Tread Patents (Class 152/209.1)
  • Publication number: 20130167992
    Abstract: A motorcycle tire includes a tread having shoulder blocks, and sidewalls. Each shoulder block includes a main portion and an end portion. The main portion is formed by a first crosslinked rubber composition. The end portion and the sidewalls are formed by a second crosslinked rubber composition. JIS-A hardness Ha of the main portion is greater than JIS-A hardness Hb of the end portion and the sidewalls. Difference (Ha?Hb) is greater than or equal to 5, and is not greater than 12. A ratio (H2/H1) of a height H2 from a boundary point Pb between the tread and each sidewall to a boundary point P2 between the main portion and the end portion, relative to a height H1 from the boundary point Pb to an outermost end P1 of a corresponding one of the shoulder blocks in the axial direction, is greater than or equal to 1/3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130153100
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tire tread having a configuration and material properties that improve wet traction. In particular, the tread has a specified minimum threshold for chamfer density and a maximum level of complex shear modulus for the material that constitutes the tread in order to optimize the road friction coefficient (p) a tire tread experiences during a wet braking event. This results in better wet traction and a shorter stopping distance during the braking event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Olivier Piffard, Cyril Guichon, Xavier Saintigny, Raymond Stubblefield
  • Publication number: 20130153099
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic tire having a cap/base configuration comprised of an outer tread cap rubber layer, with a tread running surface, and an underlying tread base rubber layer, where the base rubber layer contains syndiotactic polybutadiene with a diverse blend of carbon blacks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Claude Schweitzer, Junling Zhao, Marc Weydert
  • Publication number: 20130146189
    Abstract: The invention relates to retreaded tires and method of preparation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventors: Ramendra Nath Majumdar, Dale Roy Norton
  • Patent number: 8459319
    Abstract: This invention relates to a pneumatic tire with an outer, running surface containing, circumferential tread comprised of a styrene/butadiene (SBR) rich rubber composition containing two SBR's with spaced apart glass transition temperatures (Tg's), one of which is a functionalized SBR with a functional group reactive with hydroxyl groups on a precipitated silica, together with a combination of at least three resins with spaced apart softening points. The filler reinforcement is a combination of precipitated silica and specialized rubber reinforcing carbon black.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Jennifer Lyn Ryba, Paul Harry Sandstrom, Steven Wayne Cronin, Bret Herbert Marts
  • Patent number: 8453694
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic rubber tire having an integral innerliner of a rubber composition comprised of a combination of cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber and medium to high vinyl styrene/butadiene rubber together with compatible resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Bruce Raymond Hahn
  • Publication number: 20130126060
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread base comprised of a first material, a tread cap comprised of a second material, and a plurality of plugs comprised of a third material. The tread cap is disposed radially outward of the tread base and in operational contact with a ground surface. The plurality of plugs are disposed at least partially within the tread cap. The plurality of plugs yield a tread stiffness in one direction greater than stiffness in at least one other direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventors: Kenneth Lee Oblizajek, Arthur Allen Goldstein, Jonathan Michael Darab, Paul Harry Sandstrom, William Ronald Rodgers, Jennifer Lyn Ryba, Rachel Tamar Graves, Chad Edward Melvin
  • Patent number: 8443855
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pneumatic tire including a straight main groove and two wave-shaped main grooves arranged in the center area of a tread, and diagonal grooves arranged in each shoulder area ranging from each wave-shaped main groove to the outer side of the tire, and extending obliquely outward from the wave-shaped main groove to a direction reverse to the tire rotational direction, the rotational direction being specified for the tire. Each diagonal groove is formed to have a convex protruding toward the outer side of the tire, and the extending end portion of the diagonal groove terminates in the shoulder area. Thus, each shoulder area is provided with a non-block pattern in which a land section continues in the tire circumferential direction. Thereby, the pneumatic tire has increased driving stability and uneven wear resistance while substantially maintaining good drainage performance and noise performance against columnar resonance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Yamane
  • Publication number: 20130118660
    Abstract: The invention relates to a moulding element for a mould for a tyre comprising a tread provided with a plurality of blocks. Each block comprises a contact surface intended to come into contact with a road surface during running. The moulding element also comprises a moulding surface for moulding the contact surfaces of the blocks. The moulding surface comprises a plurality of ribs intended to mould fine grooves in the blocks. These ribs have a height of between 0.005 and 1 mm, a width of between 0.01 mm and 0.3 mm and the pitch (P) of the ribs is between 0.1 and 2 mm. The moulding surface comprises at least one rib-free measurement zone able to accept measurement means. This measurement zone has the overall shape of a disc the diameter of which is greater than 3 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventors: Didier Gay, Joseph Roche
  • Publication number: 20130098517
    Abstract: A novel design for a high-speed tire tread is provided that gives improved performance in both water and snow conditions. The tread region of the tire uses transversely-oriented grooves that each extend in a novel manner across the width of the tread region. There are no grooves or other tread features that provide substantial fluid communication between the transversely-oriented grooves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventor: Cyril Guichon
  • Publication number: 20130098520
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire 1 which includes a plurality of rib-shaped land portions extending in a tire-circumferential-direction and in which a circumferential groove is formed extending in the tire-circumferential-direction between the land portions. The circumferential groove is provided with an intra-groove groove formed to recess inwardly in a tire-radial-direction from the circumferential groove while having its upper ends at a groove bottom of the circumferential groove. Paired inner wall surface and outer wall surface forming the intra-groove groove each continuously extend in tire-circumferential-direction while meandering in tread-width-direction. The intra-groove groove includes a wide groove portion in which a groove width of the intra-groove groove in tread-width-direction is a predetermined width; and a narrow groove portion which is continuous with the wide groove portion and which has a narrower width than the predetermined width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keiichi Kato
  • Publication number: 20130087259
    Abstract: A tread band of raw elastomeric material is circumferentially applied around a bearing structure incorporating reinforcing cords, for forming a green tyre subsequently submitted to a curing treatment. The tread band is formed by: making an underlayer of raw elastomeric material; making blocks of raw elastomeric material; and applying the blocks mutually spaced apart according to a predetermined tread pattern, onto the underlayer. During introduction of the tyre into a curing mould, the blocks are put in alignment with respective forming recesses before closing the mould, so that each block is engaged in the respective forming recess, following closure of the mould.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Inventor: Gianni Mancini
  • Patent number: 8415426
    Abstract: A tire is provided having a component comprised of a rubber composition containing at least one conjugated diene-based elastomer and a combination of rubber reinforcing fillers composed of rubber reinforcing carbon black, precipitated silica and granular functionalized mineral comprised of at least one of aluminum hydrate (ALOOH) and titanium dioxide. The granular mineral is functionalized by pretreatment with a coupling agent. The granular mineral fillers are pretreated with a coupling agent to promote a combination of rubber reinforcing effect for the mineral fillers and to promote a hydrophobation of the mineral fillers to promote their dispersability in the rubber composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Kuo-Chih Hua, Ling Du
  • Publication number: 20130081743
    Abstract: The present invention is a wheel, tire and tread system that is used to change wheel diameters, change treads for varying terrains, for safety reasons, to re-tread or to tread designs. The tread designs can be used to exhibit brands, prints, imprints and they can also be used as molds. The invention is comprised of a separate tread and a separate tire to be used together. It is also comprised of a key, distinguishing factor, which are the attachments that are located on the sidewalls of these tires. These attachments allow for the separate tread and the separate tire to be used together. The present invention is used by attaching the varying treads to the varying wheels through slipping the holes on the treads into the buttons on the wheels. The pieces fit together forming one unit and function as any typical tire should.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas Ellis Coghill, JR.
  • Patent number: 8403013
    Abstract: An object is to provide a pneumatic tire which can exhibit a static elimination function in an ensured fashion and be fabricated easily. As a means therefor, there is provided a pneumatic tire in which a conductive layer 12a and a non-conductive layer 14a are wound alternately in a tire circumferential direction in a partially overlapping fashion at least in part of a tread portion, characterized in that the conductive layer 12a is provided wider than the non-conductive layer 14a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeo Kudo, Osamu Fujiki
  • Patent number: 8394883
    Abstract: A raw elastomeric composition includes: (a1) from 30 to 90% by weight of a partially hydrogenated vinylarene-conjugated diene random elastomeric copolymer; (a2) from 10 to 70% by weight of one or more diene rubbers; (b) from 10 to 150 phr of silica; (c) from 0.1 to 20 phr of a coupling agent based on silane; (d) from 0.1 to 10 phr of a vulcanization agent; wherein the partially hydrogenated vinylarene-conjugated diene random copolymer has a structure which has nodes statistically distributed in the macromolecule, from which polymeric chains branch out, the bond between the nodes and the branches being a carbon-carbon bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Polimeri Europa S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gian Tommaso Viola, Luca Soddu, Fabio Bacchelli
  • Patent number: 8392089
    Abstract: A method of estimating the available grip margin of a tire of a vehicle rolling on a ground involves: estimating a quantity Rslip ca, i.e., the ratio of the slip contact area and the total contact area of the tire on the ground; determining, in a signal processing unit, the grip potential used P?,used and/or the available grip margin of the tire P?,avail from the quantity and pre-established data corresponding to the type of the tire, where P?,avail=1?P?,used; and recording in a memory the grip potential used and/or the available grip margin of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Frederic Spetler
  • Publication number: 20130048169
    Abstract: A tread for a pneumatic tire includes a tread base layer, a first tread cap layer radially outside of the tread base layer, a second tread cap layer radially outside of the tread base layer and both radially outside and axially adjacent the first tread cap layer, a first tread skirt disposed at an inner tread edge of the pneumatic tire and axially adjacent the tread base layer and the first tread cap layer, and a second tread skirt disposed at an outer tread edge of the pneumatic tire and axially adjacent the tread base layer and the second tread cap layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Boris Erceg, Matthias Milse, Joachim Riegel, Wolfgang Karl Maegerle
  • Publication number: 20130042952
    Abstract: A tire includes a tire carcass and a tread extending circumferentially about the tire carcass The tread includes a plurality of tread elements disposed in a tread pattern. The plurality of tread elements have one of two different pitch lengths and are disposed in a noise-reducing pitch sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Inventors: Jon I. Stuckey, Justin E. Hayes, Chris Swartzwelder
  • Publication number: 20130037189
    Abstract: Tread for a tyre for a two-wheel vehicle improving grip when running on a usage surface liable to become slippery; this tread comprising blocks (1, 2, 3) separated from one another by grooves (4), each block comprising a contact face (10, 20, 30) intended to come into contact with the usage surface as the tyre is running and lateral faces intersecting the contact face to form edge corners delimiting a contour of the contact face having a geometric shape with at least three branches, each branch (11, 21, 31) ending in a point (110, 210, 310) the angle of which is at least equal to 20 degrees and at most equal to 90 degrees, the branches (11, 21, 31) of each block (1, 2, 3), considered two by two, between them determining setback parts (12, 22, 32), each block (1, 2, 3) being provided with slits (111, 112, 113; 211, 212, 213; 311, 312, 313) terminating at one of their ends in one of the setbacks formed on the face of the block and at a same location at their other end so as to create elementary patterns compris
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicants: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Arnaud Larregain, Adam Jara, Olivier Muhlhoff, Olivier Godrie
  • Publication number: 20130025756
    Abstract: A tire 18 includes: a tread 20 having a plurality of main grooves 38a that extend in a circumferential direction; a band 30 located inwardly of the tread 20 in a radial direction; and a belt 28 located inwardly of the band 30 in the radial direction. None of the plurality of main grooves 38a is formed on a tire equator. The band 30 is formed by using a first ribbon 52a and a second ribbon 52b. A main groove closest to the tire equator among the plurality of main grooves 38a is used as a reference main groove 38as. The first ribbon 52a and the second ribbon 52b are layered over the belt 28 such that an end 62a of the first ribbon 52a and an end 62b of the second ribbon 52b are located vertically below the reference main groove 38as.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventor: Keisuke HASHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20130020003
    Abstract: A mold for a tread layer having tread-forming side and sole-forming side, the sole-forming side having a plurality of mold elements extending there from toward the tread-forming side. Either the mold elements or the sole-forming side of the mold is configured to create a tread layer having a recessed tread element such as an incision, lateral groove, longitudinal groove or other void on the sole side of the tread layer that enables the edges of the recessed tread element to obtain full coverage when subjected to an abrasion process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.
    Inventors: Juan-Pablo Gallego, Nathan J. Panning
  • Publication number: 20130014873
    Abstract: Tires in use wear in a host of ways. One negative manner in which tires, especially truck tires, may wear is in an irregular fashion. When this phenomenon happens, the tread of the tire may become unusable, forcing the user to replace the tire, which is undesirable. This patent application poses a new and useful way of preventing irregular wear involving the use of hidden sipes or tread blocks. In some embodiments, these hidden sipes or tread blocks are found in tread blocks or ribs adjacent other tread blocks or ribs that have been determined to be susceptible to irregular wear. In other embodiments, the hidden sipes or tread blocks are formed by a sipe blade that has a connecting member to which two y-branched members are attached, and further comprising dividing members that connect between the y-branched members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Stefan Voss, Eric Arthur DeBenedittis
  • Publication number: 20130008576
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire 1 according to the present invention comprises at least land portion formed by circumferential groove 3,5 extending in circumferential-direction. The land portion includes land portion 11 having groove side wall 17 forming the circumferential groove 3 and land portion 15 having groove side wall 19A forming the circumferential groove 3. The groove side wall 17 and the groove side wall 19A meander in the circumferential-direction in surface view. A groove width of the circumferential groove 3 in width-direction changes in predetermined cycles in the circumferential-direction. The land portion 15 includes wide land portion in which width of the land portion in the width-direction is predetermined width, and narrow land portion in which the width in the width-direction is narrower than the predetermined width. A surface of the wide land portion is provided with recess portion 23 recessed inward in radial-direction from surface of the land portion 15.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takamitsu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8348285
    Abstract: Improved blow-molded wheels, methods for producing the same, and children's ride-on vehicles including the same are disclosed. The blow-molded wheels may include a blow-molded body that has a tread surface, first and second sidewalls and an axis. The body may be configured to rotate about the axis. The tread surface may extend circumferentially around the body and may extend between the first and second sidewalls. A first region of the tread surface may be disposed between the first sidewall and the central circumference of the blow-molded body. A second region of the tread surface may be disposed between the second sidewall and the central circumference of the blow-molded body. A recessed region may be positioned between the first region and the second region with the radial distance to the recessed region being less than the radial distances to the first and second regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert L. Arendt, James R. Carducci, Christopher F. Lucas
  • Publication number: 20130000805
    Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire improved in on-ice friction properties of the tire, which is excellent in on-ice performance, in particular, on-ice braking performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Oodaira
  • Publication number: 20130000803
    Abstract: Tire (10) comprising a tread (40) divided, by the median plane (130) of the tire, into a first semi-tread (41) which extends axially from said median plane toward a first axial edge (45) of the tread, the first semi-tread comprising a first main circumferential groove (141) opening onto the rolling surface, and a second semi-tread (42) which extends axially from said median plane toward a second axial edge (46) of the tread, the tire further comprising an additional stiffening reinforcement (151) comprising a plurality of substantially radially directed thread-like reinforcing elements, this additional stiffening reinforcement being situated radially on the inside of the carcass reinforcement and in direct radial alignment with said first main circumferential groove, the additional stiffening reinforcement (151) extending axially on each side of the first main circumferential groove (141) over an axial distance less than or equal to 75% of the axial distance separating the first main circumferential groove (1
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicants: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventor: Sébastien Fugier
  • Publication number: 20130000804
    Abstract: An intra-groove groove 310,330 is formed in circumferential groove 31,33 which is formed in a pneumatic tire 1, the intra-groove groove 310,330 is recessed farther inward in a tire radial direction TR than the circumferential groove 31,33. The intra-groove groove 310,330 includes a high-angle groove section 311,331 in which an angle ?1 formed between a straight line L1 and the intra-groove groove 310,330 is equal to or more than a predetermined angle, and a low-angle groove section 312,332 in which an angle ?2 formed between the straight line L1 and the intra-groove groove 310,330 is smaller than the predetermined angle. The high-angle groove section 311,331 is positioned closer to an intra-groove center line DCL than the low-angle groove section 312,332. A width W1 of the high-angle groove section 311, 331 is wider than a width W2 of the low-angle groove section 312, 332.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yukihiro Kiwaki
  • Publication number: 20120312436
    Abstract: A tire 20 includes a tread 22, a pair of beads 26, a carcass 28, and a belt 30. A ply 56a of the carcass 28 includes: a body 58a that extends toward each bead 26; and a pair of turned-up portions 60a that extend approximately outward from the body 58a in the radial direction. The belt 30 includes a first layer 64a and a second layer 64b which are layered over each other in the radial direction. Ends 68b of the second layer 64b are located inwardly from ends 68a, respectively, of the first layer 64a in the axial direction. The tread 22 includes a plurality of blocks 42.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventor: Masahiro HIKITA
  • Publication number: 20120305153
    Abstract: Pneumatic rubber tire intended for heavy duty service having a cap/base configured tread with a silica-containing specialized cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber-rich tread cap rubber layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventor: Junling Zhao
  • Patent number: 8312905
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having a tread comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising, expressed as parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), (A) 30 to 70 phr of a first styrene-butadiene rubber, (B) 20 to 60 phr of a second styrene-butadiene rubber, (C) 5 to 20 phr of cis-1,4 polybutadiene having a Tg of from ?110° C. to ?90° C.; (D) 30 to 60 phr of processing oil; (E) 5 to 20 phr of carbon black having an Iodine absorption ranging from 130 to 210 g/kg according to ASTM D-1510 and an oil absorption ranging from 110 to 140 cc/100 g according to ASTM D-2414; (F) 80 to 130 phr of silica; (G) 0.5 to 20 phr of a sulfur containing organosilicon compound; and (H) 5 to 20 phr of resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Pascal Patrick Steiner, Marc Weydert, Christian Jean-Marie Kaes
  • Patent number: 8314165
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tyre tread having a tyre tread rubber composition based on at least one diene elastomer, one reinforcing filler and one vulcanization system, characterized in that the composition comprises a guar gum powder in a proportion of 10 to 40 pce. The invention also relates to a process for obtaining a rubber composition for a tread based on at least one diene elastomer, one reinforcing filler and one vulcanization system which comprises a first phase of thermomechanical kneading of the constituents of the composition, with the exception of the vulcanization system, characterized in that the composition comprises a guar gum powder in a proportion of 10 to 40 pce and in that the guar gum powder is incorporated during the first kneading phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Denis Hidrot
  • Patent number: 8312903
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire for use on trucks, the tire comprising: a tread, the tread having a non-skid depth (NSK), the tread including a first and second shoulder rib and two or more inner ribs, and circumferential grooves interposed between the ribs. The tread pattern is asymmetric, wherein the first shoulder rib has a rib width ratio in the range of about 1.2 to about 1.8, and the second shoulder rib has a rib width ratio in the range of about 1.0-1.6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Georges Gaston Feider, Jean-Francois Cazin-Bourguignon, Pascal Patrick Steiner, Jobst Meyer-Adlung, Marek Grzegorz Wojcik, Phuoc Thuan Le
  • Publication number: 20120285589
    Abstract: A tread-replaceable environmental-protection wheel tire includes a tire body and a tread layer. The tire body has two sides each having an end forming a bead section. The bead sections include reinforcement members embedded therein. The bead sections are positionable against a wheel rim. The tire body has a top face that forms fitting slots. The top face of the tire body has two side shoulders each forming a retention slot. The tread layer has a top surface forming tread patterns. The tread layer has a bottom surface forming fitting ribs raised therefrom. The fitting ribs are receivable into the fitting slots of the tire body. The tread layer has two side edges each forming a retention section. The retention sections are fixable in the retention slots of the tire body. As such, the applicability of wheel tire is expanded and the costs for replacing wheel tire are reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventor: BO-YUAN HUANG
  • Patent number: 8302643
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a rubber tread of a cap/base construction comprised of an outer rubber tread cap layer containing an outer running surface and an underlying rubber tread base layer, wherein said tread cap layer is comprised of a plurality of circumferential, longitudinal rubber tread cap zones of graduated physical properties, wherein said tread cap zones individually extend from said tread cap running surface radially inward to said tread base layer; wherein said tread cap zones are comprised of two primary tread cap zones and one central tread cap zone; wherein said central tread cap zone is positioned between said primary tread cap zones and spans at least 14 percent of the total running surface of the tread cap layer, wherein said primary tread cap zones are of substantially equal widths and collectively span at least 50 percent of the total running surface of the tread cap layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Jennifer Lyn Ryba, Rachel Tamar Graves, Matthew Jeremy List, Nicholas John Hill
  • Publication number: 20120267019
    Abstract: A tyre for off-road motorcycles has a tread band provided with blocks, a carcass structure with crossed plies and at least one zero degree belt layer with limited angular extension, i.e., a zero degree belt layer which does not extend up to the axially outer edges of the tread band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: PIRELLI TYRE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Giovanni Gatti, Steffen Baum, Paolo Brivio
  • Patent number: 8281832
    Abstract: To provide a pneumatic tire which can reduce fuel consumption without causing reduction in grip performance and after use of which can be degraded by microorganisms. The present invention relates to a rubber composition including 100 parts by mass of a rubber component including a natural rubber and/or a diene rubber and 0.5 to 80 parts by mass of a biodegradable aliphatic polyester. The biodegradable aliphatic polyester is preferably one or more species selected from polylactic acid, polycaprolactone and polyalkylene succinate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriko Yagi, Kiyoshige Muraoka, Katsumi Terakawa, Tetsuo Mizoguchi
  • Patent number: 8281829
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire (10) has an inner shoulder (11), an outer shoulder (12) and a tread (13) therebetween. The tread has a central axis (A) and includes a plurality of first grooves (14). Each first groove has a first end (15) disposed near the outer shoulder and a second end (17) disposed near the inner shoulder so that each first groove crosses the central axis. The first end is spaced circumferentially from the second end. A plurality of second grooves (16) is provided with each second groove connecting the second end of a first groove to a first end of another first groove. The first and second grooves define a cascading repetition of tread blocks (18). Chamfers (20) are defined on certain corners of the tread blocks that are adjacent to the first grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Tire The Americas LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Lamb
  • Publication number: 20120247630
    Abstract: A heavy vehicle tire tread formed from a material that is based upon a cross-linkable rubber composition, the cross-linkable rubber composition comprising, per 100 parts by weight of rubber, between 35 and 60 phr of a solution polymerized styrenc-butadiene rubber having a styrene content of between 10 wl. % and 35 wt. %, between 35 and 60 phr of a polybutadiene, and between 45 and 110 phr of silica. Also included is between 1 and 8 phr of an amide processing aid, the processing aid comprising one or more amides of the form (Formula I); wherein R is an aliphatic chain of between 14 and 20 carbons, R? is selected from H or an aliphatic chain of between 1 and 4 carbons and R? is selected from an aliphatic chain of between 1 and 4 carbons having an —OH moiety.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventor: John Calloway Moreland
  • Patent number: 8278385
    Abstract: The invention is to provide a rubber composite and tire using the rubber composite, which, when the rubber composite is used as the tread rubber of a tire, enables the tire to have high wear resistance and hence have a long life while presenting a low rolling resistance and enables an automobile that uses the tires to reduce fuel consumption during traveling. The rubber composite of the invention comprises 100 parts by weight of a rubber component composed of at least one kind of rubber, selected from a group of natural rubber, synthetic isoprene rubber and synthetic diene rubber and 10 to 100 parts by weight of a carbon black blended therein, the carbon black is specified to satisfy the relation X/Y?0.84, where X is the mercury intrusion specific surface area (m2/g), measured by mercury porosimetry and Y is the CTAB specific surface area (m2/g). The tire of the invention is one that uses the above rubber composite as its tread portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Hidetada Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8273804
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a rubber composition for a tire, which can achieve well-balanced improvement in fuel economy, abrasion resistance, and performance on ice and snow, and a studless tire for a passenger vehicle using the rubber composition. The present invention relates to a rubber composition for a tire, including a rubber component and silica, wherein the rubber component contains a modified natural rubber with a phosphorus content of 200 ppm or less, and butadiene rubber, and the silica has a CTAB specific surface area of 180 m2/g or more and a BET specific surface area of 185 m2/g or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Akihiro Nishimura
  • Patent number: 8272412
    Abstract: Elastomer compositions and products formed therefrom, the compositions including one or more elastomers and glass microfibers having an average fiber diameter of no more than about 5 ?m and an average length of between about 5 and 200 ?m, wherein the glass microfibers are directionally oriented within the elastomer composition. Alternatively, the average length of the glass microfibers may be between 5 and 100 ?m or in other embodiments, between about 10 and 70 ?m. The elastomer compositions may be used to form products that include a tire tread or a support member within the sidewall of a tire. The glass microfibers may be oriented in, inter alia, a substantially circumferential orientation, a tread thickness orientation or at a 45° orientation in a plane formed between the tread thickness and circumferential orientations or in a sidewall thickness direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Brian R. Bergman, Jesse J. Arnold
  • Publication number: 20120234442
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to treads having a configuration and/or properties for improving or preventing irregular wear on the tread of a tire, and, more specifically, to a tire that has a tread with a gradient of properties that helps to prevent or improve irregular wear, especially suitable for tires that are free rolling such as steer or trailer tires used on trucks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicants: SOCIETE DE TECHNOLOGIE MICHELIN, MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.
    Inventor: Paul Andrew Mayni
  • Publication number: 20120216930
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion, a pair of sidewall portions, a pair of bead portions, and a protrusion. The protrusion includes a plurality of longitudinal ribs and a low height part. Each rib has a protruding height of 0.5 to 7.0 mm from the normal outer surface of the sidewall. Each low height part has a protruding height from the normal outer surface of the sidewall that is lower than that of the longitudinal ribs. The sidewall portion with the protrusion has a ratio between a total area of the protrusion projected onto the normal outer surface of the sidewall portion and an area between an outer circumferential line on the sidewall portion passing through a radially outmost point of the protrusion and an inner circumferential line on the sidewall portion passing through a radially innermost point of the protrusion in a range of from 50 to 80%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventor: Yosuke MATSUDA
  • Patent number: 8242193
    Abstract: Rubber mixtures containing at least one rubber and an organosilicon compound of the general formula (I) (Q-)kG-Si(—O—CX1X2—CX1X3—)3N. The rubber mixture is prepared by mixing at least one rubber and an organosilicon compound of the formula (I). The rubber mixtures can be used for the production of moldings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Karsten Korth, Andre Hasse, Susann Witzsche, Oliver Klockmann, Philipp Albert
  • Publication number: 20120181846
    Abstract: An omni-directional wheel has a rim for mounting a tire, a hub for rotatably attaching the wheel to a vehicle, and a means for connecting the rim and the hub. The rim of the wheel has a part which is rotatably connected to the hub and which, when radially rotating around the hub, engages the surface of the tire mounted on the rim for rolling the tire on the rim. Thus, when the wheel is engaging the ground, the tire rolling on the rim causes a side movement of the wheel in a plan orthogonal to the normal plan of rotation of the wheel when attached to the vehicle. A solid-core tire for use with the omni-directional wheel has treads patterns or a helical coil shape for engaging the rotatable part of the rim. A method for manufacturing a solid-core tire is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventor: William Liddiard
  • Patent number: 8215352
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a wide cross belt having a width not smaller than 92% and not lager than 100% of a width of a tread; and a narrow cross belt having a width smaller than that of the wide cross belt and a tire width direction outer end positioned on a tire width direction outer side with respect to a tire width direction inner edge of an outermost land portion. The tread has open sipes penetrating through the outermost land portion in the tire width direction and formed along the tire circumferential direction, and lug grooves extending along the open sipes on a contact surface of the outermost land portion and having a tire width direction outer end positioned between a tire width direction outer end of the wide cross belt and the tire width direction outer end of the narrow cross belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahide Ishizaka
  • Patent number: 8205651
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire according to the present invention improves wet performance. The pneumatic tire has a tread surface 1. A first main groove 2 extending in the circumferential direction TC of the tire is provided in the tread surface 1. First lateral grooves 7 extending from the first main groove 2 outward in the widthwise direction of the tire beyond one ground contact end TX1 of the tire are disposed at prescribed intervals in the circumferential direction TC of the tire. Blocks 8 are defined by the first main groove 2 and the first lateral grooves 7. The first lateral grooves 7 comprise inner groove portions 7A and outer groove portions 7B. The inner groove portions 7A extend with their widths gradually increasing from the first main groove 2 outward in the widthwise direction of the tire to midways of the first lateral grooves 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: The Yokoyama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihiko Ohki, Isamu Kishizoe
  • Publication number: 20120152420
    Abstract: A tire (10) comprising a tread (40) provided with a rolling surface, at least one recess (90) being formed in the tread, which recess opens onto the rolling surface, the recess being delimited by a bottom wall and one single side wall, the tire also comprising at least one appliqué (100; 1001-1002), and the appliqué being inserted into the recess and fixed by means of an adhesive (110) to at least a portion of said bottom or side wall of the recess. The invention also concerns a method and a kit for making a tire more resistant to external aggression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicants: Societe de Technologie Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Arnaud Larregain, Olivier Muhlhoff
  • Publication number: 20120145295
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion divided into a crown land region, two middle land regions and two shoulder land regions. The crown land region and middle land regions are each divided into triangular blocks by axial grooves arranged in a zigzag fashion. The shoulder land regions are each divided into shoulder blocks by axial grooves extending at an angle of not less than 70 degrees. The shoulder block is subdivided into an axially inner part and an axially outer part by a secondary groove extending at an angle of not more than 10 degrees. The outer part is provided with sipes extending at an angle of not less than 70 degrees, each angle with respect the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventor: Hiroshi YAMADA