IP Library Granted Patent US 12,059,929
Granted Patent B2
US 12,059,929 · App. 17/260,206 · Granted Aug 13, 2024

Pneumatic tire

Inventor: Kenichi Matsumoto (Hiratsuka, JP)
Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
B60C11/0304B60C11/1236B60C11/1263B60C2011/0348B60C2011/0372B60C2011/0381
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,059,929
App. No.
17/260,206
Granted
Aug 13, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A tread pattern of a pneumatic tire includes: first and second circumferential main grooves; a first circumferential narrow groove between the first and second circumferential main grooves, the first circumferential narrow groove having a narrower width than the first and second circumferential main grooves; an intermediate lug groove extending from the second circumferential main groove toward the first circumferential narrow groove, the intermediate lug groove being closed without reaching the first circumferential narrow groove; and a sipe extending from the closed end of the intermediate lug groove to connect the closed end with the first circumferential narrow groove. No lug grooves are between the first circumferential main groove and the first circumferential narrow groove, and a groove wall of the first circumferential main groove on a side of the first circumferential narrow groove circumnavigates without interruption in the tire circumferential direction.

Claims (23)

1. A pneumatic tire comprising a tread pattern, the tread pattern comprising:

a first circumferential main groove provided on a first side in a tire width direction with respect to a tire equator line to extend in a tire circumferential direction;

a second circumferential main groove provided on an outer side of the first circumferential main groove in the tire width direction to extend in the tire circumferential direction;

a first circumferential narrow groove provided in a region between the first circumferential main groove and the second circumferential main groove to extend in the tire circumferential direction, the first circumferential narrow groove having a narrower groove width than the first circumferential main groove and the second circumferential main groove;

a plurality of intermediate lug grooves provided in the region to extend from the second circumferential main groove toward the first circumferential narrow groove, the plurality of intermediate lug grooves being closed without reaching the first circumferential narrow groove and disposed at intervals in the tire circumferential direction; and

a plurality of sipes provided in the region to extend from a closed end of each of the intermediate lug grooves to connect the closed end with the first circumferential narrow groove, the plurality of sipes being disposed at intervals in the tire circumferential direction,

no lug grooves being provided in a region between the first circumferential main groove and the first circumferential narrow groove, and a groove wall of the first circumferential main groove on a side of the first circumferential narrow groove being a wall that circumnavigates without interruption in the tire circumferential direction, and

at least some sipes of the sipes being directly connected to one of the intermediate lug grooves at the closed end in a bent manner such that a plurality of lug groove with sipes are formed, sipes and lug grooves of the plurality of the lug groove with sipes being disposed at different regions in the tire width direction,

wherein the tread Pattern comprises at least two circumferential main grooves extending in the tire circumferential direction on a second side opposite the first side with respect to the tire equator line, and

a region of a land portion formed by the circumferential main grooves on the second side and a region of a shoulder land portion on an outer side of the circumferential main grooves on the second side in the tire width direction are not provided with a circumferential groove that extends in the tire circumferential direction to circumnavigate a circumference of the tire.

2. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein the first circumferential narrow groove is provided on a side of the first circumferential main groove in the tire width direction rather than a center position in the tire width direction of the region.

3. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein a length in the tire width direction of each of the intermediate lug grooves is from 30 to 70% of a length in the tire width direction of a region between the second circumferential main groove and the first circumferential narrow groove.

4. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein a maximum groove depth of the first circumferential narrow groove is greater than a sipe depth of the sipes at a connection portion of the first circumferential narrow groove with the sipes and is smaller than a maximum groove depth of the intermediate lug grooves.

5. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein

a shoulder land portion where a ground contact edge in the tire width direction is located is provided on an outer side of the second circumferential main groove in the tire width direction,

a second circumferential narrow groove having a narrower groove width than the first circumferential main groove and the second circumferential main groove is provided in a region of the shoulder land portion to extend in the tire circumferential direction, and

a shoulder lug groove is provided to extend from a region between the second circumferential main groove and the second circumferential narrow groove toward the outer side in the tire width direction, to intersect the second circumferential narrow groove, and to further extend toward an outer side of the second circumferential narrow groove in the tire width direction.

6. The pneumatic tire according to claim 5 , wherein a length in the tire width direction of the region between the second circumferential main groove and the second circumferential narrow groove is larger than a length in the tire width direction of a region between the first circumferential main groove and the first circumferential narrow groove.

7. The pneumatic tire according to claim 5 , wherein when Lc is a length along the tire circumferential direction between two connection positions in the tire circumferential direction at which two intermediate lug grooves adjacent in the tire circumferential direction among the intermediate lug grooves are connected to the second circumferential main groove, a position in the tire circumferential direction of an end of the shoulder lug groove on a side of the second circumferential main groove is within a range of ±30% of the length Lc from a midpoint in the tire circumferential direction between the connection positions as a center.

8. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein when the pneumatic tire is mounted on a vehicle, the first side is a vehicle mounting inner side.

9. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein a region between the first circumferential main groove and a third circumferential main groove closest to the tire equator line among the circumferential main grooves on the second side is not provided with a circumferential groove that extends in the tire circumferential direction to circumnavigate a circumference of the tire.

10. The pneumatic tire according to claim 9 , wherein a groove wall of the third circumferential main groove on a side of the first circumferential main groove is a wall that circumnavigates without interruption in the tire circumferential direction.

11. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein a sipe depth of a connection portion of the sipes with one of the intermediate lug grooves is greater than a sipe depth of a connection portion of the sipes with the first circumferential narrow groove and is smaller than a maximum groove depth of the intermediate lug grooves.

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 13, 2021
From: MATSUMOTO, KENICHI
To: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 054911/0544 →