Granted Patent B2

US 12,623,496 · App. 18/029,331 · Granted May 12, 2026

Inventor: Frederic Sarazin (Clermont-Ferrand, FR)

Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN

B60C19/122B29C73/18B60C11/042B60C2011/0339

Abstract

Claims (34)

1 . A tire comprising a tread comprising:

P deeply cut ribs comprising at least one transverse cut having a depth Ht such that Ht/Hs≥50%, where Hs is a tread pattern height and P is a total number of deeply cut ribs present on the tire, wherein a width of the transverse cuts of the P deeply cut ribs is greater than or equal to 1.0 mm;

Q=2 or Q=3 non-cut or slightly cut ribs, Q being a total number of non-cut or slightly cut ribs present on the tire, the non-cut or slightly cut ribs lacking transverse cuts or comprising transverse cuts, each non-cut or slightly cut rib satisfying, for at least 50% of a number of transverse cuts of the or each non-cut or slightly cut rib, the following conditions:

the transverse cuts of each non-cut or slightly cut rib have a width strictly less than 1.0 mm, and

the transverse cuts of each non-cut or slightly cut rib have a depth H such that H/Hs<50%;

an airtight internal layer; and

a layer of a self-sealing product extending circumferentially radially on an inside of part of the airtight internal layer,

wherein, over at least 50% of a circumferential length of the layer of self-sealing product, the layer of self-sealing product comprises:

P>1 axial portions extending axially in line with one of the P deeply cut ribs and each having an average thickness Eck>0 of self-sealing product,

one or more thick axial portions, at least partially coinciding with all or part of the P>1 axial portions, and

Q=2 or Q=3 axial portions extending axially in line with one of the Q non-cut or slightly cut ribs and each having an average thickness Ebj≥0 of self-sealing product, with j ranging from 1 to Q, and being such that, for each value of k ranging from 1 to P, at least 50% of the values of j ranging from 1 to Q are such that Ebj<Eck,

wherein each of the one or more thick axial portions is axially delimited by two adjacent inflection points on a radially inner surface curve of the layer of self-sealing product, each inflection point being (1) a point at which, in a meridian section plane, a direction of curvature of the radially inner surface curve of the layer of self-sealing product changes or (2) a termination point of the radially inner surface curve of the layer of self-sealing product in contact with the airtight internal layer, and

wherein a thickness of each of the one or more thick axial portions increases in a direction axially toward an inside of the each of the one or more thick axial portions from each of the adjacent inflection points.

2 . The tire according to claim 1 , wherein each deeply cut rib and each non-cut or slightly cut rib is axially delimited by an axially inner end and by an axially outer end, each axially inner and outer end being chosen from:

an axial end of the tread, and

an axially inner or outer end of a main circumferential cut having a depth Ha such that Ha/Hs≥50%,

the axially inner and outer ends of each deeply cut rib or each non-cut or slightly cut rib being ends that are adjacent to one another.

3 . The tire according to claim 1 , wherein Ec≥1.10×Eb.

4 . The tire according to claim 1 , wherein Ec≤5.00×Eb.

5 . The tire according to claim 1 , wherein an axial width Wy of the each of the one or more thick axial portions is such that Wy/Lcy≥0.50, where Lcy is an axial width of each deeply cut rib.

6 . The tire according to claim 1 , wherein the or each transverse cut of each deeply cut rib has a depth ranging from 2.0 mm to the tread pattern height.

7 . The tire according to claim 1 , wherein each axial end of the layer of self-sealing product is arranged at an axial distance less than or equal to 20% of the tread in relation to each axial end, respectively, of the tread.

8 . The tire according to claim 1 , wherein the tread comprises:

an axially central portion comprising:

two axially outermost main circumferential cuts arranged axially one on each side of a median plane of the tire and having a depth Ha1, Ha2, respectively, such that Ha1/Hs≥50% and Ha2/Hs≥50%, and

each non-cut or slightly cut rib, and

wherein first and second axially lateral portions arranged axially on an outside of an axially central portion axially one on each side of the axially central portion in relation to a median plane of the tire, each first and second axially lateral portion extending axially from each axial end of the tread to each axially outer end of each axially outermost main circumferential cut, at least one of the first and second axially lateral portions comprising a deeply cut rib.

9 . The tire according to claim 8 , wherein each first and second axially lateral portion comprises a first and a second deeply cut rib, respectively.

10 . The tire according to claim 1 , wherein the Q=2 or 3 axial portions are arranged axially between two adjacent axial portions of the layer of self-sealing product extending axially in line with two of the P deeply cut ribs.

11 . The tire according to claim 10 , wherein the tread comprises N=Q+1>1 main circumferential cuts respectively having a depth Hai such that Hai/Hs≥50% for i ranging from 1 to N, N being a total number of main circumferential cuts present on the tire, each non-cut or slightly cut rib being arranged axially between two adjacent main circumferential cuts and being delimited axially by the two adjacent main circumferential cuts,

wherein the layer of self-sealing product comprises N>1 axial portions each extending axially in line with one of the N main circumferential cuts and each having an average thickness Eai>0 of self-sealing product, such that, for each value of i ranging from 1 to N, at least 50% of the values of j ranging from 1 to Q are such that Ebj<Eai.

12 . The tire according to claim 11 , wherein each main circumferential cut has an axial width greater than or equal to 1.0 mm.

13 . The tire according to claim 11 , wherein each main circumferential cut has a depth ranging from 4.0 mm to the tread pattern height.

14 . The tire according to claim 11 , wherein an axial width Wx of each of the one or more thick axial portions is such that Wx/Lcx≥0.50, where Lcx is an axial width of a main circumferential cut.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (49)