Abstract: Tire for vehicle wheels includes a tread pattern defined by modules arranged circumferentially along the tread, each of the modules including: a) a first slanted transverse groove extending from a first shoulder portion in the first half of the tread to a first end located in the second half of the tread; b) a second slanted transverse groove extending from a second shoulder portion in the second half of the tread to a second end located in the first half of the tread; c) a third slanted transverse groove extending from the first shoulder portion to a third end located in the first half of the tread; d) a fourth slanted transverse groove extending from the second shoulder portion to a fourth end located in the second half of the tread; wherein: e) the first end is substantially located at an intermediate portion of the second slanted transverse groove; and f) the second end is substantially located at an intermediate portion of the first slanted transverse groove of a circumferentially adjacent module.

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 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: Tire for vehicle wheels includes a tread pattern defined by modules arranged circumferentially along the tread, each of the modules including: a) a first slanted transverse groove extending from a first shoulder portion in the first half of the tread to a first end located in the second half of the tread; b) a second slanted transverse groove extending from a second shoulder portion in the second half of the tread to a second end located in the first half of the tread; c) a third slanted transverse groove extending from the first shoulder portion to a third end located in the first half of the tread; d) a fourth slanted transverse groove extending from the second shoulder portion to a fourth end located in the second half of the tread; wherein: e) the first end is substantially located at an intermediate portion of the second slanted transverse groove; and f) the second end is substantially located at an intermediate portion of the first slanted transverse groove of a circumferentially adjacent module.

Abstract: A tire includes a carcass, a belt structure, and a tread band. The belt structure includes at least two belt plies and at least one belt layer radially external to the belt plies. The at least one belt layer extends at least for an axial width of the at least two belt plies and includes at least one first elongated element and at least one second elongated element. The elongated elements form turns substantially oriented in a circumferential direction of the tire. The turns are alternately disposed along an axial development of the at least one belt layer. The at least one first elongated element is a hybrid cord including at least one high-elastic-modulus filament and at least one low-elastic-modulus filament that are twisted together. An elastic modulus of the at least one second elongated element is lower than an elastic modulus of the at least one first elongated element.

Abstract: A high performance rain tire includes a tread band, having an inner portion and an outer portion as well as a central zone. There are formed in the tread band: two circumferential grooves in the inner portion, a central circumferential groove and a plurality of inner transverse grooves and a plurality of outer transverse grooves, wherein the inner transverse grooves include a central inner section which defines an angle with respect to the equatorial plane of between approximately ?95° and approximately ?135° and the outer transverse grooves include a central outer section which defines an angle, relative to the equatorial plane, of between approximately +125° and approximately +165°.

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 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 high performance rain tyre includes a tread band, having an inner portion and an outer portion as well as a central zone. There are formed in the tread band: two circumferential grooves in the inner portion, a central circumferential groove and a plurality of inner transverse grooves and a plurality of outer transverse grooves, wherein the inner transverse grooves include a central inner section which defines an angle with respect to the equatorial plane of between approximately ?95° and approximately ?135° and the outer transverse grooves include a central outer section which defines an angle, relative to the equatorial plane, of between approximately +125° and approximately +165°.

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: An apparatus for molding and vulcanization of tyres for vehicle wheels includes a vulcanization press and a vulcanization mold associated with the press. The apparatus includes a pair of plates and a plurality of mold sectors that are mutually movable between an open condition and a closed condition; at least one plurality of sector carriers designed to support the mold sectors and movable together with the sectors; and a plurality of guide means on which the plurality of sector carriers slide for movement of the mold sectors from the closed condition to the open condition and vice versa, at least part of the sector carriers having at least one spring device designed to exert a thrust action adapted to ensure sliding of the sector carrier on the guide element in a substantially parallel direction.

Abstract: A tyre 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 tyre, 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: An apparatus for moulding and vulcanisation of tyres for vehicle wheels includes a vulcanisation press and a vulcanisation mould associated with the press. The apparatus includes a pair of plates and a plurality of mould sectors that are mutually movable between an open condition and a closed condition; at least one plurality of sector carriers designed to support the mould sectors and movable together with the sectors; and a plurality of guide means on which the plurality of sector carriers slide for movement of the mould sectors from the closed condition to the open condition and vice versa, at least part of the sector carriers having at least one spring device designed to exert a thrust action adapted to ensure sliding of the sector carrier on the guide element in a substantially parallel direction.

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 process for vulcanization and moulding of a pneumatic tyres in tyre manufacture is carried out with an apparatus including a vulcanisation mould and including: a pair of plates adapted to be moved close to each other; a plurality of circumferentially distributed mould sectors; the plates and sectors being mutually movable between an open condition at which they are spaced apart to enable loading of the tyre being worked, and a closed condition at which they define a moulding cavity having a geometric configuration matching the outer surface of the tyre to be obtained. The process includes the steps of: loading the green tyre into the mould; vulcanising the tyre: opening the mould; and exerting a radially outward thrust action on each mould sector.

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.