Pneumatic Tire

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016009141-A1
Application number	US-201414770459-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 25, 2014
Priority date	Feb 25, 2013
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A tread pattern of a pneumatic tire is provided with two outer circumferential main grooves, and at least one inner circumferential main groove provided between the outer circumferential main grooves. A tread profile line of a first land portion between the outer circumferential main grooves protrudes 1 mm or less with respect to a first arc shape formed so as to pass through edge ends on the respective inner sides of the outer circumferential main grooves and edge ends on both sides of the inner side circumferential main groove. Furthermore, a tread profile line of a second land portion on the outer side of the outer circumferential main grooves in a tire width direction protrudes 1 mm or less with respect to a second arc shape which passes through edge ends on the outer side of the outer circumferential main grooves.

First claim

1 . A pneumatic tire comprising:
a tread portion having a tread pattern; a pair of bead portions; and a pair of side portions provided on both sides of the tread portion, connecting the pair of bead portions to the tread portion, wherein in each of half-tread regions on both sides in a tire width direction having a tire equator plane in the tread pattern interposed therebetween, the tread portion includes: outer circumferential main grooves having a groove center position at a position separated from the tire equator plane by 30 to 35% of a tire ground contact width in a tire width direction and extending in a tire circumferential direction; and at least one inner circumferential main groove provided between the outer circumferential main grooves and extending in the tire circumferential direction, and wherein when a first arc shape formed to pass through an edge adjoining a tread surface on an inner side of each of the outer circumferential main grooves in the tire width direction and edges adjoining the tread surface on both sides of the inner circumferential main groove, the first arc shape having a center point of a circle positioned on the tire equator plane, is determined, and a second arc shape passing through an edge adjoining the tread surface on an outer side in the tire width direction of each of the outer circumferential main grooves and connected with the first arc shape so as to be in contact therewith on the outer circumferential main groove, is determined, a radius of a circle of the second arc shape is within a range of 75 to 95% of a radius of a circle of the first arc shape, a tread profile line of a first land portion positioned between the outer circumferential main grooves protrudes with respect to the first arc shape, tread profile lines of second land portions on the outer side of the outer circumferential main grooves in the tire width direction all protrude with respect to the second arc shape, and a protruding amount of the first land portion with respect to the first arc shape and a protruding amount of the profile line of the second land portion with respect to the second arc shape are both not more than 1.0 mm.

2 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein
the protruding amount of the profile line of each second land portion is increased further from the outer circumferential main grooves toward the outer side in the tire width direction, and the protruding amount is decreased after reaching a maximum protruding amount.

3 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 2 , wherein
the profile line of each second land portion extends up to a position separated from a position having the maximum protruding amount in the tire width direction toward the outer side in the tire width direction by 5 to 15% of a tire maximum width.

4 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 3 , wherein
a maximum protruding amount of the profile line of each second land portion is from 0.3 to 1.0 mm.

5 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 4 , wherein
a maximum protruding amount of the profile line of the first land portion is from 0.2 to 0.5 mm.

6 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 5 , wherein
of the outer circumferential main grooves, a groove width of a first outer circumferential main groove in the half-tread region on a first side, the first side being one side in a tread width direction centered on the tire equator plane is narrow compared to a groove width of a second outer circumferential main groove in a half-tread region on a second side, the second side being another side in the tread width direction, and wherein for the protruding amount of the profile line of the second land portions, the protruding amount on the first side is large compared to the protruding amount on the second side.

7 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 6 , wherein
when mounting the pneumatic tire on a vehicle, a vehicle mounting orientation is specified for the pneumatic tire such that the first side is located on the outer side of the vehicle.

8 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 7 , wherein
the inner circumferential main groove is provided in each half-tread region, and the inner circumferential main groove has a groove center position at a position separated from the tire equator plane by 10 to 15% of the tire ground contact width in the tire width direction.

9 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 8 , wherein
of the outer circumferential grooves and inner circumferential grooves, when an outer circumferential main groove and an inner circumferential groove positioned adjacent to each other on one side in the tire width direction are set as a first circumferential main groove and a second circumferential main groove, a ratio W 2 /W 1 of a groove width W 2 of the second circumferential main groove with respect to a groove width W 1 of the first circumferential main groove is from 4 to 5.

10 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 9 , wherein
of all of the circumferential main grooves provided in the tread portion and extending in the tire circumferential direction, the first circumferential main groove has a smallest groove width and the second circumferential main groove has a largest groove width.

11 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 10 , wherein
the first land portion has a center land portion crossed by the tire equator plane, and a tread profile line of the center land portion protrudes with respect to the first arc shape.

12 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein
a maximum protruding amount of the profile line of the second land portion is from 0.3 to 1.0 mm.

13 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein
a maximum protruding amount of the profile line of the first land portion is from 0.2 to 0.5 mm.

14 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein
of the outer circumferential main grooves, a groove width of a first outer circumferential main groove in the half-tread region on a first side, the first side being one side in a tread width direction centered on the tire equator plane is narrow compared to a groove width of a second outer circumferential main groove in a half-tread region on a second side, the second side being another side in the tread width direction, and wherein for the protruding amount of the profile line of the second land portion, the protruding amount on the first side is large compared to the protruding amount on the second side.

15 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 14 , wherein
when mounting the pneumatic tire on a vehicle, a vehicle mounting orientation is specified for the pneumatic tire such that the first side is located on the outer side of the vehicle.

16 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein
the inner circumferential main grooves are provided in the respective half-tread regions, and the inner circumferential main grooves have a groove center position at a position separated from the tire equator plane by 10 to 15% of the tire ground contact width in the tire width direction.

17 . The pneumatic tire according to claim 16 , wherein
of the outer circumferential grooves and the inner circumferential grooves, when the outer circumferential main groove and the inner circumferential groove positioned adjacent to each other on one side in the tire width direction are set as a first circumferential main groove and a second circumferential main groove, a ratio W 2 /W 1 of a groove width W 2 of the second circumferential main groove with respect to a groove width W 1 of the first circumferential main groove is from 4 to 5.

Assignees

• Yokohama Rubber Co Ltd

Inventors

• Suga Yuuichi

Classifications

• B60C2011/0369

  with varying depth of the groove · CPC title

• B60C11/1376

  Three dimensional block surfaces departing from the enveloping tread contour · CPC title

• B60C11/04

  in which the raised area of the pattern consists only of continuous circumferential ribs, e.g. zig-zag (B60C11/12, B60C11/13 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60C11/0083 Primary

  characterised by the curvature of the tyre tread · CPC title

• B60C11/0304

  Asymmetric patterns · CPC title