IP Library Granted Patent US 9,463,670
Granted Patent B2
US 9,463,670 · App. 13/618,394 · Granted Oct 11, 2016

Pneumatic tire

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,463,670
App. No.
13/618,394
Granted
Oct 11, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pneumatic tire including a plurality of circumferential main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction and a plurality of land portions partitioned and formed by these circumferential main grooves in a tread portion. Additionally, the plurality of land portions have a plurality of sipes, respectively. Moreover, not less than 90% of the sipes disposed in an inner side region are constituted by two-dimensional sipes and not less than 90% of the sipes disposed in an outer side region are constituted by three-dimensional sipes. Furthermore, the tread portion has a cap rubber and an under rubber. A rubber hardness H 1 in at −10° C. and a rubber hardness H 2 in at 20° C. of the cap rubber 151 in in the inner side region, and a rubber hardness H 1 out at −10° C. and a rubber hardness H 2 out at 20° C. of the cap rubber 151 out in the outer side region have relationships such that H 1 in <H 1 out and H 2 in <H 2 out .

Claims (54)

1. A pneumatic tire comprising a plurality of circumferential main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction, and a plurality of land portions that are partitioned and formed by the circumferential main grooves in a tread portion, wherein,

when a region corresponding to 35% of a tread pattern developed width from a first tread edge is an inner side region and a region corresponding to 35% of a tread pattern developed width from a second tread edge is an outer side region,

the plurality of land portions each have a plurality of sipes,

not less than 90% of the sipes disposed in the inner side region are constituted by two-dimensional sipes and not less than 90% of the sipes disposed in the outer side region are constituted by three-dimensional sipes, the two-dimensional sipes having a sipe wall face with a linear form when viewed as a cross-section from a direction perpendicular to a sipe length direction, and the three-dimensional sipes having a sipe wall face with a form bending in a sipe width direction when viewed as a cross-section from a direction perpendicular to a sipe length direction,

the tread portion comprises a cap rubber and an under rubber,

a rubber hardness H 1 in at −10° C. and a rubber hardness H 2 in at 20° C. of the cap rubber in the inner side region, and a rubber hardness H 1 out at −10° C. and a rubber hardness H 2 out at 20° C. of the cap rubber in the outer side region have relationships such that H 1 in <H 1 out and H 2 in <H 2 out ,

a groove area ratio S in of the inner side region and a groove area ratio S out of the outer side region in a tire ground contact patch have a relationship such that 1.2≦S in /S out ≦2.0, and

a total groove area ratio S_t in the tire ground contact patch is within a range 0.25≦S_t≦0.38.

2. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein the rubber hardnesses H 1 and H 2 in in the inner side region and the rubber hardnesses H 1 out and H 2 out in the outer side region satisfy the conditions: 65≦H 1 in ≦75; 62≦H 2 in ≦72; 68≦H 1 out ≦78; and 65≦H 2 out ≦75; along with 3≦H 1 out −H 1 in ≦10; and 3≦H 2 out −H 2 in ≦10.

3. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein a sipe density D in of the inner side region and a sipe density D out of the outer side region have a relationship such that 1.2≦D in /D out ≦2.0.

4. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , having an indicator designating a mounting direction on a vehicle wherein the inner side region is on an inner side in a vehicle width direction.

5. The pneumatic tire according to claim 4 , having an indicator designating a mounting direction on a vehicle wherein a camber angle δ is in a range of −4°≦δ≦0°.

6. A pneumatic tire comprising a plurality of circumferential main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction, and a plurality of land portions that are partitioned and formed by the circumferential main grooves in a tread portion, the plurality of circumferential main grooves including three circumferential main grooves and the plurality of land portions including four land portions, wherein,

when a region corresponding to 35% of a tread pattern developed width from a first tread edge is an inner side region and a region corresponding to 35% of a tread pattern developed width from a second tread edge is an outer side region,

the plurality of land portions each have a plurality of sipes,

not less than 90% of the sipes disposed in the inner side region are constituted by two-dimensional sipes and not less than 90% of the sipes disposed in the outer side region are constituted by three-dimensional sipes, the two-dimensional sipes having a sipe wall face with a linear form when viewed as a cross-section from a direction perpendicular to a sipe length direction, and the three-dimensional sipes having a sipe wall face with a form bending in a sipe width direction when viewed as a cross-section from a direction perpendicular to a sipe length direction,

the tread portion comprises a cap rubber and an under rubber,

a rubber hardness H 1 in at −10° C. and a rubber hardness H 2 in at 20° C. of the cap rubber in the inner side region, and a rubber hardness H 1 out at −10° C. and a rubber hardness H 2 out at 20° C. of the cap rubber in the outer side region have relationships such that H 1 in <H 1 out and H 2 in <H 2 out ,

a ground contact width of the land portions on the ground contact edge of the inner side region is greater than a ground contact width of the land portions on the ground contact edge of the outer side region;

the land portions in the inner side region comprise a plurality of inclined grooves inclining with respect to the tire circumferential direction, a plurality of first lug grooves extending in a tire width direction from an outer side of the tire ground contact patch so as to communicate with the inclined grooves, and a plurality of second lug grooves extending in the tire width direction so as to connect the inclined grooves and the circumferential main grooves; and

not less than three of the first lug grooves are in communication with one of the inclined grooves.

7. A pneumatic tire comprising a plurality of circumferential main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction, and a plurality of land portions that are partitioned and formed by the circumferential main grooves in a tread portion, wherein,

when a region corresponding to 35% of a tread pattern developed width from a first tread edge is an inner side region and a region corresponding to 35% of a tread pattern developed width from a second tread edge is an outer side region,

the plurality of land portions each have a plurality of sipes,

not less than 90% of the sipes disposed in the inner side region are constituted by two-dimensional sipes and not less than 90% of the sipes disposed in the outer side region are constituted by three-dimensional sipes, the two-dimensional sipes having a sipe wall face with a linear form when viewed as a cross-section from a direction perpendicular to a sipe length direction, and the three-dimensional sipes having a sipe wall face with a form bending in a sipe width direction when viewed as a cross-section from a direction perpendicular to a sipe length direction,

the tread portion comprises a cap rubber and an under rubber,

a rubber hardness H 1 in at −10° C. and a rubber hardness H 2 in at 20° C. of the cap rubber in the inner side region, and a rubber hardness H 1 out at −10° C. and a rubber hardness H 2 out at 20° C. of the cap rubber in the outer side region have relationships such that H 1 in <H 1 out and H 2 in <H 2 out ,

the left and right circumferential main grooves disposed outermost in the tire width direction are outermost circumferential main grooves, a region on an inner side in the tire width direction of the tread portion, demarcated by groove center lines of the left and right outermost circumferential main grooves is a center region, and left and right regions on outer sides in the tire width direction are shoulder regions,

a single center land portion partitioned and formed by the left and right outermost circumferential main grooves is disposed in the center region, and

the center land portion has a plurality of main inclined grooves and a plurality of minor inclined grooves arranged in the tire circumferential direction,

the plurality of main inclined grooves each extend while inclining with respect to the tire circumferential direction in a form so as be oriented in a single direction in the tire circumferential direction and to become separated from a tire equatorial plane; a first end of each of the plurality of main inclined grooves communicates with the right or left outermost circumferential main groove; and the plurality of main inclined grooves are disposed alternately in the tire circumferential direction on both sides of the tire equatorial plane; and

the plurality of minor inclined grooves each extend while inclining with respect to the tire circumferential direction in a form so as be oriented in a single direction in the tire circumferential direction and to become separated from a tire equatorial plane; each of the plurality of minor inclined grooves intersects two of the main inclined grooves and both ends thereof terminate within the center land portion; and the plurality of minor inclined grooves are disposed alternately in the tire circumferential direction on both sides of the tire equatorial plane.

8. A pneumatic tire comprising a plurality of circumferential main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction, and a plurality of land portions that are partitioned and formed by the circumferential main grooves in a tread portion, wherein,

when a region corresponding to 35% of a tread pattern developed width from a first tread edge is an inner side region and a region corresponding to 35% of a tread pattern developed width from a second tread edge is an outer side region,

the plurality of land portions each have a plurality of sipes,

not less than 90% of the sipes disposed in the inner side region are constituted by three-dimensional sipes and not less than 90% of the sipes disposed in the outer side region are constituted by two-dimensional sipes, the two-dimensional sipes having a sipe wall face with a linear form when viewed as a cross-section from a direction perpendicular to a sipe length direction, and the three-dimensional sipes having a sipe wall face with a form bending in a sipe width direction when viewed as a cross-section from a direction perpendicular to a sipe length direction,

the tread portion comprises a cap rubber and an under rubber,

a rubber hardness H 1 in * at −10° C. and a rubber hardness H 2 in * at 20° C. of the cap rubber in the inner side region, and a rubber hardness H 1 out * at −10° C. and a rubber hardness H 2 out * at 20° C. of the cap rubber in the outer side region have relationships such that H 1 in *>H 1 out * and H 2 in *>H 2 out *,

a groove area ratio S in * of the inner side region and a groove area ratio S out * of the outer side region in a tire ground contact patch have a relationship such that 1.2≦S out */S in ≦2.0, and a total groove area ratio S_t in the tire ground contact patch is within a range 0.25<S_t<0.38.

9. The pneumatic tire according to claim 8 , wherein the rubber hardnesses H 1 in * and H 2 in * in the inner side region and the rubber hardnesses H 1 out * and H 2 out * in the outer side region satisfy the relationships: 68≦H 1 in *≦78; 65≦H 2 in *≦75; 65≦H 1 out *≦75; and 62≦H 2 out ≦72; along with 3≦H 1 in *−H 1 out *≦10; and 3≦H 2 in *−H 2 out ≦10.

10. The pneumatic tire according to claim 8 , wherein a sipe density D in * of the inner side region and a sipe density D out * of the outer side region have a relationship such that 1.2≦D out */D in *≦2.0.

11. The pneumatic tire according to claim 8 , wherein each of the inner side region and the outer side region comprises lug grooves that open to a tire ground contact edge, and a groove width W 1 * of the lug grooves in the inner side region and a groove width W 2 * of the lug grooves in the outer side region have a relationship such that 0.5 mm≦W 2 *−W 1 *≦2.0 mm.

12. The pneumatic tire according to claim 8 , wherein each of the inner side region and the outer side region comprises lug grooves that open to a tire ground contact edge, and a groove depth Hd 1 * of the lug grooves in the inner side region and a groove depth Hd 2 * of the lug grooves in the outer side region have a relationship such that 1.0 mm≦Hd 2 *−Hd 1 *≦3.0 mm.

13. The pneumatic tire according to claim 8 , comprising three of the circumferential main grooves and four of the land portions in a tread portion; wherein

a ground contact width of the land portions on the ground contact edge of the inner side region is greater than a ground contact width of the land portions on the ground contact edge of the outer side region;

the land portions in the inner side region comprise a plurality of inclined grooves inclining with respect to the tire circumferential direction, a plurality of first lug grooves extending in a tire width direction from an outer side of the tire ground contact patch so as to communicate with the inclined grooves, and a plurality of second lug grooves extending in the tire width direction so as to connect the inclined grooves and the circumferential main grooves; and

not less than three of the first lug grooves are in communication with one of the inclined grooves.

14. The pneumatic tire according to claim 8 , wherein, when the left and right circumferential main grooves disposed outermost in the tire width direction are called outermost circumferential main grooves, a region on an inner side in the tire width direction of the tread portion, demarcated by groove center lines of the left and right outermost circumferential main grooves is a center region, and left and right regions on outer sides in the tire width direction are called shoulder regions,

a single center land portion partitioned and formed by the left and right outermost circumferential main grooves is disposed in the center region, and

the center land portion has a plurality of main inclined grooves and a plurality of minor inclined grooves arranged in the tire circumferential direction,

the plurality of main inclined grooves each extend while inclining with respect to the tire circumferential direction in a form so as be oriented in a single direction in the tire circumferential direction and to become separated from a tire equatorial plane; a first end of each of the plurality of main inclined grooves communicates with the right or left outermost circumferential main groove; and the plurality of main inclined grooves are disposed alternately in the tire circumferential direction on both sides of the tire equatorial plane; and

the plurality of minor inclined grooves each extend while inclining with respect to the tire circumferential direction in a form so as be oriented in a single direction in the tire circumferential direction and to become separated from a tire equatorial plane; each of the plurality of minor inclined grooves intersects two of the main inclined grooves and both ends thereof terminate within the center land portion; and the plurality of minor inclined grooves are disposed alternately in the tire circumferential direction on both sides of the tire equatorial plane.

15. The pneumatic tire according to claim 8 , having an indicator designating a mounting direction on a vehicle wherein the inner side region is on an inner side in a vehicle width direction.

16. The pneumatic tire according to claim 15 , having an indicator designating a mounting direction on a vehicle wherein a camber angle δ is in a range of −4°≦δ≦0°.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS FOR ASSIGNEE Recorded Nov 18, 2023
From: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
To: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 065626/0740 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNOR AND DOC DATE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 028984 FRAME 0853. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CORRECT ASSIGNORS AND DOC DATES FOR THIS APPLICATION ARE KAMEDA, NORIFUMI - 08/31/2012, AND KISHIZOE, ISAMU - 9/12/2012. Recorded Nov 9, 2012
From: KAMEDA, NORIFUMI; KISHIZOE, ISAMU
To: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 029275/0710 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2012
From: KAMEDA, NORIFUMI
To: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD
Reel/Frame 028984/0853 →