Having Asymmetric Tread Pattern Patents (Class 152/209.8)
  • Patent number: 9333806
    Abstract: A high performance rain tire includes a tread band, having an inner portion and an outer portion as well as a central zone. There are formed in the tread band: two circumferential grooves in the inner portion, a central circumferential groove and a plurality of inner transverse grooves and a plurality of outer transverse grooves, wherein the inner transverse grooves include a central inner section which defines an angle with respect to the equatorial plane of between approximately ?95° and approximately ?135° and the outer transverse grooves include a central outer section which defines an angle, relative to the equatorial plane, of between approximately +125° and approximately +165°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: PIRELLI TYRE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Piero Losi, Alfredo Balini, Maurizio Boiocchi
  • Patent number: 9254230
    Abstract: The gripping tire for a wheelchair as per the invention has a profile cross-section that is asymmetric and divided up in the radial and axial directions. Axial and radial refer here to the wheel of the wheelchair onto which the gripping tire is coaxially attached. A divided profile cross-section means that one of the sides of the axial division and the (inner) side of the radial division turned towards the axis of the gripping tire are designed to be bulbous, and the other side of the axial division and the (outer) side of the radial division turned away from the axis of the gripping tire are flattened. Furthermore, there is a process as per the invention for determining the value of at least one parameter of the cross-sectional profile of the gripping tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: L&C Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH
    Inventor: Mirko Filler
  • Patent number: 9199514
    Abstract: To make it possible to enhance uneven wear resistance while maintaining drainage performance, a pneumatic tire includes a left-right asymmetric tread pattern having a designated mounting orientation with respect to a vehicle. Vertical grooves include an inner shoulder circumferential groove disposed on an innermost side of the vehicle, and an outer shoulder circumferential groove disposed on an outermost side of the vehicle. Lateral grooves include inner shoulder lateral grooves and outer shoulder lateral grooves. The inner shoulder lateral groove includes a first inner shoulder lateral groove which extends inward in a tire axial direction from an outer side of a vehicle-inner side tread edge and terminates without reaching the inner shoulder circumferential groove, and a second inner shoulder lateral groove which extends inward in the tire axial direction from an outer side of the vehicle-inner side tread edge and opens in the inner shoulder circumferential groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Hada
  • Patent number: 9174492
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided with an asymmetric tread pattern which comprises an inboard shoulder longitudinal groove (3A) at an axial distance Xi from the tire equator (C) and an outboard shoulder longitudinal groove (3B) at an axial distance Xo from the tire equator (C). The distances Xi and Xo are 27 to 33% of the tread width (TW), and the axial distance Xi is less than the axial distance Xo. A tread crown region between the inboard edge (3Ao) of the inboard shoulder longitudinal groove (3A) and the outboard edge (3Bo) of the outboard shoulder longitudinal groove (3B) has a sea ratio of 30 to 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Seiji Nomura
  • Patent number: 9033012
    Abstract: A tire 1 comprises rib-shaped land portions 20 extending in a tire circumferential direction TC and has a circumferential groove 30 adjacent to the land portions 20 and extending in the tire circumferential direction TC. Tread contact surfaces 10 of the land portions 20 form smooth surfaces with no gap when a normal load is applied and the tread contact surfaces are in contact with a road surface. The circumferential groove 30 includes a shallow groove portion 40 extending in the tread-width direction TW, and a deep groove portion 50 adjacent to the shallow groove portion 40 in the tire circumferential direction and extending in the tread-width direction. A deep groove portion 50 is recessed more inwardly in a tire radial direction TR than the shallow groove portion 40 with a groove bottom 40c of the shallow groove portion 40 being an upper end of the deep groove portion 50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukihiro Kiwaki, Takaaki Kojima
  • Patent number: 9022084
    Abstract: A tire having a tread includes an outer tread layer and an inner tread layer. The inner tread layer includes one of a first elastomeric compound and a second elastomeric compound. The outer tread layer includes the other of the first and second elastomeric compounds. The second elastomeric compound has a lower rolling resistance and greater resistance to treadwear than the first elastomeric compound. The inner tread layer increases in thickness across at least a widthwise portion of the outer tread layer with a maximum thickness of one of the inner tread layer and the outer tread layer occurring near at least one of a first shoulder and a second shoulder of the tread. As the tread wears, the inner tread layer defines a greater proportion of a running surface of the tread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Junling Zhao, Michael Stefan Skurich
  • Patent number: 9004125
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire, wherein the central narrow groove includes an arc, the inner diameter side of the arc is facing towards the tire ground contact edge side, one end is open to another adjacent central narrow groove and the other end is open to the circumferential main groove on the inner side area side. A first central sipe is disposed between adjacent central narrow grooves, and connects the central narrow groove and the circumferential main groove on the inner side area side. One end of the notch portion is open to the circumferential main groove on the outer side area side, and the other end terminates within the central land portion. A second central sipe is disposed between adjacent notch portions. One end of the second central sipe is connected to the circumferential main groove on the outer side area side and another end terminates within the central land portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Hirose, Naoto Kaba
  • Patent number: 9004126
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire for improving steering stability performance on dry and wet road surfaces. The tire tread pattern has circumferential center main grooves, outside and inside main grooves, land sections demarcated by the main grooves, ground contact borders on both sides of the tire, and closed shoulder lug grooves. A ratio Wmax/Wout of a maximum main groove width Wmax and an outside main groove width Wout is at between 1.5 and 2.5 inclusive. A ratio Sin/Sout of a groove area ratio Sin of a region on a tire-widthwise second side of a tire centerline and a groove area ratio Sout of a region on a first side of the tire centerline is at least 1.10 and smaller than 1.25. A groove area ratio of a region on the second side of a tire-widthwise centerline of the intermediate land sections exceeds that of a region on the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Norifumi Kameda
  • Patent number: 8985170
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided which includes a plurality of drainage grooves positioned on each side of a tire equator line that extend at an angle in a direction opposite a rotating direction while curving outward in a tire width direction in a tread portion, with an end of a leading edge closed and an end of a trailing edge open to a tire side. A plurality of sub grooves extending from the drainage grooves in the rotating direction is provided, where an end of the leading edge is closed. The drainage grooves and the sub grooves are arranged so that spacings W1, W2, and W3gradually increase outward in the tire width direction, groove area ratios RA to RE satisfy the relationships |RB?RA|?9%, RA>RC>RD, and RB>RE, and a groove depth of the drainage grooves in the center region is greater than that in the shoulder portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoto Kaba
  • Patent number: 8978722
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprising a tread portion, side wall portions, and bead portions. The tread portion of said pneumatic tire includes at least one groove unit including a main groove extending in a tire circumferential direction and an auxiliary groove extending in the tire circumferential direction that has a smaller width than that of the main groove. The main groove and/or the auxiliary groove meanders in a wave or zigzag manner, and the main groove and the auxiliary groove intersect so as to intertwine with each other. Additionally, a rib portion extending in the tire circumferential direction is disposed adjacent along the groove unit including the main groove and the auxiliary groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoko Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20150059940
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a plurality of circumferential main grooves extending in the tire circumferential direction, a plurality of lug grooves extending in the tire width direction, and a plurality of blocks partitioned by the circumferential main grooves and the lug grooves. Also, the block has a bent groove having a bent shape that is convex in one direction and that extends in the tire circumferential direction dividing the block into two in the tire width direction. Also, the blocks that are adjacent to each other in the tire circumferential direction are disposed such that the bend directions of the bent grooves are alternately reversed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Hiraku Kouda
  • Patent number: 8955564
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprising, in a tread portion 1, at least two block groups GB, each block group being composed of a plurality of independent blocks 4 defined by grooves, wherein the block groups GB have at least two different values of block number densities D, each of the block number densities D being represented by the formula: D=a/{PL×W×(1?N/100)}, wherein PL (mm) represents a reference pitch length of the block 4 in the block group GBn, W (mm) represents a width of the block group, a (pieces) represents the number of the blocks existing in a reference zone of the block group, the reference zone being demarcated by the reference pitch length PL and the width W, and N (%) represents a negative ratio in the reference zone; wherein the block number density of at least one block group is within a range of 0.003 (pieces/mm2) to 0.04 (pieces/mm2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Naoya Ochi
  • Publication number: 20150020937
    Abstract: An outer side rib 46 is formed at a side relative to the plural circumference direction main grooves that is at the vehicle outer side when the tire is mounted at a vehicle. A land portion of the outer side rib 46 is continuous in the tire circumference direction. Of the plural circumference direction main grooves, an outermost side circumference direction main groove 24 is formed at the vehicle outermost side when the tire is mounted. Fourth lug grooves 42 extend from the outermost side circumference direction main groove 24 toward the outer side rib 46. The groove width of each fourth lug groove 42 widens from the outermost side circumference direction main groove 24 side toward the outer side rib 46 side. The fourth lug grooves 42 terminate at the outermost side circumference direction main groove 24 side relative to a tire ground contact edge 16E.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takamitsu Nakamura, Takahiro Kawahara
  • Publication number: 20150020938
    Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic radial tire which is configured so that circumferential main grooves to be provided on a tread surface are suitably defined in shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kei Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20150007917
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided with a center land portion between two zigzag crown main grooves, and two middle land portions between two zigzag shoulder main grooves and the two crown main grooves. Each center block is provided with center sipes between which a central part defining the maximum width of the center block is formed. The middle land portion is divided into middle blocks by alternate, oppositely inclined first middle axial grooves and second middle axial grooves. Each middle block is provided with nonparallel middle sipes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi TANAKA
  • Patent number: 8925602
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has an asymmetric tread pattern and an outboard tread edge and an inboard tread edge to be located outside and inside of a vehicle respectively. Inboard shoulder blocks have an axial width and outboard shoulder blocks have an axial width more than the axial width of the inboard shoulder blocks. The inboard and outboard shoulder blocks are each provided with a plurality of sipes. The sipes of each outboard shoulder block include a circumferential sipe as the axially outermost sipe. The circumferential sipe extends at an angle of not more than 10 degrees with respect to the tire circumferential direction. The outboard shoulder block has an axially outer sidewall of which surface is provided with a plurality of narrow buttress grooves extending radially inwardly from the outboard tread edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Kageyama
  • Patent number: 8925598
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes, in a tread portion, a pair of circumferential main grooves extending and a land portion provided between the pair of circumferential main grooves and extending in the tire circumferential direction. The land portion includes a bulging portion bulging in a second arc shape in a tire radial direction as a sectional outline of a tread surface of the land portion and chamfered portions connected to the bulging portion and extending straight toward respective groove walls of the circumferential main grooves. A portion of the bulging portion bulges in the tire radial direction with respect to a virtual tread profile line which is determined by a first arc shape in a sectional shape of the tread portion. A maximum bulging amount is 0.1 to 0.8 mm. The virtual tread profile line extends across the chamfered portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Ebiko
  • Publication number: 20140352861
    Abstract: A tyre tread band having a centre, two shoulders on either side of the centre, and two edges on either side of the shoulders and forming a transition with the sidewalls. The profile of the tread band has at least a first arc forming part of the centre, two second arcs forming part of the shoulders, and two third arcs forming part of the edges; and, at one junction, each second arc is connected discontinuously to the first arc by a step, wherein the second arc is not tangent to, and is radially lower than, the first arc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Emiliano Sabetti
  • Patent number: 8881782
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Ishida
  • Publication number: 20140326379
    Abstract: A heavy duty tire includes a tread portion provided with a pair of circumferential main grooves including at least one zigzag groove, lateral grooves extending between the main grooves to form center blocks therebetween, and lug grooves. Each lug groove includes an axially inner portion connecting to the zigzag groove while curving toward a first circumferential direction of the tire. The lug groove has a first groove edge disposed on a side of the first circumferential direction and a second groove edge facing against the first groove edge. The first groove edge is connected to an axially outer groove edge of the zigzag groove. The second groove edge is connected to an axially inner groove edge of the zigzag groove. The lug groove includes a constant groove width, and a groove-bottom width smoothly decreasing axially inward from the tread edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kaori TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20140311638
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion with an unsymmetrical tread pattern that includes a circumferentially extending first main groove at a nearest side of an inboard tread edge, a circumferentially extending second main groove adjacent to the first main groove, and a middle land portion arranged therebetween. The middle land portion is provided with a plurality of inclined grooves, a plurality of inboard middle lateral grooves including one end communicated with the first main groove and the other end communicated with the inclined groove, and a plurality of outboard middle lateral grooves including one end communicated with the second main groove and the other end communicated with the inclined groove. Respective groove center points of the inboard middle lateral grooves are arranged in different places in the circumferential direction of the tire from respective groove center points of the outboard middle lateral grooves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Keiji TAKAGI
  • Publication number: 20140305559
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a tread portion provided with an asymmetrical tread pattern and comprising an inboard shoulder land portion, an inboard shoulder main groove, an inboard middle land portion, an inboard crown main groove, a center land portion, an outboard crown main groove, an outboard middle land portion, an outboard shoulder main groove, and an outboard shoulder land portion. The inboard middle land portion is provided with inboard middle axial grooves extending from the inboard shoulder main groove and each comprising a main portion and a turnback portion. The inboard shoulder land portion is provided with inboard shoulder sipes extending from the inboard shoulder main groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki TAKEMOTO
  • Publication number: 20140299242
    Abstract: Tyre which is provided with a carcass reinforcement which is surmounted radially at the outer side by an upper reinforcement, this upper reinforcement being formed by a stack of a plurality of reinforcement sheets, these reinforcements forming with the circumferential direction angles which are not equal to zero, this tyre comprising a tread (10) which is intended to move into contact with the ground during travel, this tread (10) comprising a plurality of cutouts which delimit relief elements in order to form a tread pattern and being such that it comprises a central portion (20) having a width between 40 and 60% of the total width of the tread and the edge portions (21) at one side and the other of this central portion, the central portion (20) being provided with a plurality of generally transversely orientated incisions (40) which are capable of closing when they move into contact, this tread being characterised in that each edge portion (21) comprises a plurality of generally transversely orientated groo
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicants: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A., COMPAGNIE GERERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventor: Dominique Chauvin
  • Patent number: 8844592
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Nagayasu, Yoshimasa Hashimoto, Hiroshi Furusawa, Kenichirou Endou, Kenichi Sato
  • Patent number: 8844589
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mario Mariani, Luca Bruschelli, Andrea Schiavolin, Sandro Gallo
  • Patent number: 8820371
    Abstract: A motorcycle tire for running on rough terrain comprises a tread portion having a developed tread width and provided with a plurality of tread blocks. The tread blocks include a plurality of crown blocks defined as having a ground contacting top surface whose centroid is located within a crown region defined as having a developed width of ? of the developed tread width and centered on the tire equator. The crown blocks include a plurality of central crown blocks whose axial distance from the tire equatorial plane to the centroid is not more than 2% of the developed tread width, and a plurality of off-center crown blocks whose axial distance from the tire equatorial plane to the centroid is more than 2% and not more than 6% of the developed tread width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Hikita
  • Publication number: 20140238564
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion provided with a pair of shoulder main grooves adjacent to each tread edge, and shoulder lateral grooves extending from each shoulder main grooves to each tread edge. Each shoulder lateral groove includes an axially inner portion extending from the shoulder main groove with a first angle, an axially middle portion extending from the axially inner portion with a second angle larger than the first angle, and an axially outer portion extending from the axially middle portion with a third angle smaller than the second angle. The shoulder lateral grooves include first and second shoulder lateral grooves alternately arranged in a circumferential direction of the tire. The axially middle portion of the first shoulder lateral groove is disposed axially inwardly of the axially middle portion of the second shoulder lateral groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi IWASAKI
  • Publication number: 20140238566
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread having at least one main groove and a plurality of ribs extending in the tire-circumferential direction. At least one of the ribs has a plurality of narrow grooves formed at intervals in the tire-circumferential direction. At least one intermittent sipe is formed corresponding to at least one of the narrow grooves. The narrow grooves are grooves each having a portion extending substantially along the tire-circumferential direction and having a groove width smaller than the at least one main groove. The at least one intermittent sipe has a plurality of holes that are intermittently formed, and at least one solid part located between adjacent two of the holes. The holes and the solid part are arranged in a direction intersecting the narrow grooves. The intermittent sipe intersects the corresponding narrow groove in the at least one solid part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toshihiko Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20140238565
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided in the tread portion with major oblique grooves disposed staggeredly on both sides of the tread pattern's center line, and plural minor oblique grooves disposed between the circumferentially adjacent major oblique grooves. The major and minor oblique grooves extend toward the counter-tire-rotational direction while increasing the angle with respect to the circumferential direction. When the axial width between the tread pattern's center line and a tread edge is evenly partitioned into 1st to 5th zones in this order from the center line, the angle ? of the major oblique groove satisfies: ?1<?2=<?3=<?4=<?5 and ?5??1=50 to 110 degrees, wherein ?1 to ?5 are mean values of the angle ? in the 1st to 5th zones. Each major oblique groove is provided in the 1st or 2nd zone with a bent point at which the angle ? changes at least 30 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigetaka IKEKI
  • Publication number: 20140230978
    Abstract: Tyre for motorcycles, having a tread band includes a central annular portion symmetrically located astride an equatorial plane and two shoulder annular portions located on axially opposite sides with respect to the central annular portion. The tread band has a void-to-rubber ratio not greater than 25%. The central annular portion has an axial extension not greater than 65% of the axial development of the tread band and the central portion has at least one module circumferentially repeated. Each shoulder portion has an axial extension not greater than 40% of the axial development of the tread band and the module includes at least one pair of first grooves with substantially circumferential course, at least partially located on opposite sides with respect to the equatorial plane. The central annular portion has a void-to-rubber ratio not smaller than 10% and the module includes a plurality of second grooves located substantially transversally with respect to the equatorial plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: PIRELLI TYRE S.p.A.
    Inventors: Pierangelo Misani, Mario Mariani, Paolo Brivio, Silvio Montanari
  • Patent number: 8789567
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire (1) having a sound absorption effect by lateral grooves is provided. The tire tread (2) has circumferential grooves formed continuously in the circumferential direction and lateral grooves extending from a circumferential groove. One end of each lateral groove is connected to the circumferential groove and the other end is a dead end. Each of the lateral grooves (7) includes a one-directional groove (11) extending in one direction from the circumferential groove (5) toward a side edge of the tire and an another-directional groove (14) extending in another direction from the circumferential groove toward the side edge of the tire. A root section (11a), which is close to the circumferential groove, of the one-directional groove (11) and a root section (14a), which is close to the circumferential groove (5), of the another-directional groove (14) are formed by a common groove (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Bridgestone
    Inventor: Sotaro Iwabuchi
  • Publication number: 20140202606
    Abstract: It is an object to reduce tire vibration during high-speed travel on paved roads without lowering traction performance in fields. An agricultural machine tire includes: lug blocks disposed in a tread portion and formed alternately on both sides of a tire equatorial plane in a tire circumferential direction; and a central rib extending in the tire circumferential direction and to which end portions of the lug blocks on the tire equatorial plane side are integrally connected, and when a tire width length of the central rib from connecting portions to the tire equatorial plane is taken as a first rib width and a tire width length of the central rib from end edges of the central rib from the connecting portions across the tire equatorial plane to the tire equatorial plane is a second rib width, the width of the first rib is greater than the second rib.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Kodama, Adriano Tedesco, Massimiliano Alberelli
  • Publication number: 20140190606
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion with an asymmetric pattern including an outboard shoulder main groove, an inboard shoulder main groove, an outboard shoulder portion between the outboard shoulder main groove and an outboard tread edge, a middle portion between the outboard shoulder main groove and the inboard shoulder main groove, and an inboard shoulder portion between the inboard shoulder main groove and an inboard tread edge, wherein the outboard shoulder portion is provided with a three dimensional sipe that has a pair of sipe surfaces extending to a depth direction of the sipe while changing its direction or opening configuration, and the inboard shoulder portion or the middle portion is provided with a two dimensional sipe that has a pair of sipe surfaces extending to a depth direction of the sipe while maintaining its direction and opening configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki TAKEMOTO
  • Patent number: 8770241
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a plurality of circumferential grooves and a first land portion. The circumferential grooves extend continuously in a tire circumferential direction. The first land portion extends in the tire circumferential direction between a pattern end and one of the circumferential grooves in a shoulder region located outside the circumferential grooves in a tire width direction. The first land portion has first lug grooves extending from the pattern end in the tire width direction and closed without communicating with the circumferential grooves are arranged in the tire circumferential direction. At least one circumferential groove is wave-shaped with a constant groove width in the tire width direction at a tread surface and formed in a wave shape in the circumferential direction at the tread surface and groove bottom. The wave-shaped circumferential groove has a shorter cycle length of waves at the groove bottom than at the tread surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Ebiko, Kenichiro Endo, Takumi Morito, Hiroshi Tokizaki, Hiroyuki Kojima, Kensuke Saitou
  • Publication number: 20140182757
    Abstract: A tyre for motorcycles, having a tread band includes a central annular portion, two lateral annular portions and two shoulder annular portions. The axial extension of these portions is not greater than 25%, 35%, and 20% of the axial development of the tread band, respectively. The tread band includes a module repeated along the circumference of the tyre in which at least two substantially longitudinal grooves, mainly extending in the lateral annular portions, include, moving axially away from the equatorial plane of the tyre, at least three substantially straight and substantially consecutive segments, wherein the first segment forms an angle with respect to the equatorial plane greater than 150°; and the second segment has a length measured along its extension smaller than the length of the first segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventors: Mario Mariani, Luca Bruschelli, Silvio Montanari, Francesco Gagliardi, Pierangelo Misani
  • Patent number: 8752600
    Abstract: The pneumatic tire includes a tread pattern having a land portion sandwiched between tire circumferential grooves. A groove area ratio of the tread pattern is different between areas on opposite sides with reference to a tire center line in a tire width direction. A first side has the larger groove area ratio and a second side has the smaller groove area ratio respectively. The land portion is protruding outward in a tire radial direction and the land portion has edge portions bordering the tire circumferential grooves and formed by groove walls of the tire circumferential grooves sandwiching the land portion and a surface of the land portion. A drop length of the edge portion facing to the first side from a most protruding point of the land portion along the tire radial direction is longer than a drop length of the edge portion facing to the second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaya Mita
  • Patent number: 8752599
    Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire includes a pair of annular bead portions 2A, 2B, a tread portion 3 having a tread surface portion, a pair of sidewall portions 4A, 4B each connecting one of both end portions of tread portion 3 in tire-width directions and an outward end in the tire-radial direction of the corresponding one of the bead portions 2A, 2B, and a carcass layer 5 extending continuously across and through the bead portions 2A, 2B, the sidewall portions 3, and the tread portion 4A, 4B, the carcass layer 5 being configured to form a framework of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Takahiro Ito
  • Publication number: 20140158261
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion provided with three to five circumferentially extending main grooves and a plurality of lateral grooves, to form a plurality of block rows each of which includes a plurality of tread blocks. Each tread block includes a ground contact surface with a polygonal shape that has at least five sides and each interior angle of not less than 90 degrees. Each ground contact surface of the tread block includes a maximum axial width W1 positioned between its circumferentially both ends, a circumferential length L1 between its circumferentially both ends, and a ratio W1/L1 of the maximum axial width W1 to the circumferential length L1 in a range of from 0.6 to 0.9.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroki TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20140158260
    Abstract: A motorcycle tire is provided with crown main oblique grooves disposed on alternating sides of the tire equator and each extending from its axially inner end to its axially outer end, without cutting across the tire equator, while inclining to one circumferential direction, wherein the axially outer end is located outside an upstanding tire's ground contact annular zone. When measured in the annular zone, the circumferential distance between the circumferentially adjacent crown main oblique grooves existing on the same side of the tire equator is in a range of not more than 0.5 times an upstanding tire's ground contact length. In the annular zone, the crown main oblique grooves on one side of the tire equator is partially overlaps those on the other side. When measured in the annular zone, the circumferential length of the crown main oblique groove is less than the upstanding tire's ground contact length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Takao KUWAHARA
  • Publication number: 20140150941
    Abstract: First inclined grooves (110) and second inclined grooves (160) are formed on a land portion (40) of a tire. The first inclined grooves (110) and second inclined grooves (160) are alternately formed in the circumferential direction of the tire. Circumferential direction sipes (200) comprise: first circumferential direction sipes (210) that are formed extending from the end at the land portion (40) side of the first inclined grooves (110) to the central portion, in the tread width direction, of the second inclined grooves (160); and second circumferential direction sipes (220) that extend from the central portion, in the tread width direction, of the second inclined grooves (160) along the extension line from the first circumferential sipes (210). The second circumferential sipes (220) terminate in the land portion (40).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ataka Takei
  • Publication number: 20140137998
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises an asymmetric tread pattern with a designated install direction to a vehicle having an outboard tread edges, the tread pattern having an outboard tread portion between the outboard tread edge and a tire equator and provided with an outer main groove, the outer main groove having a cross section comprising a bottom with a depth of 5.5 to 6.5 mm, and axially inner and outer groove walls each extending from the bottom to a tread contact surface, respectively, at least one of groove walls having a stepwise shape comprising a radially inner portion extending from the bottom with a height of 2.0 to 4.0 mm, an axially extending stepped portion extending from the radially inner portion with a length of 0.75 to 1.25 mm, and a radially outer portion between the stepped portion and the tread contact surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Maiko TANABE, Junichiro MOROZUMI
  • Publication number: 20140137999
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided in a tread portion with a center land portion which is defined between center main grooves and whose top surface has a certain area and a maximum axial width of 15% to 19% of a tread width. The center land portion is provided with axial sipes and recesses. The recess extends from the center main groove toward the tire equator, and has a depth of 60% to 80% of the depth of the center main groove. The total area of the recesses is 5% to 9% of the area of the above-mentioned top surface. The center land portion is formed as a substantially continuous rib.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi NISHIWAKI, Yosuke MATSUDA
  • Publication number: 20140138000
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion provided with a central main groove, an outboard shoulder main groove and an inboard shoulder main groove extending continuously in the tire circumferential direction. The central main groove and the inboard shoulder main groove are each connected to grooves and/or sipes. The outboard shoulder main groove is widest and not connected to any grooves (inclusive of a sipe or a very narrow groove). On both sides of the outboard shoulder main groove, there are formed sloping surfaces extending from the respective groove edges and merging into the tread surface. The width of each sloping surface is more than the depth thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Seiji INOUE
  • Publication number: 20140130949
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a unidirectional tread pattern. The land ratio of an imaginary crown region 5A is 0.75 to 0.85. The land ratio of an imaginary middle region 6A is 0.65 to 0.75. Crown axial grooves 4A and middle axial grooves 4B are inclined to the intended tire rotational direction toward the axially inside of the tire. The widths of the crown axial grooves 4A and the middle axial grooves 4B are 4.0 to 7.0 mm. The width of the crown axial grooves 4A is more than the width of a central main groove 3A and less than the width of middle main grooves 3B.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi MAEHARA
  • Patent number: 8701724
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gianfranco Colombo, Vito Bello, Marco Verona
  • Patent number: 8701725
    Abstract: A tire for a motor vehicle includes a tread and two shoulders. The tread includes a first circumferential row of blocks disposed between first and second circumferential grooves. Each of the blocks is delimited by a section of the first circumferential groove and by first and second transverse grooves that extend from the first circumferential groove and terminate at a first common vertex spaced from the second circumferential groove. The tread further includes a second circumferential row of blocks disposed between the second circumferential groove and a third circumferential groove. Each of the blocks of the second circumferential row of blocks is delimited by a section of the second circumferential groove and by third and fourth transverse grooves that extend from the second circumferential groove and converge and terminate at a second common vertex. The first common vertex is separated from the second circumferential groove by a circumferential tread rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gianfranco Colombo, Giancarlo Cucco, Vito Bello
  • Publication number: 20140102608
    Abstract: A motorcycle tire has a unidirectional tread pattern formed by a circumferentially extending center main groove, and main oblique grooves each with a branch groove. The main oblique groove has an axially inner end inside a zero-camber ground contacting width and an axially outer end outside the zero-camber ground contacting width. The axially outer end is positioned in a range between 0% and 20% of the developed half tread width from the tread edge. The branch groove is composed of a first inclined part extending from the main oblique groove at an angle ? with respect to the tire circumferential direction, and a second inclined part extending at an angle ? less than the angle ?. When the developed half tread width is axially equally divided into five portions, the land ratio of each of the five portions is 75% to 85%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoki KATO
  • Publication number: 20140090759
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion divided by three circumferentially continuously extending main grooves into two crown land portions and two shoulder land portions. The axial width W2 of the shoulder land portion is 1.15 to 2.0 times the axial width W1 of the crown land portion. Crown axial grooves disposed in the crown land portions have a groove width of at most 2 mm and are inclined to the opposite direction to the inclining direction of the radially outermost belt ply cords. Shoulder axial grooves disposed in the shoulder land portions are inclined to the same direction as the inclining direction of the radially outermost belt ply cords. Each of the shoulder axial grooves is not connected to the main groove or alternatively connected to the main groove through a narrow part having a width of 1.2 mm or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Susumu TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20140090760
    Abstract: A tyre for a motor vehicle, in particular a high-performance, tyre is provided with a tread having an overall width. The tread includes first and second circumferential grooves which separate a central region from first and second shoulder regions. The tread includes a circumferential cut in the first shoulder region at a distance from the first circumferential groove; and a plurality of circumferentially repeated transverse groove modules. A first shoulder portion of each transverse groove module includes at least one main transverse groove which includes a first substantially rectilinear portion inclined by a first angle with respect to a radial plane, a second substantially rectilinear portion inclined by a second angle with respect to the radial plane and arranged between the circumferential cut and the first circumferential groove, and a first curve portion connecting the first and the second substantially rectilinear portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
    Inventors: GIUSEPPE MATRASCIA, VITO BELLO, MAUIRIZIO BOIOCCHI
  • Patent number: 8672005
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion having an outside tread edge and an inside tread edge. The tread portion is provided with: a plurality of oblique grooves extending from the outside tread edge toward the inside tread edge beyond the tire equator, while inclining to one circumferential direction corresponding to the tire rotational direction at angles of from 20 to 45 degrees with respect to said one circumferential direction; and a plurality of connecting grooves extending between the oblique grooves at angles ? of from 90 to 180 degrees with respect to said one circumferential direction. Between every two of the adjacent oblique grooves, there are disposed are three or more of the connecting grooves which are gradually decreased in the angle ? from the outside tread edge towards the inside tread edge, whereby a plurality of oblique blocks are formed between every two of the adjacent oblique grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Keita Nakano