Abstract: In a pneumatic tire, an intermediate land portion is provided with a plurality of lug grooves having acute bent portions and a plurality of sipes extending in a direction that intersects with the lug grooves. The lug grooves are disposed so as not to overlap one another in the tire circumferential direction, and each have one end that opens to an outer main groove and an other end that terminates in the intermediate land portion. When pitches, which serve as reference positions, are defined based on end points at which the lug grooves open to the outer main groove, the sipes each are disposed to be located inside one of the pitches, and the groove area ratio in the pitches in the intermediate land portion is in the range from 15% to 25%.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a tire having a three-dimensional tire sipe are disclosed. In one embodiment, a tire sipe used in a tire is provided, the tire sipe comprising: a radially inner sipe taper portion having a radially inner sipe width W3 and a radially inner sipe transition width W4, wherein the radially inner sipe width W3 is greater than the radially inner sipe transition width W4; a radially outer sipe taper portion having a radially outer sipe width W1 and a radially outer sipe transition width W2, wherein the radially outer sipe width W1 is greater than the radially outer sipe transition width W2; and a sipe radially central portion having a plurality of individual sipe radially angled portions oriented in a zig-zag pattern, wherein the sipe radially central portion is oriented radially between the radially inner sipe taper portion and the radially outer sipe taper portion.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel includes: a pair of vertical walls that are provided upright on an outer circumferential surface of a well portion and extend in a circumferential direction; and a sub air chamber member that is provided between the pair of vertical walls to be held by frictional force generated between the sub air chamber member and the pair of vertical walls and includes an extending wall portion.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes at least four circumferential main grooves that extend in a tire circumferential direction; and at least five land portions defined by the circumferential main grooves. The center land portion and the left and right second land portions each include through lug grooves that are inclined at a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the tire lateral direction and extend through the land portion in the tire lateral direction. The through lug grooves located in the center land portion and the through lug grooves located in the left and right second land portions extend in the tire lateral direction inclined in opposite directions to each other. At least one groove wall of each of the through lug grooves located in the left and right second land portions include a step-shaped bent portion that bends in the tire circumferential direction in a plan view of a tread.

Abstract: A tire having a tread portion. The tread portion includes a first shoulder land portion that is defined between a first shoulder main groove and a first tread end. The first shoulder land portion includes: a shoulder lateral groove that extends from the first tread end and ends in the first shoulder land portion; a first sipe that extends from an end of the shoulder lateral groove to the first shoulder main groove; and a second sipe that extends from the first tread end toward the first shoulder main groove, and ends in the first shoulder land portion. A length of the shoulder lateral groove in a tire axial direction is 0.10 to 0.30 times a width of the first shoulder land portion in the tire axial direction.

Abstract: A shear-controlled tire tread includes a plurality of narrow channels disposed generally perpendicular to a rolling direction. Each narrow channel includes a heel side, a toe side, and a valley connecting the heel side and the toe side, and a first plurality of ridges disposed on a heel side and a second plurality of ridges disposed on a toe side. The first plurality of ridges disposed on a heel side and the second plurality of ridges disposed on a toe side are offset and form interacting friction surfaces when a heel side of collapses toward a toe side or a toe side collapses toward a heel side.

Abstract: To obtain a uniform ground contact pressure distribution in a pneumatic tire in which an edge portion of a land portion is provided with a notch portion. In a pneumatic tire according to an embodiment, an edge portion of a land portion formed in a tread portion is provided with a notch portion having a triangular shape in the plan view. A wavy sipe is provided to extend from an apex corner portion of the notch portion into the land portion and a straight sipe is provided adjacent to the wavy sipe with a gap interposed therebetween to extend into the land portion and to open to the edge portion of the land portion.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments described herein are directed to tire pitch sequence design methodologies that are usable to develop tire tread pitch sequences that will minimize objectionable tonal qualities and disperse the acoustic energy produced during tire rotation across a wider frequency band. The exemplary design methodologies employ iterative randomization of pitch subsequences, waveform generation and analysis of pitch subsequences and full pitch sequences, and associated sorting and ranking using an objective function with an applied penalty factor.

Abstract: A tyre for bicycle wheels, having a carcass structure, a belt layer arranged in a radially outer position with respect to the carcass structure and a tread band arranged in a radially outer position with respect to the belt layer. The carcass structure has a carcass ply engaged with a pair of annular anchoring structures and including a plurality of reinforcing cords. The cords are inclined, with respect to an equatorial plane of the tyre, at a first angle between about 65° and about 90°. The belt layer has a reinforcing cord wound onto the carcass structure according to a winding direction oriented, with respect to the equatorial plane, at a second angle between about 0° and about 30°.

Abstract: A tyre having a tread is described. The tyre has a central portion located across an equatorial plane, a first shoulder portion located towards an outer side of the tyre and a second shoulder portion located towards an inner side of the tyre. The central portion is separated from the first shoulder portion by two first circumferential grooves. The first shoulder portion and the second shoulder portion have a plurality of first transverse grooves having a first end located substantially at the respective edge of the tread, having a width greater than or equal to about 4 mm and an axial extension equal to at least 50% of the width of the shoulder portion in which they are located.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a first tread-half region from the tire equator to a first tread edge. In the first tread-half region, a crown land portion and a middle land portion are not provided with any grooves having widths equal to or more than 2 mm. In the first tread-half region, crown, middle and shoulder portions are respectively provided with a first crown sipe, a first middle sipe and a first shoulder sipe each having a width less than 2 mm. The first crown sipe, the first middle sipe and the first shoulder sipe are respectively configured as arc shapes having radiuses R1, R2 and R3 of curvature to protrude in a first circumferential direction side, wherein the radiuses R1, R2 and R3 are satisfied the following relation: R1<=R2<=R3, and R1<R3.

Abstract: A tire comprises a tread portion 2 provided with a first main groove 3 and a second main groove 4 each extending in a zigzag manner and a land region 10 defined between them. The land region 10 is provided with a longitudinal sipe 15 extending in a zigzag manner in the tire circumferential direction, first lug grooves 16, and second lug grooves 17. The land region 10 comprises first blocks 21 divided by the longitudinal sipe 15 and the first lug grooves 16, and second blocks 22 divided by the longitudinal sipe 15 and the second lug grooves 17. Each of the first blocks 21 and the second blocks 22 is provided with not less than three transverse sipes 25 extending across the entire width of the each of the first blocks 21 and the second blocks 22.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread having main grooves extending in circumferential direction, and land portions partitioned by the main grooves. The main grooves include a pair of shoulder main grooves on tread edge sides, the land portions include a pair of shoulder ribs between the shoulder grooves and tread edges, rib has shoulder lug grooves extending from tread edge to axial direction inner side and having inner end terminated without reaching shoulder groove, and shoulder sipes extending from shoulder groove to axial direction outer side between adjacent lug grooves in the circumferential direction and having outer end terminated without reaching tread edge, and the ribs are forming such that circumferential direction length of first region between inner ends of sipe and adjacent lug groove is in range of 2 to 4 times circumferential direction length of second region between inner ends of sipe and the other adjacent lug groove.

Abstract: In a vehicle wheel, communication holes of first Helmholtz resonators (auxiliary air chamber members) having a resonant frequency lower by a first prescribed frequency ?fa than the resonant frequency of air column resonance sounds of a tire, and communication holes of second Helmholtz resonators having a resonant frequency higher by a second prescribed frequency ?fb than the resonant frequency of air column resonance sounds of the tire, are arranged facing each other across the wheel rotational center, the second prescribed frequency ?fb being set greater than the first prescribed frequency ?fa.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire for passenger vehicles. When the tire is fitted on a rim and having an internal pressure of 250 kPa or higher, the section width SW and the outer diameter OD of the tire satisfy a predetermined relationship. A center land row is a rib-shaped land, and has center lug grooves each opening into one of the two circumferential main grooves and terminating within the center land row. Outer land rows are rib-shaped lands, each outer land row having outer lug grooves and outer auxiliary lug grooves. The outer lug grooves each open into a ground contact end in the tire width direction and terminate within the outer land row. The outer auxiliary lug grooves open into the circumferential main groove defining the outer land row, has a groove width smaller than the groove width of the outer lug grooves, and extend in the tread width direction.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion provided with main grooves extending continuously in the tire circumferential direction, the main grooves include an outboard shoulder main groove and an outboard crown main groove between which an outboard middle land region is defined. The outboard middle land region is provided with outboard middle transverse grooves having a shallow groove section and a deep groove section. The outboard middle transverse grooves include first and second outboard middle transverse grooves that are arranged alternately in the tire circumferential direction.

Abstract: Provided is a tire for winter of which on-snow performance can be improved without compromising anti-wandering performance. A tire for winter comprises a tread part The tread part is provided with: a plurality of first inclined major grooves extending at an incline from one tread end beyond a tire equator and ending without reaching another tread end; first inclined minor grooves provided between the first inclined major grooves; a plurality of second inclined major grooves extending at an incline from the other tread end, in a direction opposite the first inclined major grooves, beyond the tire equator and ending without reaching the one tread end; second inclined minor grooves provided between the second inclined major grooves; a plurality of first longitudinal grooves dividing first land parts; and a plurality of second longitudinal grooves dividing second land parts.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire 1 is provided in the tread portion 2 with blocks each provided with sipes 9 extending across the entire axial width of the block. The blocks include axially innermost first blocks 3 each having a longitudinal block rigidity (G), and axially outer blocks 4 each having a longitudinal block rigidity (G). The longitudinal block rigidity (G) of the axially innermost first blocks 3 is 90% to 110% of the longitudinal block rigidity (G) of the axially outer blocks 4.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are rubber compositions comprising at least one elastomer; reinforcing filler comprising carbon black, silica, or a combination thereof; at least one hydrocarbon resin; and at least one plant oil and optionally at least one additional oil, wherein the total amount of reinforcing filler is at least 25% by weight of the rubber composition and the total amount of oil is at least 60 phr and comprises about 15 to about 35% by weight of the rubber composition. The rubber compositions are useful in tire treads, particularly tire treads for race tires. In certain embodiments the at least one plant oil comprises coconut oil.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire 1 has a tread portion 2 provided in a shoulder land region 5 with: axially inner shoulder sipes 8 each extending axially outwardly from a shoulder main groove 3 to its axially outer end 8e terminated within the shoulder land region 5; and axially outer shoulder sipes 9 each extending axially outwardly from its axially inner end 9i located axially outside the axially outer end 8e. The axially inner end 9i of each axially outer shoulder sipe 9 is positioned on an axially outward extension of one of the axially inner shoulder sipes 8.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion provided with blocks each provided with a first variable depth sipe and a second variable depth sipe each having both axial ends opened at edges of the block on both sides thereof in the tire axial direction. In each block, a shallow portion of the first variable depth sipe overlaps, in the tire axial direction, with a deep main portion of the second variable depth sipe. an axial groove dividing the blocks is provided with a tie bar overlapping, in the tire axial direction, with the deep main portion of the adjacent variable depth sipe.

Abstract: The pneumatic tire of this disclosure comprises on a tread surface a widthwise outermost land portion partitioned by an outermost circumferential main groove and a tread edge, wherein: the widthwise outermost land portion has a plurality of side sipes extending to a tread widthwise outer side in a manner spaced from each other in the tread circumferential direction; the widthwise outermost land portion has an inner circumferential sipe and an outer circumferential sipe, the inner circumferential sipe extending in the tread circumferential direction, the outer circumferential sipe being positioned on a tread widthwise side outer than the inner circumferential sipe and extending in the tread circumferential direction; and, when h1 is a groove depth of the outermost circumferential main groove, h2 is a sipe depth of the inner circumferential sipe, and h3 is a sipe depth of the outer circumferential sipe, h1, h2 and h3 satisfy: h1>h>h2.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel (1) allows a communication hole (18a) for a first Helmholtz resonator (auxiliary air chamber members (10a, 10d)) having a lower resonance frequency than that of an air column resonance sound of a tire and a communication hole (18a) for a second Helmholtz resonator (auxiliary air chamber members (10b, 10c)) having a higher resonance frequency than that of the air column resonance sound of the tire to be disposed at positions facing each other across a wheel rotation center (Ax).

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.

Abstract: A tread kerf of a snow tire is capable of securing the performance of the tire on a dry road, a wet road, a snowy road, and an icy road, maintaining uniform rigidity of the block, and improving wear resistance. The tread kerf is formed in the outer surface of a tread block of the snow tire in a depth direction of the block in a shape of a polygonal wave extending along the outer surface of the block, wherein the entrance distance of the polygonal wave is less than the bottom distance of the polygonal wave such that side surfaces between the entrance and the bottom of the polygonal wave are formed as inclined surfaces, the distance between which decreases toward the entrance. The polygonal wave is moved in an advancing direction of the polygonal wave while being twisted in the depth direction of the block.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire (10) has, in the surface of the tread (11), a central circumferential groove (12) located at the center of the contact patch width and extending circumferentially around the tire, a plurality of longitudinal grooves (13 (13a, 13b)) formed on the axially outside of the central circumferential groove (12), lug grooves (15), and blocks (16 (16a to 16c)) defined by the central circumferential groove (12), the longitudinal grooves (13), and the lug grooves (15). Each of the lug grooves (15) is formed such that its width in the shoulder region is greater than its width in the central region, and the sum of the groove area of the central circumferential groove (12) and the groove area of the longitudinal grooves (13) is smaller than the area of the lug grooves (15).

Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a high wet performance with keeping steering stability and wear resistance. Each of the middle land portions (12) is provided with middle sipes (15) and a middle sub-groove (16). Each of the middle sipes (15) has an arc-like shape such that an angle (?1) with respect to the circumferential direction of the tire gradually increases from its inner end (15i) towards its outer end (15o). A circumferential length (L2) is in a range of from 0.6 to 1.0 times the arrangement pitch (P2) of the middle sipe (15). The middle sub-groove (16) communicates with a shoulder main groove (10), terminates without communicating with a crown main groove (9), and has an arc-like shape having an angle (?2) that gradually increases from its inner end (16i) to its outer end (16o). A length (L3) of the middle sub-groove (16) is less than the length (L2) of the middle sipe, and the adjacent middle sipe (15) and middle sub-groove (16) overlap one another in the axial direction of the tire.

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: Low-noise pulleys and methods of constructing low-noise pulleys are disclosed. In a first aspect, first and second pluralities of arms extending radially outward from the outer hub to the outer rim are angularly offset from each other about the axis of rotation to eliminate symmetry across the lateral midline of the pulley. In a second aspect, the radially outermost ends of a plurality of arms are arcuately spaced apart according to a pitch sequence describing a pseudo-random pattern of relative spacings so as to reduce or eliminate rotational symmetry of the pulley. In a third aspect, features of the first and second aspects are combined, and in one embodiment, first and second pluralities of arms are, respectively, approximately oppositely canted so as to vary the arcuate spacings of the laterally outermost ends of the arms.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided where, in a tread center portion, there are at least three pitch variations in terms of pitch length in the circumferential direction of the tire, and, taking n as the pitch count, the pitch lengths Pc Pc1, Pc2, Pc3, . . . , Pcn in order from longest to shortest satisfy the relationships Pc1/Pc2?Pc2/Pc3?, . . . , ?Pcn?1/Pcn and Pc1/Pc2>Pcn?1/Pcn.

Abstract: A tire is provided having a tire noise pitch sequence based on preferred characteristics of the tire noise generated by tire tread lug stiffness variations. The tire has preferred modulation characteristics and good level characteristics. Tire noise pitch sequences are provided for tires with different numbers of tread lugs. In one embodiment, the invention provides a tire having a body having a tread that has a pitch sequence; and the pitch sequence having five different size pitches with pitch ratios of 1.00, 1.10, 1.25, 1.4, and 1.50.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for determining pitches of cooling fins for a pneumatic tire so that the heat dissipation performance of the sidewall may be improved and an airflow noise generated by a high speed air may be decreased, and a pneumatic tire including the cooling fins arranged by the same. The method for determining pitches of cooling fins for a pneumatic tire, including: selecting a total number of cooling fins, the number of pitch-types, and a size of each pitch; generating a random number and arranging each type of pitch sequentially by the generated random number to produce a random pitch arrangement; Fourier transforming the obtained pitch arrangement to calculate a result value (FT); and repeatedly performing the steps of producing a random pitch arrangement and calculating the FT to determine a pitch arrangement when a change in amplitude of the FT is smallest.

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.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire with a tread has crown main grooves, shoulder main grooves, a pair of middle ribs between the crown main grooves and the shoulder main grooves, and a pair of shoulder ribs between the shoulder main groove and tread edge. The shoulder rib has shoulder lateral grooves spaced at a pitch Ps. The middle rib has middle inclined grooves spaced at a pitch Pm. The crown rib has a plurality of crown lateral grooves which cross over the crown rib and are spaced at a pitch Pc. The pitch Pc is larger than the pitch Ps and smaller than the pitch Pm.

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.

Abstract: Tire having a tread comprising at least two grooves of generally circumferential orientation, a plurality of transverse grooves (6), each transverse groove culminating in openings into two circumferential grooves, the circumferential and transverse grooves having appropriate cross sections for allowing, when running, a flow of liquid present on the road surface, a plurality of closing devices located in these grooves, each closing device closing at least partly the cross section of a groove, each closing device delimiting, with one end of a transverse groove, a length of groove LR of between half and three-quarters of the length of circumferential groove in contact, the length measured under nominal conditions of load and pressure, this tire being characterized in that each closing device is designed to flex and open the section of groove in which it is placed, under the action of a flow of liquid so as to allow the said liquid to flow when running on a water-covered road surface.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion including a plurality of land portions separated by at least two longitudinal grooves, a plurality of lateral grooves crossing the longitudinal groove to form a block row, at least one block having at least two sipes extending in an axial direction of the tire to divide at least three block-pieces which include an outer piece and an inner piece relatively arranged in circumferentially inner side of the block than the outer piece, wherein the total axial length of whole sipes is in a range of from 100 to 400 times a tread width, the outer piece of the block has a circumferential length larger than that of the inner piece of the block, and a ratio of the circumferential length of the outer piece to the circumferential length of the inner piece is greater than 1.0 and smaller than 3.0.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a good balance between on-ice and on-snow performances. The tire includes a tread portion having longitudinal and lateral grooves defining block rows. Each block in the block rows includes sipes. A length of each block in the first and second block rows is not less than 1.5 times and not more than 2.5 times a length of each third block row block. A width of each second block row block is larger than a width of each first block row block. The lateral grooves defining the first and second block row blocks are offset in the tire circumferential direction by not less than 0.2 times and not more than 0.8 times the length of each first block row block. The lateral grooves defining the second and third block row blocks communicate with each other while inclining in the same direction.

Abstract: The vibration of a tire 10 of a running vehicle in the circumferential direction or the width direction is detected by a road surface condition estimating tire 10, provided with an acceleration sensor 11 and a signal processing unit 12. Data of a detected vibration waveform are divided into data of three domains, namely, a pre-leading domain, a contact patch domain, and a post-trailing domain, and then the vibration levels in the pre-leading domain and the contact patch domain, respectively, are extracted. At the same time, a vibration component in a low-frequency band and a vibration component in a high-frequency band are extracted respectively from the vibration levels in the respective domains, and respective vibration level ratios R, which are each a ratio thereof, are calculated.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided with a large number of holes that are arranged in the tire's circumferential direction. These holes are provided in land portions that are provided in both shoulder sections of a tread. The land portions can have different pitch lengths. Each of the holes has formed there inside a projection having an upper end with a flat surface or a convex surface. The distance between the outer wall of the projection at the upper end thereof and the inner wall of the hole is set in the range from 1 to 5 mm. The upper end of the projection is located at a position below the opening of the hole.

Abstract: A tire includes a tread band provided with a tread pattern including a first and a second portion of tread pattern, repeated just the same along the circumferential extent of the tire, forming respectively a short pitch module and a long pitch module of the tread pattern, wherein the modules include a respective first transverse groove in which, starting from an axially outer first end thereof toward an opposed axially inner second end thereof, an initial section and a section of enlarged cross-section are formed, the latter being blind, at least on its axially inner side, when in the footprint area. The initial section and the section of enlarged cross-section have, respectively, a first width and a second width, and the ratio between the second width and the first width of a first transverse groove belonging to a short pitch module is greater than the ratio between the second width and the first width of a first transverse groove belonging to a long pitch module.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion provided with a pair of shoulder main grooves and at least one crown main groove between the shoulder main grooves to define a pair of middle portions between the adjacent shoulder main groove and crown main groove. The middle portions are provided with inner middle lug grooves and outer middle lug grooves. Each outer middle lug groove extends from the shoulder main groove to its axially inner end while decreasing its groove width. The outer middle lug groove are arranged with alternately arranged first pitches and second pitches, wherein the second pitches are larger than the first pitches. Each inner middle lug groove extends from the crown main groove to its axially outer end while decreasing its groove width. The inner middle lug grooves are arranged with substantially the same pitches.

Abstract: A tire is provided having a tire noise pitch sequence based on preferred characteristics of the tire noise generated by tire tread lug stiffness variations. The tire has preferred modulation characteristics and good level characteristics. Tire noise pitch sequences are provided for tires with different numbers of tread lugs. In one embodiment, the invention provides a tire having a body having a tread that has a pitch sequence; and the pitch sequence having five different size pitches with pitch ratios of 1.00, 1.10, 1.25, 1.4, and 1.50.

Abstract: A tire for a vehicle wheel includes a tread band. The tread band includes a pattern, including at least two circumferential portions, an elongated ridge, and at least two shoulder blocks. The at least two circumferential portions are disposed in axial side-by-side relationship. At least one of the circumferential portions includes a first geometric module repeated along a circumferential extension direction of the tire. The elongated ridge is bounded by two grooves oblique to the circumferential extension direction and is divided into a plurality of intermediate blocks with respect to an axial extension direction of the tread band. The intermediate blocks are bounded by a plurality of cuts substantially transverse to the elongated ridge. The at least two shoulder blocks are associated with the elongated ridge, are circumferentially aligned along a side edge of the tread band, and are bounded by grooves oriented substantially transversely to the circumferential extension direction.

Abstract: The manufactured pieces are the ones both end surfaces thereof in the tire circumferential direction are cut from the pieces before cutting 1 and the pieces before cutting 1 have the cutting regions whose cross-sectional shapes in the tire width direction are the same at both ends of its circumferential direction. And in the cutting process of cutting the pieces for modifying the lengths in the circumferential direction from each of the pieces before cutting 1, in order that the length in the tire circumferential direction of each piece after cutting and that both of the end surfaces in the circumferential direction of the piece after cutting are included in the cutting regions, the cutting lines of each piece are set at different not less than two positions (a, a? and b, b?) in the tire circumferential direction and the pieces are cut by either one of the set cutting lines.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a pneumatic off-road tire having an inner shoulder, an outer shoulder and a tread therebetween. The tread has a central axis and includes a plurality of generally curved first grooves. Each first groove has a first end disposed near the outer shoulder and a second end 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, each connecting the second end of a first groove to a first end of another first groove, are included. The first and second grooves define a cascading repetition of tread blocks. Chamfers are defined on certain corners of the tread blocks that are adjacent to the first grooves and that expose a tread block wall following the chamfer, relative to a rotation of the tire, to an off-road contact surface.

Abstract: The present invention enhances noise performance and anti-uneven wear performance. A pneumatic tire 1 includes a belt layer 7 including at least one belt ply in which belt cords 15 are arranged at an angle of 10 to 40° with respect to a tire equator C. A tread pattern formed on a surface of the tread portion 2 includes a pitch line 22 in which at least two kinds of pattern-constituting units 21 having different pitches in a circumferential direction of the tire are arranged in the circumferential direction of the tire. The belt cords 15 are arranged relatively densely on an inner side of the pattern-constituting unit 21 having a small pitch, and relatively thinly on an inner side of the pattern-constituting unit 21 having a large pitch.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire (1) provided in the tread portion (2) with a row (5R) of crown blocks (5b) divided by crown axial grooves (8), two rows (6R) of middle blocks (6b) divided by middle axial grooves (9), and two rows (7R) of shoulder blocks (7b) divided by shoulder axial grooves (10), Each of the crown axial grooves (8) is circumferentially aligned with one of the middle axial grooves (9) such that the crown axial groove (8) is positioned within a middle-axial-groove range (Mc) defined between 1st and 2nd axial straight lines (Za and Zb) which are drawn passing through 1st and 2nd extreme circumferential end points (9a and 9b) of the middle axial groove (9), respectively. The circumferential length of the middle-axial-groove range (Mc) is not less than 25% but not more than 50% of a pitch length (P) defined between the two 1st extreme circumferential end points (9a and 9a). The middle-axial-groove range (Mc) does not overlap with any of the shoulder axial grooves (10).

Abstract: A tread 1 having a tread surface 3 onto which there opens at least one cavity 2, this cavity being bounded by a cavity wall 20 comprising a bottom wall 21 extended by a side wall 22 intersecting the tread surface to form at least one edge corner 31, this tread being, over at least part of the wall of the cavity 2, provided with a plurality of supporting strands 4, each supporting strand 4 comprising two ends of which one end 41 is attached to the cavity wall 20, this tread being characterized in that the supporting strands 4 each comprise at least one branching formed by the attachment of at least one branching strand 5.

Abstract: A run-flat tire capable of reducing weight and enhancing its uniformity. The run-flat tire 1 provides a toroidal carcass 6 extending from a tread portion 2 to the bead core of each bead portion 4 through each of sidewall portions 3 and a pair of side reinforcing rubbers 9 arranged inside the carcass 6 and extending along the sidewall portions 3 in the tire radial direction inwardly and outwardly. In the outer surface of the tread portion 2, pattern elements are arranged, thereby forming a pitch pattern. Each of the side reinforcing rubber 9 provides with recesses 11 circumferentially spaced on the inner surface of side reinforcing rubber facing the tire cavity. The total number (n) of recesses 11 on each of the side reinforcing rubber 9 is 0.70 to 1.30 times the total number of pattern elements.