IP Library Granted Patent US 10,173,472
Granted Patent B2
US 10,173,472 · App. 15/257,689 · Granted Jan 8, 2019

Pneumatic tire

Inventors: Norifumi Kameda (Hiratsuka, JP); Isamu Kishizoe (Hiratsuka, JP)
Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
B60C11/0041B60C11/005B60C11/0008B60C11/033B60C11/12B60C11/1218B60C11/0304B60C11/0306B60C19/001B60C2011/0016B60C2011/0025B60C2011/0334B60C2011/0341B60C2011/0374B60C2011/129B60C2011/1227B60C2011/1254
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,173,472
App. No.
15/257,689
Granted
Jan 8, 2019
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 H1 in at −10° C. and a rubber hardness H2 in at 20° C. of the cap rubber 151 in in the inner side region, and a rubber hardness H1 out at −10° C. and a rubber hardness H2 out at 20° C. of the cap rubber 151 out in the outer side region have relationships such that H1 in <H1 out and H2 in <H2 out .

Claims (21)

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 three-dimensional sipes and not less than 90% of the sipes disposed in the outer side region are constituted by two-dimensional sipes,

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

a rubber hardness H1 in * at −10° C. and a rubber hardness H2 in * at 20° C. of the cap rubber in the inner side region, and a rubber hardness H1 out * at −10° C. and a rubber hardness H2 out * at 20° C. of the cap rubber in the outer side region have relationships such that H1 in *>H1 out * and H2 in *>H2 out *.

2. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein the rubber hardnesses H1 in * and H2 in * in the inner side region and the rubber hardnesses H1 out * and H2 out * in the outer side region satisfy the relationships: 68≤H1 in *≤78; 65≤H2 in *≤75; 65≤H1 out *≤75; and 62≤H2 out *≤72; along with 3≤H1 in *−H1 out *≤10; and 3≤H2 in *−H2 out *≤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 out */D in *≤2.0.

4. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , 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.

5. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , 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.

6. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , 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.

7. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , 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.

8. 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.

9. The pneumatic tire according to claim 8 , having an indicator designating a mounting direction on a vehicle wherein a camber angle δ is in a range of −4°≤δ≤0°.

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 Sep 6, 2016
From: KAMEDA, NORIFUMI; KISHIZOE, ISAMU
To: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 039642/0702 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2011-220477 · Oct 4, 2011 · national
JP 2011-220479 · Oct 4, 2011 · national
Continuity (2)
Division 13618394 · Sep 14, 2012
Related Publication 20160368325A1 · Dec 22, 2016