Abstract: Pneumatic tire tread which reduces tread pattern noise while suppressing air column resonance from circumferential grooves is provided with a number of sets of resonators and at least two types of branch groove shapes; the length of the first branch grooves at least 40% of the length of the contact surface, and groove width between 10% and 25% of the circumferential groove width; the length of the second branch grooves between 40% and 90% of the length of the first branch grooves, and the groove width no less than the first branch groove width; first openings and second openings alternately present on same circumferential groove; length between openings in first branch grooves is no more than 50% of the length of the contact surface; difference between the minimum cross-sectional void ratio in the ribs where the branch grooves are provided and the maximum cross-sectional void ratio is no greater than 10%.

Abstract: The pneumatic tire 1 includes a belt layer 14 that includes a circumferential reinforcing layer 145 and a pair of cross belts 142, 143. Also, the pneumatic tire 1 includes at least three or more circumferential main grooves 21 to 23 in the tread portion having groove bottoms that are convex in the groove depth direction. Also, the curvature radius RA of the groove bottom of an arbitrary first circumferential main groove 21, 22 and the curvature radius RB of the groove bottom of an arbitrary second circumferential main groove 23 have the relationship RA<RB.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion provided with at least one circumferentially extending main groove, and at least one lateral groove extending from the main groove. The at least one lateral groove comprises a bottom, and at least one stepwise groove wall that includes at least one level part, wherein the number of level part is not more than three. In a cross-sectional view of the lateral groove, a depth Da from a ground contacting surface of the tread portion to a radially innermost level part is in a range of from 50% to 80% a maximum groove depth D4 of the lateral groove, and a width Wa from the radially innermost level part to a groove edge of the stepwise groove wall measured along in a groove width direction is in a range of from 50% to 150% the depth Da.

Abstract: Tread having a tread surface intended to come into contact with a road surface and comprising at least one groove of width W and of depth P delimited by two walls facing one another, these walls being joined together by a groove bottom, at least one groove comprising at least one closure device for at least partially closing this groove as it passes through the contact patch, each closure device comprising at least one flexible blade of suitable thickness that allows it to flex under the effect of a circulation of liquid, this at least one flexible blade projecting from the bottom of the groove, each flexible blade being delimited by a contact wall intended to come into contact with the road surface and by end walls each facing a wall delimiting the groove and lateral walls, this tread further comprising at least one passage between the bottom of the groove and each blade of the device, this passage being intended to ensure a minimal flow of water when driving on a water-covered road surface.

Abstract: A pneumatic vehicle tire, in particular for heavy commercial trucks, having a tread with a number of circumferential grooves which run in the circumferential direction and which separate profile positives, such as block rows or profile ribs, from one another. The circumferential grooves are each bounded by a groove base and two groove edges. In order to effectively prevent the occurrence of tears at the groove base of the circumferential grooves, in particular at the groove base of the circumferential grooves which extend on the shoulder side, the groove base extends, viewed in cross section and in the axial direction, at an angle of inclination of 3 degrees to 15 degrees with respect to an envelope which encompasses the outer faces of the profile positives.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a tread pattern including a lateral groove extending in a direction intersecting a tire circumferential direction and a shoulder block comparted by the lateral groove. A depression region in which a plurality of depressions extending in the tire circumferential direction are arranged in a tire width direction are formed on a surface of the shoulder block in an outer side in the tire width direction than a ground-contact end. The depressions are open to the lateral groove, and are segmented in a center portion in the tire circumferential direction of the shoulder block.

Abstract: An off-road motorcycle tire 1 having an improved cracking resistance, comprising a tread portion 2 having a plurality of blocks B, wherein at least one of the blocks B has a shallow groove 17 having a depth D1 of 10 to 50% of a height H1 of the blocks B to provide a shallowly-grooved block 16 in which the block is divided into at least two block segments 16s by the shallow groove 17, the shallow groove 17 has both ends opened on outer wall surfaces 12 of the shallowly-grooved block 16 and it has groove wall surfaces 17w extending radially inwardly from a tread surface 11 of the block and a bottom 17b connecting the groove wall surfaces 17w, and intersection portions 18 between the bottom 17b and the outer wall surfaces 12 are chamfered to form chamfered portions 19 having a convex circular arc-like curved surface.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire including at least four circumferential main grooves extending in the tire circumferential direction and a plurality of rib-like land portions partitioned by the circumferential main grooves in the tread portion. An outer side second land portion includes an L-shaped narrow groove formed by connecting a width direction groove portion extending from an edge portion on an outer side in the tire width direction of the outer side second land portion toward an inner side in the tire width direction, and a circumferential direction groove portion extending substantially parallel to the tire circumferential direction and terminating in an interior portion of the outer side second land portion; and a penetrating sipe penetrating the outer side second land portion in the tire width direction and intersecting the circumferential direction groove portion.

Abstract: A tire with sufficient braking performance on dry and wet roads, reduced rolling resistance and abrasion resistance. Tread 12 has first circumferential direction groove 14 and first fine grooves 18 with wall faces that contact each other when the tread 12 contacts the ground, the grooves 14 and 18 partitioning center ribs 16. Center blocks 24 are partitioned by second circumferential direction grooves 20 outside the grooves 18 and center lug grooves 22 extending from respective groove 18 to respective groove 20. First sipes 40 are formed in the center blocks 24 extending circumferentially from wall face 24B toward wall face 24C and terminating within the block. Second sipes 42 are formed in the surface of center blocks 24 extending circumferentially from wall face 24C toward wall face 24B, and curving around before reaching wall face 24B, being open to wall face 24A, and not intersecting first sipes 40.

Abstract: A tire for motorcycles, has a tread band and includes an annular central portion and two annular shoulder portions. The tread band includes at least one first groove extending from one annular shoulder portion to the other annular shoulder portion and having a first vertex at the annular central portion, and at least one pair of second grooves arranged on opposite sides with respect to the equatorial plane, each groove of said at least one pair of second grooves being inclined with respect to the equatorial plane and extending from a respective annular shoulder portion up the annular central portion without intersecting the equatorial plane. The distance in the circumferential direction between an axially inner end of each groove of said at least one pair of second grooves and the first vertex is no greater than 3.5% of the circumferential extension of the tread band.

Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire which achieves both of excellent wet traction and wear resistance from an early stage to an advanced stage of wear. Multiple dent parts are formed, at certain intervals in a tire circumferential direction, in both side walls of each of at least two land portions of multiple land portions being formed in a tread surface and extending in the tire circumferential direction. Each of the dent parts has a smaller depth than main grooves that define the land portion where this dent part is formed. Multiple sipes are formed to traverse the land portion in a tire width direction between the right and left dent parts opposed to each other. Each of the sipes has a greater depth in both end regions opening to the dent parts than in a center region thereof.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprising a tread portion provided with a middle land portion 6 which is arranged between a central main groove 3 and a shoulder main groove 4. The middle land portion 6 is provided with an inner middle lateral groove 8 and an outer middle lateral groove 9. The inner middle lateral groove 8 comprises a first inclined portion 10 that extends axially outwardly from the central main groove 3 at an angle ?1 of from 10 to 40 degrees with respect to a circumferential direction of the tire, and a second inclined portion 12 that is inclined at an opposite direction to the first inclined portion 10 so as to extend axially inwardly, and a bent portion 11 connecting the first inclined portion 10 and the second inclined portion 12. The outer middle lateral groove 9 is communicated with the second inclined portion 12 of the axially inner middle lateral groove 8 without including an axially outermost groove edge 8e of the inner middle lateral groove 8, and is communicated with the shoulder main groove 4.

Abstract: The pneumatic tire includes a carcass layer and a belt layer that is formed by laminating a pair of cross belts and a circumferential reinforcing layer and that is disposed outward in a tire radial direction from the carcass layer. Additionally, the pneumatic tire includes a plurality of circumferential main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction, and a plurality of land portions partitioned by the circumferential main grooves in a tread portion. Also, an end portion on the outer side in the tire width direction of the circumferential reinforcing layer is on the outer side in the tire width direction of a normal line m that is drawn from a point P at an edge portion on the inner side in a tire width direction of a shoulder land portion to the carcass layer.

Abstract: In the pneumatic tire, the blocks above the circumferential reinforcing layer have at least one sipe. Also, the sipe has a bent shape, in a plan view, with two flex points P1, P2, and has a closed structure with two end points Q1, Q2 terminating within the block. Also, the angle ? between the line that connects the flex points P1, P2 and the tire circumferential direction is within the range such that 0°???10°. Also, the angle ?1 between the line connecting the flex point P1 and the end point Q1 and the tire circumferential direction, and the angle ?2 between the line connecting the flex point P2 and the end point Q2 and the tire circumferential direction are within the range such that 35°?1?55° and 35°??2?55°.

Abstract: A tire for an aeroplane and, in particular, a crown of a tire for an aeroplane, to reduce the dimensions and mass of pieces of tread in the event of accidental tire tread separation, without the use of additional devices external to the tire, which includes a tread intended to come into contact with the ground via a tread surface, and extending radially between a bottom surface and the tread surface, the tread comprising independent cavities. According to the invention, each cavity has, in the tread surface, an opening surface inscribed inside a circle, the centres (O) of the circles, circumscribed at the opening surfaces of the cavities, are distributed axially, over at least part of the axial width (l) of the tread surface, with an axial spacing (pY) at least equal to 0.02 times and at most equal to 0.

Abstract: A heavy duty tire comprises a tread portion provided with four or five circumferential grooves so as to axially divide the tread portion into five or six rib portions. The five or six rib portions are a pair of shoulder rib portions each provided with shoulder lateral groove, and three or four crown rib portions each provided with crown lateral grooves. The crown lateral grooves extend across the entire width of the crown rib portion. The shoulder lateral grooves extend axially outwardly from an axially inner edge of the shoulder rib portion so as to terminate at an axial distance of from 78 to 88% of the axial width of the shoulder rib portion from the above-mentioned axially inner edge. The depth of the circumferential grooves is 15 to 20 mm. The depth of the crown lateral grooves is 9 to 30% of the depth of the circumferential grooves. The depth of the shoulder lateral grooves is 9 to 25% of the depth of the circumferential grooves. The tread width TW is in a range of 0.78 to 0.

Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire with which grip performance on a road surface having a low coefficient of friction can be improved and tread pattern durability can be further improved. A pneumatic tire tread 1 according to the present invention has a ground-contacting element 5 demarcated by grooves 4 (4a, 4b) formed in the tread, micro-incisions 3a being formed in the ground-contacting element, the micro-incisions, at least when the tire is new, having one arcuate portion 33 and two end portions 31, 32 formed in a ground-contacting surface of the tread, opening to a width E in the ground-contacting surface of the tread and extending such that they do not open in the grooves, an incision length L being at most equal to 3.0 mm.

Abstract: The present invention includes an improved tire tread having recessed lateral grooves, and a tire having the same. Particular embodiments of the tread include a tread thickness bounded depthwise by a top side configured to engage a ground surface during tire operation and a bottom side configured to attach to a tire carcass, the thickness extending laterally between a first side edge and a second side edge and longitudinally in a lengthwise direction of the tread. The tread further includes a longitudinal groove in fluid communication with the top side or the bottom side of the tread thickness and a lateral groove in fluid communication with the bottom side of the tread thickness extending from the first side edge intersecting the longitudinal groove forming a vent passageway extending from the longitudinal groove and to the first side edge. The invention includes methods of forming such treads and molds there for.

Abstract: A tread for a pneumatic tyre includes tread pattern elements and cuts. Each tread pattern element includes lateral faces and a contact face that comes into contact with a road surface when the tyre is being driven thereon. A boundary between the contact face and the lateral faces forms at least one edge corner. The cuts are formed as grooves and/or sipes, with the cuts being delimited by opposing lateral faces of the treat pattern elements. Each tread pattern element is formed of at least one rubber compound. When the tread is viewed in cross section in a plane normal to an axis of rotation of the tyre and passing through a contact face of a tread pattern element, at least one of the cuts adjacent to that contact face is covered at least in part with a covering layer that contains a woven or nonwoven fibre assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel tire includes a tire tread having a circumferential center tread region in which block elements are arranged in a symmetric pattern on opposite sides of a tire circumferential equatorial centerplane. The tread has one or more circumferential grooves bounded by edges of opposing block elements, pairs of opposed block elements having a block edge facing the groove and an array of saw-teeth formed along the groove-facing edge of opposed block elements inclined in the radial direction. The saw-teeth on a block edge of one opposed block element incline in a direction opposite to the inclination direction of saw-teeth on opposite opposed block element. A block element on the center tread region side of the groove has multiple circumferentially spaced apart and laterally extending sipes extending across the block element. The sipes extend to and align with the array of saw-teeth along the groove-facing edge of the block element.

Abstract: Provided is a tire exhibiting improved wear resistance, partial wear resistance, and traction performance on the wet road surface. The tire has block land portion arrays 5 defined on a tread portion 1. Between two block land portion arrays 5 located adjacent to each other while sandwiching a circumferential groove 2, a block land portions 4 constituting the block land portion arrays are arrange so as to be positionally displaced from each other, and a groove portion 6 located between the block land portions adjacent in the tire width direction extends obliquely with respect to tire width direction and the tire circumferential direction. At this time, a distance d2 between the block land portions adjacent in the tire width direction is shorter than a distance d1 between the block land portions adjacent in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread having a center main groove and a pair of shoulder main grooves. A pair of middle land sections in the tread is positioned between the shoulder and center grooves. Each of the shoulder and center grooves has a groove width set in range of 7 to 9% of width of the tread footprint. An outer middle land portion is divided into first and second middle land portions by a middle narrow groove. The first land portion forms rib. The second land portion has outer middle lateral grooves connected to the center groove and the narrow groove. Each lateral groove includes first portion, second portion having the opposite inclination to the first portion and connection portion between the first and second portions. The connection portion is positioned on the center groove side from the center of the outer land portion in the axial direction.

Abstract: A middle land portion includes middle sipes and middle lateral grooves. A shoulder land portion includes shoulder lateral grooves and shoulder sipes. A ratio Ems/Ema is smaller than a ratio Ess/Esa. Ems denotes a total of elements of edge lengths of the middle sipes in an axial direction of the tire. Ema denotes a total of elements of edge lengths of the middle sipes and the middle lateral grooves in the axial direction. Ess denotes a total of elements of edge lengths of the shoulder sipes in the axial direction. Esa denotes a total of elements of edge lengths of the shoulder sipes and the shoulder lateral grooves in the axial direction.

Abstract: A molding element for a mold for vulcanizing a tread of a tire, comprising a base able to mold part of the tread surface of the tread and a bar able to mold a groove in the tread, the bar comprising two longitudinal faces extending along its length and projecting from the base and an upper face connecting the longitudinal faces. The molding element comprises a contact edge formed by the base and the bar, intended to come into contact with another molding element to form all or part of the vulcanizing mold, and further comprising at least one recess in the bar, which opens onto the upper face and onto the contact edge, but does not open onto the longitudinal faces of the bar.

Abstract: A studless tire improved in on-ice performance as well as on-snow performance is disclosed. The tread portion is provided with tread grooves to have a land ratio in a range of from 0.65 to 0.75. The tread grooves including an axially inner circumferential groove, an axially outer circumferential groove and a plurality of sipes disposed on each side of the tire equator. The land ratio of a crown region and the land ratio of a shoulder region are each larger than the land ratio of a middle region, wherein the crown region is defined between the widthwise center lines of the inner circumferential grooves, the middle region is defined between the widthwise center line of the axially inner circumferential groove and the widthwise center line of the axially outer circumferential groove, and the shoulder region is defined between the widthwise center line of the outer circumferential groove and a tread edge of the tread portion.

Abstract: A heavy duty pneumatic tire includes a tread portion provided with at least three circumferential main grooves, and a plurality of lateral grooves extending between adjacent main grooves or between one main groove and a tread edge, to form at least one block row comprising a plurality of blocks. The block row comprises a plurality of pitch elements each of which consists of circumferentially adjacent one lateral groove and one block. The tread portion has a land ratio in a range of from 70% to 80%. The block row comprises a number of pitch elements in a range of from 40 to 50, and each lateral groove has a groove width in a range of from 5% to 15% in relation to a circumferential length of the block in each pitch element.

Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire including a land portion provided with a sipe, which is capable of simultaneously providing snow performance, dry performance, and wet performance all at high level in a single land portion. The pneumatic tire includes a land portion 2 on a tread portion. The land portion 2 is provided with a sipe 5 having amplitude in a tire circumferential direction and extending in a tire width direction. In a depth direction extending from a land portion surface S toward an inner side in a tire radial direction, sipe 5 includes: a land portion's surface-side part 5a1 bent toward tire circumferential direction from land portion surface S; and a land portion's bottom-side part 5a2 bent in a direction different from a direction of land portion's surface-side part 5a1 or bent toward tire circumferential direction by a displacement different from a displacement of land portion's surface-side part 5a1.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire according to the present invention including a tread surface having at least one circumferential groove extending along a tire circumferential direction and a plurality of widthwise grooves opening to the circumferential groove, the widthwise grooves having a groove width wider than a groove width of the circumferential groove at least in a portion opening to the circumferential groove and, the widthwise grooves extending in a direction inclined with respect to the tire circumferential direction, wherein a recess is formed on a groove wall surface of the circumferential groove opposite to the widthwise groove.

Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic radial tire for a passenger vehicle, including: a carcass constituted of plies as radially-disposed cords and toroidally provided across a pair of bead portions; and a tread, in which: the tread surface has one or more grooves formed thereon; the grooves each have a groove width of 3 mm or less; and a section width SW to an outer diameter OD of the tire have a ratio of SW/OD?0.26 when SW<165 (mm), and SW and OD satisfy a relationship formula OD?2.035×SW+282.3 when SW?165 (mm).

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a tire exhibiting improved braking and driving performances on each of an icy/snowy road surface and a dry road surface.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire improved in on-ice performance and on-snow performance in good balance. The pneumatic tire includes a tread portion extending in a tire circumferential direction and forming a ring shape, a pair of sidewall portions on both sides of the tread portion, respectively, and a pair of bead portions on inner sides of the sidewall portions in a tire radial direction, respectively. The tread portion includes a plurality of longitudinal grooves extending in the tire circumferential direction and a plurality of lateral grooves extending in a tire width direction. The longitudinal and lateral grooves define a plurality of block rows each including a plurality of blocks. Each of the plurality of blocks included in at least one of the block rows includes at least three closed grooves including at least one first closed groove and at least one second closed groove.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire 1 comprising at least one pair of parallel annular beads; at least one carcass ply 3 wrapped around said beads; a tread 5; and first and second sidewalls disposed between said tread and one of said at least one pair of beads; as well as a belt portion 7 between the carcass ply 3 and the tread 5. In accordance with the invention, the tread 5 comprises a tread base layer 8 and a plurality of tread blocks 9, wherein the tread blocks 9 comprise at least two different rubber layers 15, 17, 19 arranged radially above each other, whereas the rubber layers 15, 17, 19 of different tread blocks are axially separate from each other.

Abstract: Motorcycle tire suitable for mounting on the rear wheel of a motorcycle, including a tread band having a tread pattern includes a module which is repeated in a direction of circumferential extension of the tire, the module having: at least two substantially longitudinal first grooves which are inclined opposite to each other with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire; and at least two substantially longitudinal second grooves which are inclined opposite to each other with respect to the equatorial plane. Each substantially longitudinal first groove alternates with a second longitudinal groove. The substantially longitudinal first grooves have, in a direction axially away from the equatorial plane of the tire, two substantially consecutive curvilinear sections, the first section of which has a convexity and the second section of which has a concavity directed in the rolling direction of the tire.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided in the tread portion with zigzag circumferential grooves and axial grooves so that a row of circumferentially arranged blocks is formed on each side of each of the zigzag circumferential grooves. Each of the zigzag circumferential grooves is composed of axially inner and outer circumferential segments and oblique segments. The axially inner and outer circumferential segments are arranged alternately in the tire circumferential direction. The oblique segments connect between the axially inner and outer circumferential segments, whereby the zigzag circumferential groove extends in the form of a trapezoidal wave. The zigzag amplitude is in a range of from 4 to 15% of a half tread width (Tw/2). The width of the zigzag circumferential groove is in a range of from 7 to 13% of the half tread width (Tw/2). The number of the axial grooves connected to each of the zigzag circumferential grooves on both side thereof is in a range of from 8 to 12 when counted in a tire footprint.

Abstract: In a tire 1, a central land portion row 20C and intermediate land portion rows 20M are formed by center-side main grooves 10C. A projecting portion 50 projecting outwardly in a tire radial direction TR from a groove bottom surface 11 of the center-side main groove 10C is provided in the central groove 10C. The projecting portion 50 is located on an extension line L1 extending in an extending direction of lug grooves 30M, and extends outwardly in the tread width direction TW from a sidewall 21 of the central land portion row 20C. An inner end height H1 of the projecting portion 50 located on an innermost side thereof in the tread width direction TW and continuous to the central land portion row 20C is greater than an outer end height H2 of the projecting portion 50 located on an outermost side thereof in the tread width direction TW.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion provided with a pair of crown main grooves and a pair shoulder main grooves to divide middle portions and shoulder portions, the tread portion having a contact surface covered with a cap rubber layer with a loss tangent of from 0.03 to 0.18, the middle portions provided with only middle lug grooves with groove widths within 2 mm, each middle lug groove extending from one end connected either the crown or shoulder main groove to the other end terminating within the middle portion, the middle lug grooves having an angle of from 40 to 55 degrees with respect to a tire circumferential direction, and each shoulder portion provided with first shoulder lateral grooves having axially inner ends connected to the shoulder main groove, wherein first shoulder lateral grooves consist of grooves having groove widths within 2 mm.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion provided with an inboard shoulder main groove, an outboard shoulder groove, and a center main groove provided therebetween, to form an outboard shoulder portion, an inboard shoulder portion, an inboard middle portion, and an outboard middle portion, the inboard and outboard middle portions being formed as ribs respectively, that are provided with only sipes having widths less than 2.0 mm, wherein the sipes provided on the inboard middle portion include a full-opened sipe, the sipes provided on the outboard middle portion consisting of outer semi-opened sipes and inner semi-opened sipes, wherein the number of the inner semi-opened sipes is smaller than the number of the outer semi-opened sipes.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion provided with a tread pattern with a designated rotational direction. The tread pattern includes a plurality of V-shaped main inclined grooves that protrude toward the rotational direction and extend from one tread edge to the other tread edge, a pair of connecting grooves disposed both sides of a tire equator between the circumferentially adjacent main inclined grooves, and a center block divided among the circumferentially adjacent main inclined grooves and the one pair of connecting grooves. The center block has a trapezoidal-like shape that comprises a laterally extending leading edge and a laterally extending trailing edge having an axial length larger than that of the leading edge.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread block having a top face provided with a three-dimensional sipe, the sipe extending along its longitudinal direction with an angle of 0 to 45 degrees with respect to a tire axial direction, the sipe having a first opening configuration extending in a wavy manner with amplitude W and a cycle a1 in a cross sectional view of the block parallel to the top face, the sipe having a second opening configuration extending in a wavy manner with amplitude W and a cycle a2 in a cross sectional view of the block perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the sipe, and the sipe satisfying the following relation (1) in a rectangular coordinate system in which the x-axis corresponds to the longitudinal direction, the z-axis corresponds to a depth direction of the sipe: y=W·sin {(2?·x/a1)+(2?·z/a2)+?}.

Abstract: A sipe extending in a tire width direction is provided in a land part (block) of a tread shoulder region. An inner region on the tire equator side in a length direction of the sipe is formed in a straight sipe portion over the whole of a sipe depth direction. A region on the tread ground contact end side relative to the inner region is divided and provided in the straight sipe portion on the sipe opening side and a waveform sipe portion on the sipe bottom part side in the sipe depth direction.

Abstract: Tire treads having one or more repeating pitches, each repeating pitch comprising individual pitches having tread blocks with sipes formed therein and each pitch having a pitch length of between 15 mm and 35 mm. Such treads may also have a weighted average sipe density Dw of between 10 mm?1 and 37 mm?1, which is determined through the disclosed Eq. 2 below. The tread blocks are also formed from a rubber composition based upon a diene elastomer, a plasticizing system and a cross-linking system, wherein the rubber composition has a glass transition temperature of between ?40° C. and ?15° C. and a shear modulus G* measured at 60° C. of between 0.5 MPa and 1.1 MPa.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion provided with an asymmetrical tread pattern comprising a pair of crown circumferential grooves defining a crown rib therebetween. The crown rib is provided with: a central narrow circumferential groove subdividing the crown rib into a crown-rib outside portion and a crown-rib inside portion; cooling slots extending from the crown circumferential grooves; and cooling holes.

Abstract: A tire, wherein, a lateral groove (7) is disposed between a predetermined land block (5) and a land block (6) adjacent to the land block (5) in the tire circumference direction, among land blocks (4, 5, 6), and is formed of an inner lateral groove (Q) and an outer lateral groove (P), the inside lateral groove (Q) being disposed at an inside of a boundary of a bent portion (12) in a tire width direction, the outside lateral groove (P) being disposed at an outside of the bent portion (12), the bent portion (12) being formed at intermediate portion in the tire width direction. The angle ?1 of the inner lateral groove (Q) relative to the tire circumference direction is smaller than the angle ?2 of the outer lateral groove (P) relative to the circumference direction.

Abstract: A tread for use in a tire retread process includes a first side and a second, flat side. A plurality of lugs is formed on a first side of the tread and arranged along in a periodically repeating tread pattern. A set of marks is formed in at least one outer lug and defines a finite linear distance along the tread within which the tread is adapted to be cut into the length of tread, such that when the length of tread is deposited around the casing of the tire and the ends of the length of tread are placed in abutting relationship one relative to the other along a seam, the periodically repeating tread pattern appears substantially continuous. The set of marks is predetermined in advance of retreading to be located in positions where at least some of the performance and processing characteristics of the tread may be improved.

Abstract: Tire tread comprising a plurality of elements forming relief, each element comprising a contact face, a plurality of elements of the tread being provided with at least one incision, this incision opening onto the contact face in order to form second edges parallel with one another and with an average orientation at most equal to 45° with the direction of the axis of rotation of the tire provided with this tread, each incision also opening onto two lateral surfaces of the element so as to form strips having a length L and a width d, this width d being less than the length L, each strip comprising at least one cavity entirely contained in the strip and of which the largest dimension is oriented so as to be in the direction of the length of the strip inside which it is formed, each cavity having a length Lc, measured along its largest dimension, which is between 10% and 90% of the length L of the strip, the total of the lengths Lc of all the cavities of one and the same strip being more than 10% of the length L

Abstract: Tire having a tread pattern with superior performance characteristics. The tread pattern includes ribs and circumferential grooves which are at least one of tapered and/or generally V-shaped. The walls of each circumferential groove have a wavy and/or sinusoidal contour extending in a generally circumferential direction.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion provided with a pair of shoulder main grooves adjacent to each tread edge and a pair of center main grooves disposed axially inwardly of the shoulder main grooves to define a pair of middle portions each of which is between the adjacent shoulder main groove and center main groove. The center main grooves have groove widths larger than the groove widths of the shoulder main grooves. The respective middle portions are provided with a plurality of inner middle lug grooves extending axially outwardly of the tire from the center main groove, and a plurality of outer middle lug grooves extending axially inwardly of the tire from the shoulder main groove. The total number of inner middle lug grooves is smaller than the total number of outer middle lug grooves in each middle portion.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a tire for heavy load, which exhibits good performances in both fuel efficiency and drainage. One example of the pneumatic tire comprising a tread portion and a pair of circumferential main grooves formed in a ground contact surface of the tread portion to section the ground contact surface of the tread portion into the central region and respective side regions, wherein the tire further comprises three circumferential narrow grooves formed in the central region to demarcate four rib-like center land portions in the central region; and the central region has a structure in which openings of the circumferential narrow grooves are closed so that the rib-like center land portions adjacent to each other with the circumferential narrow grooves therebetween are in contact with and thus supported by each other when the tire is in contact with the ground.

Abstract: A heavy duty radial tire comprises a tread portion divided into four or five circumferential ribs and a tread reinforcing belt including a maximum width belt ply. The width Bw of the maximum width belt ply is 0.90 to 0.98 times the tread width Tw. The contour shape of the tire footprint has a ground contacting length CB at a 70% width position and a ground contacting length CC at a 97% width position, wherein the ratio CB/CC is 1.00 to 1.06. In a tread edge near region J, (1) the axially outermost shoulder rib is provided with no circumferential groove having a width of less than 5 mm, and a ratio Rs/Rc of an axial width Rs of the shoulder rib to an axial width Rc of a center rib is 1.25 to 1.

Abstract: In a pneumatic tire 1, a center land portion 5a between center main grooves 3, a middle land portion 5b between the center main groove 3 and a shoulder main groove 4, and a pair of shoulder land portions 5c extending on outer sides of the shoulder main groove 4 in a tire axial direction are divided from each other. The center main groove 3 includes arc groove pieces 6 which are continuously provided in a tire circumferential direction. The arc groove piece 6 includes an arc portion 7 which is curved to swell toward a tire equator C. The middle land portion 5b is provided with a middle inclined groove 9 which extends from an intersection portion K of the arc groove piece 6 toward the shoulder main groove 4.