IP Library Granted Patent US 9,415,637
Granted Patent B2
US 9,415,637 · App. 14/405,148 · Granted Aug 16, 2016

Pneumatic tire

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,415,637
App. No.
14/405,148
Granted
Aug 16, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

The pneumatic tire includes a plurality of circumferential main grooves and extending in the tire circumferential direction, and a plurality of land portions partitioned by the circumferential main grooves. One row of the land portion includes a plurality of lug grooves that pass through the land portion in the tire width direction and is disposed at predetermined intervals in the tire circumferential direction, and a plurality of blocks partitioned by the lug grooves. Also, the lug groove includes a first lug groove portion and at least one second lug groove portion opening into one of the circumferential main grooves. Also, the groove width b of the first lug groove portion and the groove width B of the second lug groove portion have the relationships of 2.0 mm≦b≦5.0 mm, 5.0 mm≦B≦10.0 mm, and b<B.

Claims (45)

1. A pneumatic tire, comprising: four or more circumferential main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction; and five or more land portions partitioned by the circumferential main grooves,

a center land portion is defined as the land portion disposed on a tire equatorial plane, or the land portion partitioned by the circumferential main groove disposed on the tire equational plane,

the center land portion includes a plurality of lug grooves that pass through the center land portion in a tire width direction and is disposed at predetermined intervals in the tire circumferential direction, and a plurality of blocks partitioned by the plurality of lug grooves,

the lug grooves including a first lug groove portion, and at least one second lug groove portion that opens into one of the circumferential main grooves,

a groove width b of the first lug groove portion and a groove width B of the second lug groove portion having relationships of 2.0 mm≦b≦4.0 mm and b<B, and being within ranges such that upon ground contact of the blocks, the first lug groove portions are closed and the second lug groove portions are not closed but remain open,

the first lug groove portion and the second lug groove portion are inclined in a same direction with respect to the tire width direction,

an angle of inclination α of the first lug groove portion and an angle of inclination β of the second lug groove portion have a relationship of α>β, and

a groove depth H1 of the circumferential main grooves is in the range of 12 mm≦H1.

2. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein the groove width B of the second lug groove portion is within the range of 5.0 mm≦B≦10.0 mm.

3. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein a single block is partitioned by a pair of circumferential main grooves that are adjacent in the tire width direction and a pair of lug grooves that are adjacent in the tire circumferential direction, and the land portion is formed by arranging a plurality of the blocks in a row in the tire circumferential direction.

4. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein the first lug groove portion is disposed intersecting with a center line of the blocks.

5. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein an angle of inclination α with respect to the tire width direction of the first lug groove is within a range of 25°≦α≦65°.

6. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein a distance D in the tire width direction of the first lug groove portion and a width W of the block have the relationship of 0.2≦D/W≦0.6.

7. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein an angle of inclination β with respect to the tire width direction of the second lug groove portion is within a range of 0°≦β≦25°.

8. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein the first lug groove portion includes protrusions and recesses disposed on opposing left and right groove walls and that engage with each other upon ground contact of the blocks.

9. The pneumatic tire according to claim 2 , wherein a single block is partitioned by a pair of circumferential main grooves that are adjacent in the tire width direction and a pair of lug grooves that are adjacent in the tire circumferential direction, and the land portion is formed by arranging a plurality of the blocks in a row in the tire circumferential direction.

10. The pneumatic tire according to claim 2 , wherein the first lug groove portion is disposed intersecting with a center line of the blocks.

11. The pneumatic tire according to claim 2 , wherein an angle of inclination α with respect to the tire width direction of the first lug groove is within a range of 25°≦α≦65°.

12. The pneumatic tire according to claim 3 , wherein an angle of inclination α with respect to the tire width direction of the first lug groove is within a range of 25°≦α≦65°.

13. The pneumatic tire according to claim 4 , wherein an angle of inclination α with respect to the tire width direction of the first lug groove is within a range of 25°≦α≦65°.

14. The pneumatic tire according to claim 2 , wherein a distance D in the tire width direction of the first lug groove portion and a width W of the block have the relationship of 0.2≦D/W≦0.6.

15. The pneumatic tire according to claim 3 , wherein a distance D in the tire width direction of the first lug groove portion and a width W of the block have the relationship of 0.2≦D/W≦0.6.

16. The pneumatic tire according to claim 4 , wherein a distance D in the tire width direction of the first lug groove portion and a width W of the block have the relationship of 0.2≦D/W≦0.6.

17. The pneumatic tire according to claim 2 , wherein an angle of inclination β with respect to the tire width direction of the second lug groove portion is within a range of 0°≦β≦25°.

18. The pneumatic tire according to claim 3 , wherein an angle of inclination β with respect to the tire width direction of the second lug groove portion is within a range of 0°≦β≦25°.

19. The pneumatic tire according to claim 2 , wherein the first lug groove portion includes protrusions and recesses disposed on opposing left and right groove walls and that engage with each other upon ground contact of the blocks.

20. The pneumatic tire according to claim 3 , wherein the first lug groove portion includes protrusions and recesses disposed on opposing left and right groove walls and that engage with each other upon ground contact of the blocks.

21. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein the angle of inclination α with respect to the tire width direction of the first lug groove is within a range of 45°≦α≦65°.

22. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein the groove width b of the first lug groove portion is within a range of 2.0 mm≦b≦3.5 mm.

23. A pneumatic tire, comprising: four or more of circumferential main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction; and five or more of land portions partitioned by the circumferential main grooves,

a center land portion is defined as the land portion disposed on a tire equatorial plane, or the land portion partitioned by the circumferential main groove disposed on the tire equational plane,

the center land portion includes a plurality of lug grooves that pass through the center land portion in a tire width direction and is disposed at predetermined intervals in the tire circumferential direction, and a plurality of blocks partitioned by the plurality of lug grooves,

the lug grooves of the center land portion including a first lug groove portion, and at least one second lug groove portion that opens into one of the circumferential main grooves,

a groove width b of the first lug groove portion and a groove width B of the second lug groove portion having relationships of 2.0 mm≦b≦5.0 mm and b<B, and being within ranges such that upon ground contact of the blocks, the first lug groove portions are closed and the second lug groove portions are not closed but remain open,

the first lug groove portion and the second lug groove portion are inclined in a same direction with respect to the tire width direction,

an angle of inclination α of the first lug groove portion and an angle of inclination β of the second lug groove portion have a relationship of α>β,

a pair of left and right second land portions are defined as the land portions disposed outside of the center land portion in the tire width direction,

each of the second land portions includes a plurality of lug grooves that pass through the second land portion in a tire width direction and is disposed at predetermined intervals in the tire circumferential direction, and a plurality of blocks partitioned by the plurality of lug grooves, and

upon ground contact of the blocks, the lug grooves of the second land portion are not closed but remain open.

24. A pneumatic tire, comprising: a plurality of circumferential main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction; and a plurality of land portions partitioned by the circumferential main grooves,

the land portion in at least one row includes a plurality of lug grooves that pass through the land portion in a tire width direction and is disposed at predetermined intervals in the tire circumferential direction, and a plurality of blocks partitioned by the plurality of lug grooves,

the lug grooves including a first lug groove portion, and at least one second lug groove portion that opens into one of the circumferential main grooves, the first lug groove portion including protrusions and recesses disposed on opposing left and right groove walls that engage with each other upon ground contact of the blocks

a groove width b of the first lug groove portion and a groove width B of the second lug groove portion having relationships of 2.0 mm≦b≦5.0 mm and b<B, and being within ranges such that upon ground contact of the blocks, the first lug groove portions are closed and the second lug groove portions are not closed but remain open,

the first lug groove portion and the second lug groove portion are inclined in a same direction with respect to the tire width direction, and

an angle of inclination α of the first lug groove portion and an angle of inclination β of the second lug groove portion have a relationship of α>β.

Assignments (2)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 2, 2015
From: KOBAYASHI, HIRONORI
To: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 035069/0725 →