motor vehicle, in particular a high-performance, tyre is provided with a tread having an overall width. The tread includes first and second circumferential grooves which separate a central region from first and second shoulder regions. The tread includes a circumferential cut in the first shoulder region at a distance from the first circumferential groove; and a plurality of circumferentially repeated transverse groove modules. A first shoulder portion of each transverse groove module includes at least one main transverse groove which includes a first substantially rectilinear portion inclined by a first angle with respect to a radial plane, a second substantially rectilinear portion inclined by a second angle with respect to the radial plane and arranged between the circumferential cut and the first circumferential groove, and a first curve portion connecting the first and the second substantially rectilinear portions.

Abstract: A tire for a motor vehicle, in particular a high-performance, tire is provided with a tread having an overall width. The tread includes first and second circumferential grooves which separate a central region from first and second shoulder regions. The tread includes a circumferential cut in the first shoulder region at a distance from the first circumferential groove; and a plurality of circumferentially repeated transverse groove modules. A first shoulder portion of each transverse groove module includes at least one main transverse groove which includes a first substantially rectilinear portion inclined by a first angle with respect to a radial plane, a second substantially rectilinear portion inclined by a second angle with respect to the radial plane and arranged between the circumferential cut and the first circumferential groove, and a first curve portion connecting the first and the second substantially rectilinear portions.

Abstract: A tire having (i) an asymmetric tread profile with a shoulder drop difference of 0.3 to 0.9; and (ii) an asymmetric tread pattern so as to have a ratio between the inner void/solid ratio and the outer void/solid ratio of 1.1 to 1.50. By the above combination of features, handling and aquaplaning performance is remarkably improved even at high operating speeds without negatively affecting the wear resistance of the tread band.

Abstract: A tire having a tread wherein a first shoulder region includes a plurality of shoulder blocks that are circumferentially separated by shoulder transverse grooves. A central region includes a plurality of substantially transverse grooves extending from a first circumferential groove toward the equatorial plane, wherein two circumferentially consecutive substantially transverse grooves delimit a central area. The central area includes a first central block; a second central block having one side forming a part of the wall of the first circumferential groove; and a third central block circumferentially shifted with respect to the first central block and positioned at a distance from the first circumferential groove, the third central block being separated from the second central block by a central transverse groove which is inclined with respect to the equatorial plane. The substantially transverse grooves have respective end portions at a distance from the equatorial plane.

Abstract: A tyre includes: a tread band on which is defined a radially outer tread surface, a first plurality of blocks provided on the tread band, and at least a first sipe of the restrained type extending on at least one block of the first plurality in a substantially axial direction defined on the tread band. The first sipe is configured so as to define, between a first and a second block portion divided by the first sipe, at least two separate and distinct couplings of the male/female type, such as to prevent the mutual displacement of the block portions in any direction which, at the block, is substantially tangential to the tread surface, and such as to permit mutual displacement of the block portions in a direction incident to the tread surface. In addition, the first sipe does not intersect any other sipe of the restrained type within the block.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a carcass structure having at least one carcass ply and at least one annular reinforcing structure associated with the carcass ply, a pair of axially opposite side walls on the carcass structure, a belt structure arranged at a radially outer position with respect to the carcass structure and a tread band arranged at a radially outer position with respect to the belt structure, and generally having a first elastomeric material incorporating at least one portion substantially of a second elastomeric material. The tread band has at least one groove defined in the at least one portion substantially of the second elastomeric material, wherein the ratio between the modulus of elasticity under compression at 100° C. of the second elastomeric material and the modulus of elasticity under compression at 100° C. of the first elastomeric material is not lower than about 1.30, and wherein the ratio between the IRHD hardness at 100° C.

Abstract: A tire having (i) an asymmetric tread profile with a shoulder drop difference of 0.3 to 0.9; and (ii) an asymmetric tread pattern so as to have a ratio between the inner void/solid ratio and the outer void/solid ratio of 1.1 to 1.50. By the above combination of features, handling and aquaplaning performance is remarkably improved even at high operating speeds without negatively affecting the wear resistance of the tread band.

Abstract: A tire having a tread wherein a first shoulder region includes a plurality of shoulder blocks that are circumferentially separated by shoulder transverse grooves. A central region includes a plurality of substantially transverse grooves extending from a first circumferential groove toward the equatorial plane, wherein two circumferentially consecutive substantially transverse grooves delimit a central area. The central area includes a first central block; a second central block having one side forming a part of the wall of the first circumferential groove; and a third central block circumferentially shifted with respect to the first central block and positioned at a distance from the first circumferential groove, the third central block being separated from the second central block by a central transverse groove which is inclined with respect to the equatorial plane. The substantially transverse grooves have respective end portions at a distance from the equatorial plane.

Abstract: A tyre for a motor vehicle, in particular a high-performance tyre, is provided with a tread having an overall width. The tread includes first and second circumferential grooves which separate a central region from first and second shoulder regions. The tread includes a circumferential cut in the first shoulder region at a distance from the first circumferential groove; and a plurality of circumferentially repeated transverse groove modules. A first shoulder portion of each transverse groove module includes at least one main transverse groove which includes a first substantially rectilinear portion inclined by a first angle with respect to a radial plane, a second substantially rectilinear portion inclined by a second angle with respect to the radial plane and arranged between the circumferential cut and the first circumferential groove, and a first curve portion connecting the first and the second substantially rectilinear portions.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a carcass structure having at least one carcass ply and at least one annular reinforcing structure associated with the carcass ply, a pair of axially opposite side walls on the carcass structure, a belt structure arranged at a radially outer position with respect to the carcass structure and a tread band arranged at a radially outer position with respect to the belt structure, and generally having a first elastomeric material incorporating at least one portion substantially of a second elastomeric material. The tread band has at least one groove defined in the at least one portion substantially of the second elastomeric material wherein the ratio between the modulus of elasticity under compression at 100° C. of the second elastomeric material and the modulus of elasticity under compression at 100° C. of the first elastomeric material is not lower than about 1.30, and wherein the ratio between the IRHD hardness at 100° C.

Abstract: A method for measuring at least one characteristic property of a pneumatic tire for a vehicle wheel includes arranging at least one array of deformable sensors along a first direction; making the tire pass at speed over the sensors along a second direction; generating an electrical signal proportional to a speed of deformation of each sensor when the tyre contacts the sensor; detecting the electrical signal generated by each sensor; and determining, starting with the detected signals, the at least one characteristic property. The second direction is a motion direction of the tire. The first direction is transverse to the second. The at least one array of sensors extends in the first direction for a distance greater than or equal to a dimension of the tire in the first direction. When the at least one array includes a plurality of arrays, the arrays may be arranged substantially in parallel.

Abstract: A system for determining interaction between a tire and a contact surface during movement of a motor vehicle includes at least one first sensor and processing means. The at least one first sensor includes one or more first elongated piezoelectric elements which extend along at least a first portion of the tire. The at least one first sensor supplies a first signal to the processing means. The first signal is generated by rotation of the tire and is generated cyclically with each revolution of the tire. The processing means detects variations in time intervals between distinctive elements of the first signal. A tire including the system, a kit for detecting behaviour of a tire moving with respect to a contact surface, a method for monitoring events correlated with interactions between tires of a moving vehicle and a contact surface, and related systems, tires, methods, and vehicles are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for generating electrical energy in a tire for a vehicle includes at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable that generates electrical energy when deformed. The at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable is associated with the tire. And the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable extends along at least a portion of the tire. A tire for a vehicle includes a carcass, a tread, and the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable.

Abstract: A method for measuring at least one characteristic property of a pneumatic tyre for a vehicle wheel includes arranging at least one array of deformable sensors along a first direction; making the tyre pass at speed over the sensors along a second direction; generating an electrical signal proportional to a speed of deformation of each sensor when the tyre contacts the sensor; detecting the electrical signal generated by each sensor; and determining, starting with the detected signals, the at least one characteristic property. The second direction is a motion direction of the tyre. The first direction is transverse to the second. The at least one array of sensors extends in the first direction for a distance greater than or equal to a dimension of the tyre in the first direction. When the at least one array includes a plurality of arrays, the arrays may be arranged substantially in parallel.

Abstract: A device for generating energy in a rolling wheel includes one part that can move with respect to a wheel rim. The one part is engaged with elastic portion that keeps it in contact with a predetermined bead portion of a tire. The one part undergoes reciprocating outward and return motion against action of the elastic portion, as a result of forces induced in the one part by contact pressure that varies cyclically during each tire revolution and is exerted on the one part by the predetermined bead portion. Also disclosed is a method for generating energy in a rolling wheel that includes subjecting one part of the wheel to elastic force that keeps the one part in contact with the predetermined bead portion, and subjecting the one part to the cyclically-varying contact pressure.

Abstract: A system for generating electrical energy in a tyre for a vehicle includes at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable that generates electrical energy when deformed. The at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable is associated with the tyre. And the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable extends along at least a portion of the tyre. A tyre for a vehicle includes a carcass, a tread, and the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable.