Abstract: A method for platooning tractor trailers (12, 20) is provided in which tread volumetric void percentages of first tractor tires (18) and second tractor tires (26) are determined. These tread volumetric void percentages are weighted at a ratio of at least 80/20 steer/drive and are used to determine tread volumetric void percentages of the first and second tractor trailers (12, 20). The first and second tractor trailers (12, 20) are positioned in a platoon (10) so that the one of the first and second tractor trailer (12, 20) that has the lower tread volumetric void percentage is positioned in front of the other of the first or second tractor trailers (12, 20) so long as a difference of at least 7% is present between the tread volumetric void percentages of the first and second tractor trailers (12, 20).

Abstract: A method of operating an electronic control system of a vehicle includes determining a first braking distance to achieve a first speed of a first vehicle, receiving a second vehicle braking distance to achieve a second vehicle speed of a second vehicle forward of the first vehicle, determining a minimum following distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle in response to the first braking distance and the second braking distance, and controlling operation of the vehicle with an autonomous control system using the minimum following distance. A computer-implemented fleet management system is configured to receive logistics objectives including load, timeline, and cost information for a freight delivery, receive fleet information including tire parameters of a plurality of vehicles of a fleet, and determine a plurality of trips and a corresponding vehicle selection in response to the logistics objectives and the fleet information.

Abstract: A heavy truck tire tread is provided that has a rolling direction that is in a longitudinal direction of the tread. A circumferential sipe (20) is present and extends in the longitudinal direction completely around the tread. The circumferential sipe does not bound a sacrificial rib. A plurality of micro sipes (22) engage the circumferential sipe and are located on opposite sides of the circumferential sipe in the lateral direction. The micro sipes extend from the circumferential sipe so as to terminate within rubber of the tread at a terminal end.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a heavy truck tire tread having a shoulder edge, shoulder groove, and shoulder rib therebetween. A plurality of sipes are in the shoulder rib and are oriented less than 20 degrees to the lateral direction. The sipes are spaced from one another between 5 to 18 millimeters in the longitudinal direction. Additionally or alternatively, the sipes are arranged so that a reference plane extends through a sipe bottom point and a sipe top point at the average sipe line. A sipe inclination line extends from the sipe bottom point to the sipe top point, and a reference line extends through the sipe bottom point. A sipe inclination angle is defined by the reference line and the sipe inclination line and is greater than 0 degrees.

Abstract: Tread having a maximum thickness PMU of material to be worn away during running, having: at least two grooves of circumferential overall orientation delimiting at least one intermediate row and two edge rows, a plurality of cuts of transverse overall orientation on each intermediate and edge row, representing, in the new state, a void of total volume Vco open onto the tread surface, at most equal to 13% of the total volume of the tread, channels or cavities extending under the tread surface in the new state, adapted to form new grooves after the tread has partially worn away, and having, in the initial state, a total volume Vcc at least equal to 30% of the total void volume Vco in the new state, intermediate rows of suffix (i) and edge rows of suffix (e) each provided with a plurality of cuts of transverse or oblique orientation distributed over each row evenly or near-evenly with a mean pitch of Pi and Pe respectively, having mean depths, Di and De respectively, which are at least equal to 20% of the thickne

Abstract: A tire having a crown reinforcement formed of at least two working crown layers having unequal axial widths, a layer C of rubber mixture being positioned between at least the ends of the said at least two working crown layers, and the crown reinforcement having at least one layer of circumferential reinforcing elements positioned radially between two working crown layers. The distance d between the end of the axially narrowest working layer and the working layer separated from the axially narrowest working layer by the layer C of rubber mixture is such that 1.1ø<d<2.2ø, ø being the diameter of the reinforcing elements of the said at least one layer of circumferential reinforcing elements, and, in a meridian plane, the thickness of the layer C of rubber mixture is substantially uniform.

Abstract: Tread having a maximum thickness PMU of material to be worn away during running, having: at least two grooves of circumferential overall orientation delimiting at least one intermediate row and two edge rows, a plurality of cuts of transverse overall orientation on each intermediate and edge row, representing, in the new state, a void of total volume Vco open onto the tread surface, at most equal to 13% of the total volume of the tread, channels or cavities extending under the tread surface in the new state, adapted to form new grooves after the tread has partially worn away, and having, in the initial state, a total volume Vcc at least equal to 30% of the total void volume Vco in the new state, intermediate rows of suffix (i) and edge rows of suffix (e) each provided with a plurality of cuts of transverse or oblique orientation distributed over each row evenly or near-evenly with a mean pitch of Pi and Pe respectively, having mean depths, Di and De respectively, which are at least equal to 20% of the thickne

Abstract: A tire having a crown reinforcement formed of at least two working crown layers having unequal axial widths, a layer C of rubber mixture being positioned between at least the ends of the said at least two working crown layers, and the crown reinforcement having at least one layer of circumferential reinforcing elements positioned radially between two working crown layers. The distance d between the end of the axially narrowest working layer and the working layer separated from the axially narrowest working layer by the layer C of rubber mixture is such that 1.1ø?d?2.2ø, ø being the diameter of the reinforcing elements of the said at least one layer of circumferential reinforcing elements, and, in a meridian plane, the thickness of the layer C of rubber mixture is substantially uniform.

Abstract: A tire having a crown reinforcement formed of at least two working crown layers each formed of reinforcing elements inserted between two calendaring layers of rubber compound, crossed from one layer to the other making angles of between 10° and 45° with the circumferential direction and the crown reinforcements comprising at least one layer of circumferential reinforcing elements. The elastic modulus under 10% tensile strain of at least one calendaring layer of at least one working crown layer is less than 8.5 MPa and the maximum value of tan(?), denoted tan(?)max, of said at least one calendaring layer of at least one working crown layer is less than 0.100.

Abstract: A tire having a crown reinforcement formed of at least two working crown layers of reinforcing elements, a first layer C of rubber mixture being positioned between at least the ends of the said at least two working crown layers, and the crown reinforcement having at least one layer of circumferential metal reinforcing elements. The tensile modulus of elasticity at 10% elongation of the first layer C of rubber mixture is less than 8 MPa and the maximum tan(?) value, denoted tan(?)max, of the first layer C of rubber mixture is less than 0.100.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire comprising a crown reinforcement formed of at least two working crown layers of reinforcing elements, and of at least one layer of circumferential reinforcing elements. According to the invention, the reinforcing elements of the said at least two working crown layers have a diameter less than 1.1 mm and satisfy the following relationships: (Fr×4 cos2 ?)/(P×0.75×Ø)<5, Fr1/(P1×sin|?1|)?1.2 Fr2/(P2×sin|?2|).

Abstract: The present invention provides a tire with a sacrificial rib to protect the main ribs of the tire's tread by delaying the onset of irregular wear and the growth thereof. The improved tire tread comprises a plurality of main ribs formed by grooves extending generally circumferentially around an outer surface of the tire to form a main tread width for contacting the supporting surface. A sacrificial rib is provided for contacting the supporting surface at each lateral side of the main ribs. The sacrificial rib is separated from the main ribs by a narrow shoulder groove having a groove width not greater than about 1.5 millimeter. The sacrificial rib has a surface width in the range of about 2.5 percent to about 12 percent of said tread width. The sacrificial rib has a recess defined by a radial offset from a transverse or lateral profile of the main ribs. The offset has a value in the range of about 0.50 millimeter to about 2.0 millimeters when the tire is new.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tire with a sacrificial rib to protect the main ribs of the tire's tread by delaying the onset of irregular wear and the growth thereof. The improved tire tread comprises a plurality of main ribs formed by grooves extending generally circumferentially around an outer surface of the tire to form a main tread width for contacting the supporting surface. A sacrificial rib is provided for contacting the supporting surface at each lateral side of the main ribs. The sacrificial rib is separated from the main ribs by a narrow shoulder groove having a groove width not greater than about 1.5 millimeter. The sacrificial rib has a surface width in the range of about 2.5 percent to about 12 percent of said tread width. The sacrificial rib has a recess defined by a radial offset from a transverse or lateral profile of the main ribs. The offset has a value in the range of about 0.50 millimeter to about 2.0 millimeters when the tire is new.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pneumatic tire having a tread portion comprising a plurality of axially spaced apart essentially longitudinal grooves separating essentially longitudinal ribs. On at least one of said ribs, transverse grooves or cuts repeat in the circumferential direction to form first and second land portions wherein the first land portions comprise blocks having a circumferential length greater than that of the second land portions. Said second land portion acts as a sacrificial bridge which provides traction improvement and minimizes undesirable surface anomalies during the service life of the tire.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pneumatic tire having a tread portion comprising a plurality of axially spaced apart essentially longitudinal grooves separating essentially longitudinal ribs. On at least one of said ribs, transverse grooves or cuts repeat in the circumferential direction to form first and second land portions wherein the first land portions comprise blocks having a circumferential length greater than that of the second land portions. Said second land portion acts as a sacrificial bridge which provides traction improvement and minimizes undesirable surface anomalies during the service life of the tire.