IP Library Granted Patent US 11,633,988
Granted Patent B2
US 11,633,988 · App. 16/912,561 · Granted Apr 25, 2023

Pneumatic tire

Inventor: Hiroyuki Yoshida (Hiratsuka, JP)
Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD
B60C11/0316B60C11/033B60C11/11B60C11/13B60C2011/0346B60C2011/0367B60C2011/0372B60C2011/1213
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,633,988
App. No.
16/912,561
Granted
Apr 25, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a pneumatic tire, a groove depth H1 of each of first and second inclined lug grooves over an entire region from an opening portion to a corresponding one of first or second circumferential main grooves to a terminating end portion within a center land portion has a relationship with a maximum groove depth Hg of the corresponding one of the first or second circumferential main grooves represented by 0.80≤H1/Hg≤1.00. Additionally, a maximum groove depth H2 of each of first and second lateral grooves has a relationship with a groove depth H1e at a terminating end portion of the corresponding one of the first and second inclined lug grooves represented by 0.70≤H2/H1e≤0.90.

Claims (25)

1. A pneumatic tire comprising: first and second circumferential main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction; and a pair of shoulder land portions and one row of a center land portion defined by the first and second circumferential main grooves,

the center land portion comprising:

a first inclined lug groove extending at an incline with respect to the tire circumferential direction and opening, at one end portion, to the first circumferential main groove and terminating, at another end portion, within the center land portion;

a second inclined lug groove extending at an incline in a direction identical to a direction of the first inclined lug groove and opening, at one end portion, to the second circumferential main groove and terminating, at another end portion, within the center land portion;

a first lateral groove connecting the first inclined lug groove with the second circumferential main groove;

a second lateral groove connecting the second inclined lug groove and the first circumferential main groove;

first and second auxiliary grooves connecting the first inclined lug groove with the second inclined lug groove adjacent to each other; and

a plurality of center blocks defined by the grooves,

a groove depth H1 of the first inclined lug groove over an entire region from an opening portion to the first circumferential main groove to a terminating end portion within the center land portion having a relationship with a maximum groove depth Hg of the first circumferential main groove represented by 0.80≤H1/Hg≤1.00, and

a maximum groove depth H2 of the first lateral groove having a relationship with a groove depth H1e at the terminating end portion of the first inclined lug groove represented by 0.70≤H2/H1e≤0.90.

2. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein

the plurality of center blocks include a pair of first center blocks disposed adjacent in a tire lateral direction and two or more second center blocks disposed adjacent in the tire lateral direction, the first center blocks and the second center blocks being alternately arranged in the tire circumferential direction, and

the pair of first center blocks are disposed on an extension line of the first and second inclined lug grooves.

3. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein a maximum width Lb2 of the first center blocks has a relationship with a tire ground contact width TW represented by 0.10≤Lb2/TW≤0.50.

4. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein a distance D1 from the tire equatorial plane to the terminating end portion of the first inclined lug groove has a relationship with the tire ground contact with TW represented by 0≤D1/TW≤0.20.

5. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein an inclination angle θ2 of the first lateral groove with respect to the tire circumferential direction is in a range of 80 deg.≤θ2≤120 deg.

6. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein a crossing angle α of the first lateral groove with respect to the first inclined lug groove is in a range of 30 deg.≤α≤75 deg.

7. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein a distance D12 to the tire equatorial plane from an intersection point between the groove center line of the first inclined lug groove and the first lateral groove has a relationship with the tire ground contact width TW represented by 0≤D12/TW≤0.20.

8. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein an extension length D2 of the first lateral groove in the tire lateral direction has a relationship with the maximum ground contact width Wb2 of the center land portion represented by 0.10≤D2/Wb2≤0.30.

9. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein a maximum groove depth H3 of the auxiliary groove has a relationship with the groove depth H1 of the first inclined lug groove represented by 0.70≤H3/H1≤0.90.

10. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second circumferential main grooves has a zigzag shape with an amplitude in the tire lateral direction, and the pair of shoulder land portions and the center land portion are disposed overlapping each other as viewed in the tire circumferential direction.

11. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein an edge portion of the center block included in the plurality of center blocks and disposed on an extension line of the first inclined lug groove includes a notch portion opening at a terminating end portion of the first inclined lug groove.

12. The pneumatic tire according to claim 11 , wherein an opening area Sc of the notch portion with respect to an area Sb of a road contact surface of the center block is in a range of 0.01≤Sc/Sb≤0.05.

13. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein a maximum ground contact width Wb2 of the center land portion with respect to the tire ground contact width TW is in a range of 0.30≤Wb2/TW≤0.60.

14. The pneumatic tire according to claim 13 , wherein an inclination angle θ1 of the first inclined lug groove with respect to a tire equatorial plane is in a range of 25 deg.≤θ1≤70 deg.

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 Jun 25, 2020
From: YOSHIDA, HIROYUKI
To: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 053043/0991 →