Having Asymmetric Tread Pattern Patents (Class 152/209.8)
  • Publication number: 20100263775
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided including a multiplicity of land portions 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, and 3E formed by main grooves 2 extending linearly in the tire width direction partitioning the tread surface 1, and having a designated mounting direction on a vehicle. Among the multiplicity of land portions 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, and 3E, lug grooves are not provided in a ground contact region R of the land portions 3A and 3E positioned on both shoulder sides. Lug grooves 4 inclining in the tire circumferential direction that have terminating parts in the land portions and opening to the main groove 2 on the vehicle inner side are formed at specified intervals in the tire circumferential direction in the land portions 3B and 3D inwardly adjacent to the land portions on both shoulder sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventor: Noriyoshi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20100252157
    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: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiro Ito
  • Patent number: 7806156
    Abstract: A tread pattern of a tire is disclosed which has wave-shaped and straight grooves capable of maintaining desired block rigidity and hydroplaning performance of the tire. In the tread pattern, which includes circumferential main grooves, transversal grooves formed between adjacent ones of the circumferential main grooves, and blocks formed between adjacent ones of the transversal grooves, at least one of the circumferential main grooves has a wave-shaped structure having opposite inclined side surfaces each comprising an upper surface portion having first and second curved surfaces alternately arranged along a circumferential direction of the tire while having substantially opposite curvatures, respectively, to form a continuous wave-shaped surface, and a lower surface portion having a straight side surface connected to the alternate first and second curved surfaces while extending along the circumferential direction to form a circumferential straight groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Hankook Tire Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ho Kyung Oh
  • Publication number: 20100243117
    Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire in which the performance change of driving stability due to continuous driving can be suppressed even with a carcass layer, which has a single-ply structure and a wound-up section extended up to a region below a belt layer so as to overlap with an end section of the belt layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasujiro Daisho
  • Patent number: 7789117
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having a circumferential tread of a cap/base configuration composed of an outer tread rubber cap layer with a running surface of the tread and an underlying tread rubber base layer, wherein said tread cap layer is composed of two longitudinal adjacent zones, namely a primary tread cap zone and a minor lateral outboard control element (zone). The primary tread cap zone and the lateral outboard tread cap element provide a significant gradation of cold dynamic storage moduli (G?) at ?25° C. and hot tan delta values at 100° C., yet similar warm dynamic storage moduli (G?) at 60° C. The primary tread cap zone and lateral outboard control tread cap element are load bearing in the sense of extending from the running surface of the tread radially inward to the unitary (non-zoned) tread base rubber layer. The zoned rubber tread cap layer and unitary rubber tread base layer are an integral tread composite in a sense of being co-extruded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Aaron Scott Puhala, Rachel Rebekah Barnette, David Charles Poling, Eric John Marazzi, Kuo-Chih Hua, Shingo Futamura
  • Patent number: 7784511
    Abstract: A tire has a tread and a pair of opposing shoulders. In the first sidewall, a series of extension blocks creates a pair of concentric rings. In the second sidewall, a different configuration of extension blocks may be present. The second sidewall has alternating extension blocks where one of the blocks has a portion that is located radially inward of the other block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Delwyn Lovell Harvey, John Fleming Brainerd, II, Brian David Digman
  • Publication number: 20100200134
    Abstract: To enhance uneven wear resistance with achieving higher levels of dry grip performance and wet performance, a tread surface 2 is provided with one circumferential main groove 3 in an outer region 2o thereof directed outward of a vehicle and with first and second circumferential main grooves 4 and 5 in an inner region 2i thereof directed inward of the vehicle, a central region Rc between the circumferential main grooves 3 and 4 is formed into a rib 10 extending continuously in the circumferential direction, an outer shoulder region Ro between the circumferential main groove 3 and TEo is formed into a row of outer blocks 12 defined by inclined main grooves 6, and the outer blocks 12 are provided with inclined sub-grooves 13 having an inclination direction different from that of the inclined main grooves 6, thereby dividing each of the outer blocks 12 into a first block portion 12A on a tire equator side and a second block portion 12B on a ground contact edge side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventor: Takehiko Murata
  • Patent number: 7762298
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a tread pattern wherein a circumferential groove continuously extending in a circumferential direction is formed in at least a first half part of a treading face within a range of 10-30% of a treading face width from an end of the treading face and a plurality of curvedly slant grooves extending from the circumferential groove toward a side of a central part of the treading face so as to make an angle at an acute angle side with respect to the circumferential direction gradually small away from the circumferential groove are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction, in which a land row consisting of tapered land portions defined between the circumferentially adjoining curvedly slant grooves and having a width gradually decreased toward the side of the central part of the treading face is formed in the treading face, and sipes linearly extending at two large and small inclination angles with respect to the circumferential direction without crossing with each other are alterna
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Miyasaka, Arata Tomita, Yasuo Osawa
  • Publication number: 20100170599
    Abstract: A tire for All Terrain Vehicles includes the first ribs located within a central area of the tread, which are non-continuously arranged, and the second ribs which are next to the ATV. The first ribs are separated by first gaps and the second ribs are separated by second gaps, the first and second gaps are located alternatively to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Inventor: Tsai Jen Lo
  • Publication number: 20100132864
    Abstract: A tyre for vehicle wheels having a tread pattern includes: a) two circumferential grooves, which define a first and a second shoulder region, and one central region; b) a plurality of asymmetric transverse grooves having a substantially “V” shape, which extend for the whole width of the tread, including an alternate sequence of a first and a second asymmetric transverse groove defining an alternate sequence of a first and a second asymmetric module; and c) a plurality of lateral transverse grooves, which includes one first lateral transverse groove extending for the whole width of the first shoulder region and for a portion of the central region of the first asymmetric modules, and one second lateral transverse groove extending for the whole width of the second shoulder region and for a portion of the central region of the second asymmetric modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Gianfranco Colombo, Stefano Montesello, Roberto Sangalli
  • Patent number: 7726368
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a shallow groove provided between zigzag sipes adjacent in the circumferential direction of the tire, which can reduce production cost of the mold, facilitate trimming operation and decrease waste from trimming while reduction of driving stability during turning on a wet road surface and occurrence of curing trouble are suppressed. The pneumatic tire has a tread surface where land portions are defined by grooves. The land portions have tread surface sections, in which a plurality of sipes extending in a zigzag manner in the widthwise direction of the tire are arranged at prescribed intervals in the circumferential direction of the tire. A shallow groove extends between adjacent sipes. The shallow groove is placed such that parts of land portions sectioned on the opposite sides of the shallow groove are not separated, but partially communicate with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomonori Sakai
  • Patent number: 7673663
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion provided with a nonlinear rib having an amplitude having a center in the tire axial direction. In a normally loaded condition of the tire, the tread portion has an outside tread edge and an inside tread edge when the camber angle of the tire is 0 degrees. In the normally loaded condition, when the a camber angle of 4 degrees is given to the tire to inline towards the outside tread edge, a foot print shape of the tire has a maximum circumferential length at an axial position MC which is off the tire equator towards the outside tread edge. The nonlinear rib is positioned off the tire equator towards the outside tread edge such that the axial position MC lies within the amplitude of the nonlinear rib, and one of the edges of the nonlinear rib on the outside tread edge side is chamfered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takehiko Murata
  • Patent number: 7669625
    Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire has a carcass and a tread. The carcass has at least one carcass reinforcing ply and opposing bead portions. Each bead portion has a bead core and a bead apex radially. The apexes in each bead portion having the same radial height (HA), as measured from a bead base line (B). The tire has a bead reinforcing ply comprising aramid fiber reinforcing cords located in only one bead portion of the tire, with the bead reinforcing ply being adjacent to the carcass reinforcing ply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Marco Joseph Eicher, Edouard Pierre Michel, Xavier Sebastien Benoit Fraipont, Kenneth Jenner Powell
  • Publication number: 20100000641
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread that has: land portions formed and segmented by a plurality of circumferential grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction and by a plurality of widthwise grooves extending in a tire width direction; and sipes formed in contact patches of the land portions. The pneumatic tire includes: recessed sections (groove-bottom recessed sections) that are formed in tire-width-direction lateral surfaces of the land portions provided in tire-width-direction outermost parts, so as to connect to the widthwise grooves; and indents/lugs that are formed in bottom surfaces of the recessed sections such that indents/lugs thereof are arranged alternately and continuously in a linear manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takumi Morito, Masakazu Mori
  • Publication number: 20090320981
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided for enhancing its driving stability and braking performance on particular road surfaces. The pneumatic tire is provided with five main grooves, first and second lateral grooves, and first and second blocks. The five main grooves include a single first main groove, two second main grooves, and two third main grooves. The single first main groove is disposed on a tire equator. The first main groove is made of a see-through groove extending in the tire circumferential direction. The two second main grooves are disposed on two sides of the first main groove in the tire width direction. The first and the second lateral grooves are extending in the tire width direction. The first and the second blocks are formed in a center area of the tread surface between the two third main grooves. A sub-groove is disposed in each first block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenichi MATSUMOTO
  • Patent number: 7637296
    Abstract: A pneumatic drive tire for tracked vehicles is provided having an outer tread surface divided into two zones. The first tread zone has a plurality of lugs and grooves, the grooves may extend across the entire first zone creating soil discharge channels. The soil discharge channels preferably extend into the shoulder. The tire has a second tread zone with no lugs or grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Mark Leonard Bonko, Carl Kenneth Safreed, Jr., Paul John Peterson
  • Patent number: 7631675
    Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire in which improvement is achieved in a wet performance and reduction in vehicle exterior noise while ensuring a dry performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuo Ikegami
  • Publication number: 20090266457
    Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire which achieves both reduction of pattern noise and improvement in driving stability on a dry road surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kojima
  • Publication number: 20090255614
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a tread pattern which comprises at least three circumferential grooves with a groove width of 6 to 18 mm and a groove depth of 6.0 to 16.0 mm extending in a tire circumferential direction, wherein, on groove walls on both sides forming the at least three circumferential grooves, first inclined walls inclined by an inclination angle of 5 to 20 degrees with respect to the tire circumferential direction and second inclined walls inclined by an inclination angle of 0 to 45 degrees with respect to a tire width direction are provided so as to be successively connected in the tire circumferential direction so that positions of groove ends in the tire width direction vary in the tire circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Masahiro Ebiko
  • Patent number: 7581574
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion provided with annular regions each provided with axial grooves each extending from one of the axial edges of the annular region, wherein each axial groove is defined as having a groove width of from 2.0 to 6.0 mm and an axial length of not less than 40% of the axial width of the annular region. The annular regions are different from each other with respect to the number Nj of the axial grooves therein, and the greatest common divisor of the different numbers Nj of the grooved annular regions is in a range of from 10 to 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshimichi Shirouzu
  • Publication number: 20090199943
    Abstract: A tire having a tread wherein a first shoulder region includes a plurality of shoulder blocks that are circumferentially separated by shoulder transverse grooves. A central region includes a plurality of substantially transverse grooves extending from a first circumferential groove toward the equatorial plane, wherein two circumferentially consecutive substantially transverse grooves delimit a central area. The central area includes a first central block; a second central block having one side forming a part of the wall of the first circumferential groove; and a third central block circumferentially shifted with respect to the first central block and positioned at a distance from the first circumferential groove, the third central block being separated from the second central block by a central transverse groove which is inclined with respect to the equatorial plane. The substantially transverse grooves have respective end portions at a distance from the equatorial plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventors: Maurizio Boiocchi, Vito Bello, Giuseppe Matrascia, Stephen Rowe
  • Publication number: 20090188595
    Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire having improved driving stability and wear resistance on dry road surfaces as well as an improved running performance on snow. The present invention provides a pneumatic tire designed to be mounted on a vehicle so that a designated side of the tire should face to the outside of the vehicle. The pneumatic tire includes a tread portion provided with: a first main groove extending in a tire circumferential direction; a second main groove extending in the tire circumferential direction in a shoulder region closer to the center of the vehicle than the first main groove; a third main groove extending in the tire circumferential direction in a shoulder region farther from the center of the vehicle than the first main groove; and a plurality of lug grooves each extending from one shoulder side to the other shoulder side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventor: Isamu Kishizoe
  • Publication number: 20090188596
    Abstract: Lateral grooves 6 are disposed in a land portion 4 between main grooves 2 at prescribed intervals in a circumferential direction TC of the tire, the lateral grooves 6 extending from the main grooves 6 to a circumferential groove 5. Blocks 7 are defined by the main grooves 2, circumferential groove 5 and lateral grooves 6. At least two sub-grooves 8 are disposed in each block 7 at a prescribed interval in the tire circumferential direction TC, the sub-grooves 8 extending from a main groove 2 adjacent thereto in a width direction of the tire. At least three block portions 7A, 7B and 7C are formed. The width of the main groove 2 adjacent to the block 7 is varied by making the block widths Wa, Wb and Wc of the block portions 7A, 7B and 7C different from each other. A groove wall surface, facing the main groove, of a block portion less in width has a greater inclination angle with respect to a tread normal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kojima
  • Publication number: 20090178745
    Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire in which improvement is achieved in a wet performance and reduction in vehicle exterior noise while ensuring a dry performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuo Ikegami
  • Publication number: 20090178746
    Abstract: A tyre 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: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventors: Gianfranco Colombo, Giancarlo Cucco, Vito Bello
  • Publication number: 20090151832
    Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire in which left- and right-side lateral grooves extend between first main grooves and second main grooves, and in which left- and right-side sub grooves extend halfway from the second main grooves toward the first main grooves. The lateral grooves and the sub grooves are disposed alternately with each other at predetermined pitches in tire circumferential directions. The left- and right-side lateral grooves respectively include: first groove portions extending from the first main grooves; and second groove portions extending from the second main grooves while curving inwardly toward tire width directions. The left- and right-side lateral grooves are offset from each other in the tire circumferential directions. Opening portions at both ends of each of the lateral grooves, which are opened to the first main grooves and the second main grooves, are shifted from one another in the tire circumferential directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Miyoshi, Hiroshi Hata
  • Publication number: 20090126840
    Abstract: A tyre for a motor vehicle includes a tread and two shoulders. The tread includes a circumferential row of blocks disposed between first and second circumferential grooves, wherein 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 common vertex spaced from the second circumferential groove. The first and second transverse grooves of the circumferential row of blocks are oriented in a first direction along a longitudinal direction of the tread, wherein the common vertex is separated from the second circumferential groove by a continuous circumferential tread rib. The second transverse groove delimits a first one of the blocks and is separated from the first transverse groove that delimits a circumferentially adjacent block by a solid tread portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Gianfranco Colombo, Giancarlo Cucco, Vito Bello
  • Publication number: 20090114324
    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: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukihiko Ohki, Isamu Kishizoe
  • Publication number: 20090107599
    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: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventor: Matthew Lamb
  • Publication number: 20090095391
    Abstract: Provided is an ultra-low profile pneumatic radial tire for SUV or the like having an aspect ration of 55% or less and a tire outer diameter of 720 mm or more, which has improved load durability while managing a weight reduction without deteriorating driveability. A carcass layer (4) thereof is configured as a single ply, and both ends thereof are folded back around left and right bead cores (7) so as to wrap bead fillers (8). A folded-back portion (4t) is wrapped on the inner side of an end of a belt layer (5) in a range not greater than 10% of the maximum width of the belt layer (5). The hardness of the bead fillers is 65 to 80 in terms of JIS durometer A hardness, and a height hb of the bead fillers (8) from a bead base is brought to 10 to 20% of the height H of a tire cross-section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kojima
  • Publication number: 20090090444
    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: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventors: Georges Gaston Feider, Jean-Francois Cazin-Bourguignon, Pascal Patrick Steiner, Jobst Mever-Adlung, Marek Grzegorz Wojcik, Phuoc Thuan Le
  • Publication number: 20090044890
    Abstract: It aims to provide a heavy duty pneumatic tire with block patterns and capable of improving deflected wear resisting performances without sacrificing wet grip performances or on-snow performances and that can particularly be favorably used for all seasons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: Shingo Takahashi, Satoshi Tsuda
  • Publication number: 20090044889
    Abstract: It aims to provide a heavy duty pneumatic tire with block patterns and capable of improving deflected wear resisting performances without sacrificing wet grip performances or on-snow performances and that can particularly be favorably used for all seasons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: Shingo Takahashi, Satoshi Tsuda
  • Publication number: 20090032157
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a tire for a construction vehicle which suppresses a trouble of the tire by enhancing a heat-radiation characteristic of a tire center portion. A tire for a construction vehicle according to the present invention is provided with a plurality of lug grooves 22 in tread shoulder regions located at the both sides in the width direction of the tire. A plurality of widthwise-extending narrow grooves 24 extending generally along the width direction of the tire and having an end in the width direction of the tire terminated in the tread are disposed in a tire center portion C. This may improve the wear resistance characteristic and to enhance the heat-radiation characteristic by suppressing the decrease of the rigidity of the land portion. In addition, an equatorial shallow groove 26 extending in the circumferential direction of the tire is disposed on the tire equator CL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takumi Inoue
  • Patent number: 7484543
    Abstract: A tyre for a motor car includes a tread and two shoulders. The tread includes at least one 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 converge at a common vertex spaced from the second circumferential groove. The common vertex is separated from the second circumferential groove by a continuous circumferential tread rib. A second transverse groove that delimits a first block is separated from a first transverse groove that delimits a circumferentially adjacent block by a solid tread portion. The solid tread portion extends from the first circumferential groove to the circumferential tread rib and forms a single body with the circumferential tread rib, spacing the first block and the circumferentially adjacent block from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gianfranco Colombo, Giancarlo Cucco, Vito Bello
  • Publication number: 20090000712
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire 1 according to the invention has bead portions 11, 12 including a bead core 11a and a bead core 12a, and an outer rag groove extending, relative to a tire centerline CL, in a tread face 17 of a tread portion 16 constituting an outer side B when vehicle-mounted, in a direction from the tire centerline CL side toward a tire shoulder 20B, at a skew angle of 50 degrees or more from the tire centerline CL, and in a section in a tire-width direction, a carcass periphery length Ca1 as a distance along a carcass centerline CaL, from a crossing point P to an approach point P2 is greater by 0.5 mm to 10 mm than a carcass periphery length Ca as a distance from the crossing point P to an approach point P1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuaki Toyosato, Shigemasa Ishii
  • Patent number: 7441575
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having at least one component, the at least component including a rubber composition, the rubber composition including a diene based elastomer and 10 to 100 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer, of a nanozeolite having a particle size of less than 1000 nm and a negative coefficient of thermal expansion over at least part of the temperature range of 0° C. to 200° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Annette Lechtenboehmer, Giorgio Agostini, Filomeno Gennaro Corvasce
  • Publication number: 20080257466
    Abstract: There is provided a method of tire manufacturing a tire in which preset-beads each preformed by mounting a bead filler on a bead core are disposed radially outward of a carcass band and both side portions of the carcass band are turned around the preset beads to build the tire. The method eliminates a need to hold the considerable intermediate stocks and does not deteriorate the tire uniformity due to the unevenness of the preset bead in the circumference direction. There are also provided an apparatus of forming a preset bead used therefor and a system of forming a preset bead. In the method of manufacturing a tire in which preset-beads each preformed by mounting a bead filler on a bead core are disposed radially outward of a carcass band and both side portions of the carcass band are turned around the preset beads to build the tire, the preset bead is formed by winding and laminating a ribbon-shaped filler rubber 5 radially outward of the bead core 10 over several laps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventor: Kazuto Fujita
  • Publication number: 20080236714
    Abstract: Provided is a low profile pneumatic tire for an SUV, which is capable of having its enhanced rut performance with its dry and wet performances being reconciled with each other. The pneumatic tire according to the present invention has a nominal width of not less than 255, an outside diameter of not less than 720 mm, and an aspect ratio of not more than 55%. The pneumatic tire has a designated direction of sides thereof for mounting the tire on a vehicle. In its tread portion, the pneumatic tire includes five main grooves extending in the tire's circumferential direction, and six land portions defined by the five main grooves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kojima
  • Publication number: 20080210355
    Abstract: A tire has a tread and a pair of opposing shoulders. In the first sidewall, a series of extension blocks creates a pair of concentric rings. In the second sidewall, a different configuration of extension blocks may be present. The second sidewall has alternating extension blocks where one of the blocks has a portion that is located radially inward of the other block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Delwyn Lovell Harvey, John Fleming Brainerd, Brian David Digman
  • Patent number: 7406990
    Abstract: A pneumatic runflat tire comprising a sidewall component comprising a rubber composition comprising at least one diene based elastomer and from about 1 to about 40 phr of glass bubbles having a crush strength of at least 10,000 psi as measured by ASTM D3102-78 in glycerol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Andrew David Brown, David John Zanzig, Bina Patel Botts, David Mark Frantz
  • Publication number: 20080142133
    Abstract: On a tread surface 1 of a pneumatic tire, at least one circumferential groove is formed on an outer-side region 3 in a vehicle width direction, at least three circumferential, which number is two or more larger than the outer-side region 3, grooves are formed on an inner-side region 2 in the vehicle width direction. A plurality of lug grooves 20 are formed on the tread surface 1, open to a tread edge TE1 of the inner-side region 3, extend in a direction toward circumferential groove 11, and terminate without opening to circumferential groove 11. A plurality of continuous lug grooves 21 are formed on the tread surface 1, open to a tread edge TE2 of the outer-side region 3, extend in a direction toward the circumferential groove 13, continue to the central land portion 5 intersecting the circumferential groove 10, and terminate without opening to the circumferential groove 13 which borders the central land portion 5, among the three second-region circumferential grooves 11, 12, 13.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoya Ochi
  • Patent number: 7387696
    Abstract: A tire tread, comprising a tread pattern formed of groups of motifs arranged, in the transverse direction, in a number M of distributions at least equal to two and of average width Li, Lj, the total of the widths Li, Lj being at least equal to 80% of the width L of the tread, each distribution of groups of motifs being formed by a succession of a plurality of groups, at least two of said groups of motifs of the distribution in question having different longitudinal lengths, the ratio Ri between the longitudinal length of the smallest group of motifs and the largest group of motifs being strictly less than one, this tread being characterized in that for at least two distributions comprising respectively Ni and Nj motifs, with Ni<Nj, the following relationships are satisfied: 0.20?Tij?0.50, 0.60?Rpg?0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S. A.
    Inventor: Olivier Sejalon
  • Publication number: 20080128061
    Abstract: The pneumatic tire tread has a radially outermost surface defining a circumferential length of the tire and the tread has at least one circumferentially extending groove. The groove has a spiral configuration across the tread surface and a pair of laterally spaced terminal ends. The circumferential length of the spiral groove, as measured between the terminal ends of the groove, is greater than 50% of the circumferential length of the tire. The spiral groove creates a spiral rib or projecting tread element row that moves across the tread width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Aaron Scott Puhala, David Charles Poling, Paul Bryan Maxwell, Robert Bernard Nelson
  • Publication number: 20080115869
    Abstract: The invention provides a tread pattern which is required to have traction with respect to the ground and which suppresses generation of vibration during traveling of a vehicle, and provides a tread pattern which provides traction and reduced vibration regardless of expected usage conditions or under usage conditions that are different from expected usage conditions. A tread pattern which provides improved traction with reduced vibration generation in which a contact patch is divided in the width direction thereof into right and left areas with respect to the traveling direction of the vehicle and each of the right and left areas is provided with tread lugs, wherein long-, middle-, and short-pitches are provided in each of the right and left areas, the tread patterns of the right and left areas are asymmetrical to each other, and total areas of the contact patches of each of the right and left areas are substantially equal to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventor: Hitoshi Akiyama
  • Publication number: 20080110540
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a tread with the radially outermost surface of the tread defining a circumferential length of the tire. The tread has a circumferentially extending groove. The circumferentially extending groove has repeating segments wherein the circumferential length of each repeating segment is at least 6.25% of the tire circumferential length. The repeating segments have an extent in the lateral direction of the tread, wherein, each directly adjacent repeating segment extends in opposite lateral directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventor: Samual Patrick Landers
  • Publication number: 20080000564
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire including a tread 2 provided with at least a pair of circumferentially continuous straight crown grooves 3 which extend on both sides of the tire equator C to provide a center land 5 between them and which comprise an inner groove 3i which lies on the inside of a vehicle when the tire is fitted to the vehicle and an outer groove 3o which is on the outside with the fitted tire, wherein a plurality of curved oblique grooves 8 are provided in the center land 5 at intervals in the circumferential direction, in which each curved oblique groove 8 extends obliquely from the inner crown circumferential groove 3i toward the outer crown circumferential groove 3o, turns at a location over the tire equator C without reaching the outer crown circumferential groove 3o, and further extends obliquely toward the inner crown circumferential groove 3i to terminate inside the tire equator C in the center land 5, and circumferentially adjacent curved oblique grooves 8 intersect each other at a location substantia
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Mukai
  • Patent number: 7311128
    Abstract: A tire tread includes a plurality of elements in relief (rib and/or block) having lateral faces, and a contact face intended to come into contact with the roadway during travel. The intersection of each lateral face with the contact face forms a ridge. The tread also includes a plurality of cutouts each defined by opposing main faces. Each tread pattern element is formed with at least one base mix. As viewed in section in a plane containing the thickness of this tread, at least one face defining at least one cutout is formed at least in part with a covering mix. The base mix exhibits a gripping action on wet ground which is lower than a gripping action of the covering mix on the same ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Rémi Bruant, Didier Vasseur
  • Patent number: 7278455
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire is capable of operation during underinflated condition and the construction of sidewalls are configured to compensate for negative cambers acting upon the tire. The inboard side of the tire is softened in comparison to the outboard side of the tire. This is achieved by either forming an asymmetrical tire in either the tire profile or the internal construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Marc Hedo, Johan Peter Dahlberg, Walter Dale Allen, Laurent Luigi Domenico Colantonio, Filomeno Gennaro Corvasce
  • Patent number: 7163039
    Abstract: A high-performance tire for a motor vehicle includes a carcass and tread band. The tire may be, for example, of the asymmetrical or directional type. The tread band includes a pattern including a central region, first and second shoulder regions, and first and second circumferential grooves. The first circumferential groove divides the first shoulder region from the central region, while the second circumferential groove divides the central region from the second shoulder region. The shoulder regions include shoulder blocks, separated from each other by transverse grooves, but joined to each other along axially inner ends of the shoulder blocks by respective circumferential portions. The central region includes rows of blocks and first and second annular projections or a central annular projection. The blocks of the central region, the shoulder blocks, the circumferential grooves, the transverse grooves, and the one or more annular projections help define the tread pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventors: Maurizio Boiocchi, Gianfranco Colombo