Abstract: A tire includes a circumferential tread constructed of a base material. The circumferential tread has a plurality of bars, each of the plurality of bars having a top surface and a plurality of side surfaces. The circumferential tread further has a plurality of valleys disposed between the plurality of bars. A laminate covers at least some of the plurality of valleys. The laminate has a greater elongation at break than the base material.

Abstract: A tire includes a circumferential tread constructed of a base material. The circumferential tread has a plurality of tread elements, with each of the plurality of tread elements having a top surface and a plurality of side surfaces. The circumferential tread further has a plurality of grooves disposed between the plurality of tread elements. A laminate covers at least some of the plurality of tread elements and at least some of the plurality of grooves. The laminate has greater snow traction than the base material.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having an asymmetrically chamfered tread that promotes desired plysteer residual aligning torque and/or plysteer residual cornering force. The tire comprises a tread having a set of first blocks on a first side of an equatorial plane, and a set of second blocks on a second side of the equatorial plane. The first and second blocks are defined at least in part by a top surface, one or more circumferentially extending grooves, and a plurality of laterally extending grooves. The laterally extending grooves define leading edges and trailing edges of the blocks. The boundaries between the leading edges and top surfaces of a plurality of the first blocks, and between the trailing edges and top surfaces of a plurality of the second block, are chamfered. The boundaries between the trailing edges and top surfaces of the first blocks, and between the boundaries between the leading edges and top surfaces of the second blocks, are substantially unchamfered.

Abstract: An improved method for determining an initial flat spot magnitude on a tire that has been resting for a period of time on a substantially flat surface uses regression analysis. In accordance with the method, values of a tire flat spot magnitude for a particular type of tire are determined at a number of measurement intervals by a uniformity machine that spins the tire. An equation having at least two exponentially decaying terms is then determined that corresponds to the measured data points. Regression analysis is then used to determine an estimate for an initial flat spot magnitude. The method can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of different tire designs with respect to flat spot recovery rates.

Abstract: An improved method for determining an initial flat spot magnitude on a tire that has been resting for a period of time on a substantially flat surface uses regression analysis. In accordance with the method, values of a tire flat spot magnitude for a particular type of tire are determined at a number of measurement intervals by a uniformity machine that spins the tire. An equation having at least two exponentially decaying terms is then determined that corresponds to the measured data points. Regression analysis is then used to determine an estimate for an initial flat spot magnitude. The method can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of different tire designs with respect to flat spot recovery rates.

Abstract: A tractor tire is disclosed having widely spaced lug pairs with a symmetrical Y-shaped footprint, each lug pair having inclined transverse lugs and an elongated longitudinal nose portion at the peripheral centerline providing a central lug projecting in the direction of tire rotation and overlapping the trailing end portions of the next adjacent lug pair. The unique lug arrangement minimizes vibration to improve safety during operation on the highway while retaining the characteristics required for effective off-the-road (OTR) performance on soft ground.