IP Library Granted Patent US 12,623,494
Granted Patent B2
US 12,623,494 · App. 16/966,418 · Granted May 12, 2026

Pneumatic tire

Inventor: Haruna Mizushima (Hiratsuka, JP)
Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
B60C11/12B60C11/13B60C2011/0346B60C2011/0348B60C2011/0365B60C2011/0372B60C2011/0388
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,623,494
App. No.
16/966,418
Granted
May 12, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pneumatic tire includes circumferential main and narrow grooves, shoulder and second land portions, and closed lug grooves. The circumferential main groove is in a region outer side in a width direction demarcated by an equatorial plane. The circumferential narrow groove is outward of the circumferential main groove in a width direction. The shoulder and second land portions are defined by the circumferential main and narrow grooves. The closed lug grooves extend in the width direction and penetrate the circumferential narrow groove. The closed lug grooves have inner terminating end portions in the width direction inside the second land portion and have outer terminating end portions inside the shoulder land portion. An extension length L 1 _min in the width direction of the shortest first closed lug grooves and an extension length L 1 _max in the width direction of the longest second closed lug grooves have a relationship 1.10≤L 1 _max/L 1 _min≤3.00.

Claims (67)

1 . A pneumatic tire, comprising:

a circumferential main groove disposed in one region demarcated by a tire equatorial plane;

a circumferential narrow groove disposed outward of the circumferential main groove in a tire width direction and having a groove width narrower than a groove width of the circumferential main groove, the groove width being a maximum distance between left and right groove walls at a groove opening portion and being measured when the tire is mounted on a specified rim, inflated to specified internal pressure, and in an unloaded state;

a shoulder land portion and a second land portion defined by the circumferential main groove and the circumferential narrow groove;

a plurality of closed lug grooves extending in the tire width direction and penetrating the circumferential narrow groove, the plurality of closed lug grooves having inner terminating end portions in the tire width direction inside the second land portion, the plurality of closed lug grooves having outer terminating end portions inside the shoulder land portion, the plurality of closed lug grooves being lateral grooves extending in the tire width direction and configured to open when the tire comes into contact with a ground to function as grooves; and

an extension length L 1 _min in the tire width direction of a shortest first closed lug groove and an extension length L 1 _max in the tire width direction of a longest second closed lug groove having a relationship 1.10≤L 1 _max/L 1 _min≤3.00; wherein

a minimum value Di_min and a maximum value Di_max of a distance Di from the circumferential narrow groove to the inner terminating end portions of the closed lug grooves have a relationship 1.10≤Di_max/Di_min≤3.00, and

a minimum value Do_min and a maximum value Do_max of a distance Do from the circumferential narrow groove to the outer terminating end portions of the closed lug grooves have a relationship 0.90≤Do_max/Do_min≤1.10.

2 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein an offset amount ΔDi in the tire width direction of the inner terminating end portions of the closed lug grooves has a relationship 0.10≤ΔDi/W 1 ≤0.60 to a ground contact width W 1 of the second land portion.

3 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein a distance Di from the circumferential narrow groove to the inner terminating end portions of the closed lug grooves and a ground contact width W 1 of the second land portion have a relationship 0.10≤Di/W 1 ≤0.80.

4 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein a distance Do from the circumferential narrow groove to the outer terminating end portions of the closed lug grooves and a ground contact width W 2 of the shoulder land portion have a relationship 0.10≤Do/W 2 ≤0.60.

5 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein the closed lug groove have an inclination angle θ with respect to a tire circumferential direction in a range 50 degrees≤θ≤80 degrees.

6 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein a groove width Wg of the closed lug grooves and the groove width Ws of the circumferential narrow groove have a relationship 0.30≤Wg/Ws≤1.30.

7 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein a groove width Wg_min of a narrowest closed lug groove and a groove width Wg_max of a widest closed lug groove have a relationship 0.90≤Wg_max/Wg_min≤1.10.

8 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein a pair of the closed lug grooves having mutually different lengths are arranged in alternation in a tire circumferential direction.

9 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein

the shoulder land portion includes shoulder lug grooves, the shoulder lug grooves having terminating end portions inside the shoulder land portion, extending in the tire width direction, and opening to a tire ground contact edge, and

the closed lug grooves are on extension lines of groove center lines of the shoulder lug grooves.

10 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein

the shoulder land portion includes shoulder lug grooves, the shoulder lug grooves having terminating end portions inside the shoulder land portion, extending in the tire width direction, and opening to a tire ground contact edge, and

the closed lug grooves have groove center lines that do not overlap with groove center lines of the shoulder lug grooves in a tire circumferential direction.

11 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 9 , wherein a distance D 2 from the terminating end portion of the shoulder lug groove to the outer terminating end portion of the closed lug groove opposed to the shoulder lug groove in the tire width direction and a ground contact width W 2 of the shoulder land portion have a relationship 0.10≤D 2 /W 2 ≤0.60.

12 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 9 , wherein an arrangement interval P 1 of the closed lug grooves and an arrangement interval P 2 of the shoulder lug grooves in a tire circumferential direction have a relationship 0.30≤P 1 /P 2 ≤0.70.

13 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , comprising

a mounting direction indicator portion specifying that the pneumatic tire is to be mounted on a vehicle with the one region set to an outer side in a vehicle width direction.

14 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 10 , wherein a distance D 2 from the terminating end portion of the shoulder lug groove to the outer terminating end portion of the closed lug groove opposed to the shoulder lug groove in the tire width direction and a ground contact width W 2 of the shoulder land portion have a relationship 0.10≤D 2 /W 2 ≤0.60.

15 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 10 , wherein an arrangement interval P 1 of the closed lug grooves and an arrangement interval P 2 of the shoulder lug grooves in a tire circumferential direction have a relationship 0.30≤P 1 /P 2 ≤0.70.

16 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein the circumferential narrow groove has a groove width of from 3 mm to 7 mm.

17 . A pneumatic tire, comprising:

a circumferential main groove disposed in one region demarcated by a tire equatorial plane;

a circumferential narrow groove disposed outward of the circumferential main groove in a tire width direction;

a shoulder land portion and a second land portion defined by the circumferential main groove and the circumferential narrow groove;

a plurality of closed lug grooves extending in the tire width direction and penetrating the circumferential narrow groove, the plurality of closed lug grooves having inner terminating end portions in the tire width direction inside the second land portion, the plurality of closed lug grooves having outer terminating end portions inside the shoulder land portion; and

an extension length L 1 _min in the tire width direction of a shortest first closed lug groove and an extension length L 1 _max in the tire width direction of a longest second closed lug groove having a relationship 1.10≤L 1 _max/L 1 _min≤3.00; wherein

the shoulder land portion includes shoulder lug grooves, the shoulder lug grooves having terminating end portions inside the shoulder land portion, extending in the tire width direction, and opening to a tire ground contact edge,

the closed lug grooves are on extension lines of groove center lines of the shoulder lug grooves, and

an arrangement interval P 1 of the closed lug grooves and an arrangement interval P 2 of the shoulder lug grooves in a tire circumferential direction have a relationship 0.30≤P 1 /P 2 ≤0.70.

18 . A pneumatic tire, comprising:

a circumferential main groove disposed in one region demarcated by a tire equatorial plane;

a circumferential narrow groove disposed outward of the circumferential main groove in a tire width direction;

a shoulder land portion and a second land portion defined by the circumferential main groove and the circumferential narrow groove;

a plurality of closed lug grooves extending in the tire width direction and penetrating the circumferential narrow groove, the plurality of closed lug grooves having inner terminating end portions in the tire width direction inside the second land portion, the plurality of closed lug grooves having outer terminating end portions inside the shoulder land portion; and

an extension length L 1 _min in the tire width direction of a shortest first closed lug groove and an extension length L 1 _max in the tire width direction of a longest second closed lug groove having a relationship 1.10≤L 1 _max/L 1 _min≤3.00; wherein

the shoulder land portion includes shoulder lug grooves, the shoulder lug grooves having terminating end portions inside the shoulder land portion, extending in the tire width direction, and opening to a tire ground contact edge,

the closed lug grooves have groove center lines that do not overlap with groove center lines of the shoulder lug grooves in a tire circumferential direction, and

an arrangement interval P 1 of the closed lug grooves and an arrangement interval P 2 of the shoulder lug grooves in a tire circumferential direction have a relationship 0.30≤P 1 /P 2 ≤0.70.

19 . A pneumatic tire, comprising:

a circumferential main groove disposed in one region demarcated by a tire equatorial plane;

a circumferential narrow groove disposed outward of the circumferential main groove in a tire width direction and having a groove width narrower than a groove width of the circumferential main groove, the groove width being a maximum distance between left and right groove walls at a groove opening portion and being measured when the tire is mounted on a specified rim, inflated to specified internal pressure, and in an unloaded state;

a shoulder land portion and a second land portion defined by the circumferential main groove and the circumferential narrow groove;

a plurality of closed lug grooves extending in the tire width direction and penetrating the circumferential narrow groove, the plurality of closed lug grooves having inner terminating end portions in the tire width direction inside the second land portion, the plurality of closed lug grooves having outer terminating end portions inside the shoulder land portion, the plurality of closed lug grooves being lateral grooves extending in the tire width direction and configured to open when the tire comes into contact with a ground to function as grooves; and

an extension length L 1 _min in the tire width direction of a shortest first closed lug groove and an extension length L 1 _max in the tire width direction of a longest second closed lug groove having a relationship 1.10≤L 1 _max/L 1 _min≤3.00; wherein

the inner terminating end portions of the closed lug grooves are arranged with positions in the tire width direction aligned in the second land portion, and

the outer terminating end portions of the closed lug grooves are arranged offset in the tire width direction in the shoulder land portion.

20 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 19 , wherein an offset amount ΔDi of the inner terminating end portions of the closed lug grooves has a relationship 0≤ΔDi/W 1 ≤0.05 to a ground contact width W 1 of the second land portion.

21 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 19 , wherein an offset amount ΔDo of the outer terminating end portions of the closed lug grooves has a relationship 0.10≤ΔDo/W 2 ≤0.60 to a ground contact width W 2 of the shoulder land portion.

22 . A pneumatic tire, comprising:

a circumferential main groove disposed in one region demarcated by a tire equatorial plane;

a circumferential narrow groove disposed outward of the circumferential main groove in a tire width direction and having a groove width narrower than a groove width of the circumferential main groove, the groove width being a maximum distance between left and right groove walls at a groove opening portion and being measured when the tire is mounted on a specified rim, inflated to specified internal pressure, and in an unloaded state;

a shoulder land portion and a second land portion defined by the circumferential main groove and the circumferential narrow groove;

a plurality of closed lug grooves extending in the tire width direction and

penetrating the circumferential narrow groove, the plurality of closed lug grooves having

inner terminating end portions in the tire width direction inside the second land portion,

the plurality of closed lug grooves having outer terminating end portions inside the shoulder land portion, the plurality of closed lug grooves being lateral grooves extending in the tire width direction and configured to open when the tire comes into contact with a ground to function as grooves; and

an extension length L 1 _min in the tire width direction of a shortest first closed lug groove and an extension length L 1 _max in the tire width direction of a longest second closed lug groove having a relationship 1.10≤L 1 _max/L 1 _min≤3.00; wherein

the plurality of closed lug grooves are each disposed with longitudinal directions of the outer terminating end portions inside the shoulder land portion inclined in a same direction as the inner terminating end portions inside the second land portion with respect to a tire circumferential direction.

23 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 22 , wherein the closed lug grooves have an inclination angle θ with respect to the tire circumferential direction in a range of 50 degrees≤θ≤80 degrees.

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 Jan 18, 2021
From: MIZUSHIMA, HARUNA
To: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 054946/0361 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2018-014169 · Jan 30, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210039446A1 · Feb 11, 2021
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