IP Library Granted Patent US 9,884,518
Granted Patent B2
US 9,884,518 · App. 14/770,434 · Granted Feb 6, 2018

Pneumatic tire

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,884,518
App. No.
14/770,434
Granted
Feb 6, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present technology pertains to a pneumatic tire having an asymmetrical pattern, which is formed by grooves, formed on a tread portion. A ratio SW/OD between the total width SW and the outer diameter OD of the pneumatic tire satisfies SW/OD≦0.3. A groove area ratio in a ground contact region G in the tread portion is GR, and a range from a tire equator line CL to the vehicle side in the ground contact region is a tire inside region Ai and the groove area ratio in the tire inside region Ai is GRi, and a range from the tire equator line CL to the opposite side of the vehicle side in the ground contact region is a tire outside region Ao and the groove area ratio in the tire outside region Ao is GRo, the ground contact region satisfies 10%≦GR≦25%, GRo.

Claims (52)

1. A pneumatic tire having an asymmetrical pattern formed by grooves on a tread portion,

the ratio of a total width SW and an outer diameter OD of the pneumatic tire SW/OD satisfying:

SW/OD <0.3,

and

when a groove area ratio of a ground contact region of the tread portion is GR, and

while mounted on a vehicle, when a range of the ground contact region positioned on a vehicle side relative to a tire equatorial line is a tire inside region Ai and a groove area ratio in the tire inside region Ai is GRi, and while mounted on the vehicle, when a range of the ground contact region positioned on a side opposite to the vehicle side relative to the tire equatorial line is a tire outside region Ao and a groove area ratio in the tire outside region Ao is GRo, the ground contact region being formed to satisfy:

10%≦GR≦25%;

GRo<Gri ; and

0.1≦( GRi −Gro )/ GR ≦ 0.6 ; wherein

the grooves comprise a plurality of lateral grooves and two circumferential main grooves in the tire inside region Ai and a plurality of lateral grooves and only one circumferential main groove in the tire outside region Ao, the plurality of lateral grooves in the tire outside region Ao having a greater width than the plurality of lateral grooves in the tire inside region Ai, a number of the lateral grooves in the tire inside region Ai is greater than a number of the lateral grooves in the tire outside region Ao, and the circumferential main groove in the tire outside region Ao having a greater width than the circumferential main grooves in the tire inside region Ai;

one circumferential rib of a plurality of circumferential ribs formed by the one circumferential main groove in the tire outside region Ao and one of the two circumferential main grooves in the tire inside region Ai is continuous in the circumferential direction and off center from the tire equatorial line, the plurality of circumferential ribs including a shoulder rib on an outer side in the tire width direction of the one circumferential main groove in the tire outside region Ao, wherein all of the lateral grooves in the shoulder rib and the one circumferential rib in the tire outside region Ao are one-end opening lateral grooves; and

a block row is formed by the two circumferential main grooves in the tire inside region Ai with blocks divided by straight grooves that are inclined with respect to a tire width direction.

2. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein

the plurality of lateral grooves in the tire inside region Ai and the tire outside region Ao extending in a direction transversing a tire circumferential direction is provided in the tread portion, and

when a groove area ratio of the lateral grooves in the ground contact region is GRL, a groove area ratio of the lateral grooves in the tire outside region Ao is GRLo, and a groove area ratio of the lateral grooves in the tire inside region Ai is GRLi,

1. 1≦ GRLi/GRLo ≦ 1.9

is satisfied.

3. The pneumatic tire according to claim 2 , wherein

the lateral grooves are arranged with spacing in the tire circumferential direction, and

in an entire circumference of the tread portion of the pneumatic tire, when a number of the lateral grooves arranged in the tire inside region Ai is Pi, and a number of the lateral grooves arranged in the tire outside region Ao is Po,

1< Pi/Po ≦ 2

is satisfied.

4. The pneumatic tire according to claim 3 , wherein

when a range positioned on a tire equatorial line side of the tire outside region Ao and having a width of 25% of a ground contact width is an inner tire outside region Aoi, and a range of the tire outside region Ao excluding the inner tire outside region Aoi is an outer tire outside region Aoo, a circumferential groove extending in the tire circumferential direction is provided in the inner tire outside region Aoi and is not provided in the outer tire outside region Aoo.

5. The pneumatic tire according to claim 4 , wherein

when a groove area ratio of the two circumferential main grooves in the tire inside region Ai is GRBi, and a groove area ratio of the one circumferential main groove in the tire outside region Ao is GRBo,

1≦ GRBi/GRBo ≦ 2

is satisfied.

6. The pneumatic tire according to claim 3 , wherein

when a groove area ratio of the two circumferential main grooves in the tire inside region Ai is GRBi, and a groove area ratio of the one circumferential main groove in the tire outside region Ao is GRBo,

1≦ GRBi/GRBo ≦ 2

is satisfied.

7. The pneumatic tire according to claim 2 , wherein

when a range positioned on a tire equatorial line side of the tire outside region Ao and having a width of 25% of a ground contact width is an inner tire outside region Aoi, and a range of the tire outside region Ao excluding the inner tire outside region Aoi is an outer tire outside region Aoo, a circumferential groove extending in the tire circumferential direction is provided in the inner tire outside region Aoi and is not provided in the outer tire outside region Aoo.

8. The pneumatic tire according to claim 7 , wherein

when a groove area ratio of the two circumferential main grooves in the tire inside region Ai is GRBi, and a groove area ratio of the one circumferential main groove in the tire outside region Ao is GRBo,

1≦ GRBi/GRBo ≦ 2

is satisfied.

9. The pneumatic tire according to claim 2 , wherein

when a groove area ratio of the two circumferential main grooves in the tire inside region Ai is GRBi, and a groove area ratio of the one circumferential main groove in the tire outside region Ao is GRBo,

1≦ GRBi/GRBo ≦ 2

is satisfied.

10. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein

when a range positioned on a tire equatorial line side of the tire outside region Ao and having a width of 25% of a ground contact width is an inner tire outside region Aoi, and a range of the tire outside region Ao excluding the inner tire outside region Aoi is an outer tire outside region Aoo, a circumferential groove extending in the tire circumferential direction is provided in the inner tire outside region Aoi and is not provided in the outer tire outside region Aoo.

11. The pneumatic tire according to claim 10 , wherein

when a groove area ratio of the two circumferential main grooves in the tire inside region Ai is GRBi, and a groove area ratio of the one circumferential main groove in the tire outside region Ao is GRBo,

1≦ GRBi/GRBo ≦ 2

is satisfied.

12. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein

when a groove area ratio of the two circumferential main grooves in the tire inside region Ai is GRBi, and a groove area ratio of the one circumferential main groove in the tire outside region Ao is GRBo,

1≦ GRBi/GRBo ≦ 2

is satisfied.

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 Aug 25, 2015
From: MINAMI, YUJI; KUBOTA, MASATAKA
To: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 036418/0805 →