Abstract: A tread (1) comprising a tread pattern formed of elements in relief (3, 31) defined by grooves (2), at least one of said grooves being oriented in the longitudinal direction of the tread and having a depth H; this tread comprising, axially to the outside of at least one of its edges, at least one element in relief (4), referred to as a “protective element”, having a contact surface (41) which is offset towards the inside of the tread relative to the contact surface (30) of the element(s) in relief (3) which it protects from irregular wear; this element is connected to the protected element (3) by at least one rubber connecting bridge (6) connecting the facing lateral faces (42, 32) of said elements.

Abstract: A tire comprising at least one carcass-type reinforcement structure anchored on each side in a bead, each bead being extended radially towards the outside by a sidewall comprising at least one substantially resilient circumferential cord disposed in the substantially median portion of said sidewalls, the carcass-type reinforcement structure extending circumferentially from the bead towards said sidewall and being arranged in such a way that, in the substantially median portion of the sidewall, the cords of said reinforcement structure exhibit different axial positions over the circumference, so as to form around the circumference a succession of substantially regular undulations forming an undulating circumferential profile. At rated pressure, the structural rigidity of the sidewalls is that of a standard tire, while at reduced pressure the sidewalls rigidify in such a way as to be able to bear the load.

Abstract: A tire tread comprising grooves defining motifs in relief, at least one of these motifs being provided with first and second incisions, said incisions each being defined by two main lateral surfaces connected by an end surface, each of the first incisions opening on to the running surface of the tread when new and extending at most as far as the depth, and each of the second incisions extends at least as far as the depth. The tread is characterized in that the bottom surfaces of the first incisions and the apex surfaces of the second incisions are functionally arranged such that, whatever the level of wear the length of the ridges on the running surface is at least equal to 75% of the length of the ridges when new.

Abstract: A tire comprising a tread having a tread pattern having a preferred running direction R. The tread pattern is formed by a plurality of blocks arranged in at least three rows of generally circumferential orientation, the axially outermost rows defining the edges of the tread enclosing at least one intermediate row of blocks. Each block has a block length L and a contact face delimiting, with the continuations of the lateral faces of the block, a complementary volume V with a virtual cylinder C, C? enveloping the block. The center of gravity G of the volume V is situated at a distance DG from the mid-plane M, M? of the block dividing the block into two substantially equal volumes.

Abstract: The thread of a tire designed more particularly to run on snowy, icy or wet surfaces. The tread comprises elements in relief, comprising at least one lateral face, at least one element in relief being provided with at least one incision defined along a mean plane, said tread comprising at least two lateral holes, oriented in a mean direction, passing through said element in relief and substantially parallel to the mean plane of incision. The holes open onto at least one lateral face of said element in relief and at least two lateral holes are situated on one and the same side of the mean plane of the incision.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mold and a process for molding a tread 11 and a tire having a tread, the tread including a running surface 12, lateral surfaces 13, axial recesses 15 opening axially on to at least one of the lateral surfaces, the process including steps of inserting into the uncured tread projections 5 which mold the axial recesses 15, and of then removing them from the vulcanized tread, the process being characterized in that the projections 5 are inserted in the direction of the thickness of the tread 11 and are removed in the direction of the width of the tread 11.

Abstract: A tread of thickness E, intended to be used in a tire having a carcass reinforcement surmounted by a crown reinforcement and including on its outer surface a plurality of grooves of depth h, including at least circumferential grooves separated axially by ribs, is provided with at least one internal, circumferential anti-rubber-on-rubber connection element, the outer wall of which, viewed in meridian section, has in part a contour identical to the contour of the wall of the regrooving groove to be created, the point(s) of said wall which are farthest from the axis of rotation being radially distant from the tread surface by a quantity h1 less than the depth h of the grooves, and the point(s) of said wall closest to the axis of rotation being radially distant from the tread surface by the maximum regrooving height H.

Abstract: A tire comprising a tread having a tread pattern having a preferred running direction R. The tread pattern is formed by a plurality of blocks arranged in at least three rows of generally circumferential orientation, the axially outermost rows defining the edges of the tread enclosing at least one intermediate row of blocks. Each block has a block length L and a contact face delimiting, with the continuations of the lateral faces of the block, a complementary volume V with a virtual cylinder C, C′ enveloping the block. The center of gravity G of the volume V is situated at a distance DG from the mid-plane M, M′ of the block dividing the block into two substantially equal volumes.

Abstract: A tread for a tire bearing heavy loads, the tread being made of a rubber mix and having at least one incision defined by opposing walls, each wall having elements in relief intended to cooperate with the elements in relief of the facing wall in the contact of the tread with the roadway. The width of the incision is at a maximum in that region of the tread which undergoes the maximum deformations due to the Poisson effect resulting from the loading of the tread in the contact with the roadway, in order to obtain more effective cooperation of the walls defining said incision in the contact.

Abstract: A tire tread comprising grooves defining motifs in relief, at least one of these motifs being provided with first and second incisions, said incisions each being defined by two main lateral surfaces connected by an end surface, each of the first incisions opening on to the running surface of the tread when new and extending at most as far as the depth, and each of the second incisions extends at least as far as the depth. The tread is characterized in that the bottom surfaces of the first incisions and the apex surfaces of the second incisions are functionally arranged such that, whatever the level of wear the length of the ridges on the running surface is at least equal to 75% of the length of the ridges when new.

Abstract: A tire with a form ratio H/S between 0.3 and 0.8 has a carcass reinforcement (1) which is covered radially by a quasi-cylindrical crown reinforcement (3) and which is tangential at T to a holding circle C. The common tangent at T to the circle C and to the meridian profile of the carcass (1) makes an angle &agr; of between +20° and −80° with respect to a line parallel to the rotation axis and passing through the tangency point T. In its portion located between the tangency point T and the point E of greatest axial width, the carcass reinforcement (1) is provided with a reinforcement armature (6) of circumferentially non-extensible elements. Viewed in meridian cross-section and when the tire is fitted and inflated to the recommended pressure, the carcass (1) has a meridian profile consisting of four circular arcs configured to improve the endurance of the tire while improving its rolling resistance.

Abstract: A tread for a tire, the tread being provided with a plurality of cutouts, defined by walls perpendicular to or oblique to the rolling surface of the tread, in which the two main walls of at least one cutout located in the part of the tread affected by the loading on the ground of the tire during travel are connected by at least one rubber connecting element and in that the total connection surface SE of the connecting element(s) is at most 80% of the surface defined by the geometric contour L of minimum length and surrounding said total connection surface SE. A method for producing a cutout provided with at least one connecting element.

Abstract: A tire includes, among the conventional tread pattern elements, at least one measuring element having a central zone and an encircling zone. In normal operation, the central zone 10 of a measuring element slides over the ground while, conversely, the tread as a whole does not slide over the ground. Measurements are carried out of the maximum adherence potential with the ground, at any moment, due to the central zone of a measuring element. In an alternative embodiment, the measuring element may comprise a circumferentially extending rib(s) or tread block(s) whose ground contact surface(s) is spaced at a lesser radial distance from the wheel axle than the spacing of the ground contact surfaces of the conventional tread blocks.

Abstract: A mold for molding a tread, in particular of a tire, having first elements in relief and second elements in relief for cooperating in the molding configuration to form a molding element intended to mold a single cutout opening both on to the running surface of the tread and on to one of the lateral edges of said tread and to define at least one orifice intended to allow the rubber mix to pass during the molding of the tread.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mold and a process for molding a tread 11 and a tire having a tread, the tread including a running surface 12, lateral surfaces 13, axial recesses 15 opening axially on to at least one of the lateral surfaces, the process including steps of inserting into the uncured tread projections 5 which mold the axial recesses 15, and of then removing them from the vulcanized tread, the process being characterized in that the projections 5 are inserted in the direction of the thickness of the tread 11 and are removed in the direction of the width of the tread 11.

Abstract: A molding element has an anchoring portion and a molding portion, the anchoring portion being intended to be anchored in a part of a tire tread mold with the molding portion projecting from a molding face of the tire tread mold part. The molding portion of the molding element has at least two extensions, one of these extensions having at least one arm pivotally mounted on the extension. The molding element is characterized in that, in the molding position, at least one arm pivotally mounted on an extension bears on another extension of the same molding element to define at least one orifice passing through the molding element to mold a connecting bridge between opposite walls of a cutout molded by the molding element.