IP Library Granted Patent US 12,049,109
Granted Patent B2
US 12,049,109 · App. 17/254,249 · Granted Jul 30, 2024

Pneumatic tire

Inventor: Daisuke Watanabe (Hiratsuka, JP)
Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
B60C11/0304B60C11/033B60C11/1236B60C2011/0346B60C2011/0358B60C2011/0372B60C2011/0381B60C2011/0388B60C2011/039B60C11/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,049,109
App. No.
17/254,249
Granted
Jul 30, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a pneumatic tire. An outer side intermediate land portion and outer side shoulder land portion have lug grooves extending in a width direction while curving; one end of the lug grooves in the outer side shoulder land portion reaches a ground contact edge, while the other end terminates in the outer side shoulder land portion; one end of the lug grooves in the outer side intermediate land portion communicates with a shoulder main groove and the other end terminates in the outer side intermediate land portion; an opening end of the lug grooves in the outer side intermediate land portion with respect to the shoulder main groove exists on an extension line of the lug grooves in the outer side shoulder land portion; and a pair of lug grooves adjacent in the outer side intermediate land portion are disposed to not overlap each other in the circumferential direction.

Claims (48)

1. A pneumatic tire, comprising:

a tread portion extending in a tire circumferential direction and having an annular shape;

a pair of sidewall portions disposed on both sides of the tread portion; and

a pair of bead portions each disposed on a tire radial direction inner side of the pair of sidewall portions;

the tread portion being provided with four main grooves comprising a pair of center main grooves and a pair of shoulder main grooves extending in the tire circumferential direction;

a center land portion, a pair of intermediate land portions each located on an outer side of the center land portion, and a pair of shoulder land portions each located on an outer side of the pair of intermediate land portions being defined by the main grooves, with a mounting direction of the pneumatic tire being designated with respect to a vehicle;

the shoulder land portion on a vehicle outer side and the intermediate land portion on the vehicle outer side each comprising a plurality of lug grooves extending in a tire width direction while being curved;

one end of each of the plurality of lug grooves in the shoulder land portion on the vehicle outer side reaching at least a ground contact edge, while an other end terminates in the shoulder land portion on the vehicle outer side between the shoulder main groove on the vehicle outer side and the ground contact edge;

one end of each of the plurality of lug grooves in the intermediate land portion on the vehicle outer side communicating with the shoulder main groove on the vehicle outer side, while an other end terminates in the intermediate land portion on the vehicle outer side;

an opening end of each of the plurality of lug grooves in the intermediate land portion on the vehicle outer side with respect to the shoulder main groove on the vehicle outer side being present on an extension line of each of the plurality of lug grooves in the shoulder land portion on the vehicle outer side;

a pair of the plurality of lug grooves adjacent in the intermediate land portion on the vehicle outer side being disposed so as not to overlap each other in the tire circumferential direction;

each of the plurality of lug grooves in the intermediate land portion on the vehicle outer side having a bent portion bent toward one side in the tire circumferential direction;

a plurality of narrow grooves extending intermittently along the tire circumferential direction without communicating with the bent portion are provided in the intermediate land portion on the vehicle outer side, the plurality of narrow grooves having a narrower groove width than a groove width of each of the plurality of lug grooves in the intermediate land portion; and

a groove area ratio D CE of the center land portion, a groove area ratio D INMD of the intermediate land portion on a vehicle inner side, a groove area ratio D INSH of the shoulder land portion on the vehicle inner side, a groove area ratio D OUTMD of the intermediate land portion on the vehicle outer side, and a groove area ratio D OUTSH of the shoulder land portion on the vehicle outer side satisfy a relationship D INSH >D OUTMD >D OUTSH ≥D INMD >D CE .

2. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein,

an inclination angle of each of the plurality of lug grooves in the intermediate land portion on the vehicle outer side on an acute angle side with respect to the tire circumferential direction is smaller than an inclination angle of each of the plurality of lug grooves in the shoulder land portion on the vehicle outer side on an acute angle side with respect to the tire circumferential direction.

3. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein,

a rib width from a leading edge portion of each of the plurality of lug grooves to the center main groove in the intermediate land portion on the vehicle outer side is narrower than a groove width of the center main groove on the vehicle outer side, and

a rib width from a leading edge portion of each of the plurality of lug grooves to the shoulder main groove in the shoulder land portion on the vehicle outer side is narrower than a groove width of the shoulder main groove on the vehicle outer side.

4. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein,

each of the plurality of lug grooves in the shoulder land portion on the vehicle outer side is located on a center line passing through a leading edge portion of each of the plurality of lug grooves in the intermediate land portion on the vehicle outer side or on a position within 2 mm in the tire circumferential direction from the center line.

5. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein

a pitch length A of each of the plurality of lug grooves in the intermediate land portion on the vehicle outer side and a shortest distance B in the tire circumferential direction of each of the plurality of lug grooves in the intermediate land portion on the vehicle outer side satisfy a relationship A×0.4≤B≤A×0.5.

6. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein

the shoulder land portion on a vehicle inner side comprises a circumferential narrow groove extending in the tire circumferential direction;

the center land portion, and the intermediate land portion and the shoulder land portion on the vehicle inner side each comprise a plurality of sipes extending in the tire width direction;

one end of each of the plurality of sipes in the center land portion communicates with the center main groove on the vehicle inner side, while an other end terminates in the center land portion;

one end of each of the plurality of sipes in the intermediate land portion on the vehicle inner side communicates with the center main groove on the vehicle inner side while an other end terminates in the intermediate land portion on the vehicle inner side, and each of the plurality of sipes in the intermediate land portion on the vehicle inner side is on an extension line of each of the plurality of sipes in the center land portion; and

one end of each of the plurality of sipes in the shoulder land portion on the vehicle inner side communicates with the shoulder main groove on the vehicle inner side, while an other end terminates in the shoulder land portion on the vehicle inner side and intersects the circumferential narrow groove.

7. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein

the center main groove on the vehicle outer side has a chamfered portion having a zigzag shape; and

the plurality of narrow grooves are disposed substantially parallel to the center main groove on the vehicle outer side.

8. The pneumatic tire according to claim 2 , wherein,

a rib width from a leading edge portion of each of the plurality of lug grooves to the center main groove in the intermediate land portion on the vehicle outer side is narrower than a groove width of the center main groove on the vehicle outer side, and

a rib width from a leading edge portion of each of the plurality of lug grooves to the shoulder main groove in the shoulder land portion on the vehicle outer side is narrower than a groove width of the shoulder main groove on the vehicle outer side.

9. The pneumatic tire according to claim 8 , wherein,

each of the plurality of lug grooves in the shoulder land portion on the vehicle outer side is located on a center line passing through a leading edge portion of each of the plurality of lug grooves in the intermediate land portion on the vehicle outer side or on a position within 2 mm in the tire circumferential direction from the center line.

10. The pneumatic tire according to claim 9 , wherein

a pitch length A of each of the plurality of lug grooves in the intermediate land portion on the vehicle outer side and a shortest distance B in the tire circumferential direction of each of the plurality of lug grooves in the intermediate land portion on the vehicle outer side satisfy a relationship A×0.4≤B≤A×0.5.

11. The pneumatic tire according to claim 10 , wherein

the shoulder land portion on a vehicle inner side comprises a circumferential narrow groove extending in the tire circumferential direction;

the center land portion, and the intermediate land portion and the shoulder land portion on the vehicle inner side each comprise a plurality of sipes extending in the tire width direction;

one end of each of the plurality of sipes in the center land portion communicates with the center main groove on the vehicle inner side, while an other end terminates in the center land portion;

one end of each of the plurality of sipes in the intermediate land portion on the vehicle inner side communicates with the center main groove on the vehicle inner side while an other end terminates in the intermediate land portion on the vehicle inner side, and each of the plurality of sipes in the intermediate land portion on the vehicle inner side is on an extension line of each of the plurality of sipes in the center land portion; and

one end of each of the plurality of sipes in the shoulder land portion on the vehicle inner side communicates with the shoulder main groove on the vehicle inner side, while an other end terminates in the shoulder land portion on the vehicle inner side and intersects the circumferential narrow groove.

12. The pneumatic tire according to claim 11 , wherein

the center main groove on the vehicle outer side has a chamfered portion having a zigzag shape; and

the plurality of narrow grooves are disposed substantially parallel to the center main groove on the vehicle outer side.

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 Dec 18, 2020
From: WATANABE, DAISUKE
To: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 054700/0296 →