# US 10,118,445 B2 · Pneumatic tire > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,118,445 B2 - Document ID: US10118445B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/074,718 - Filed: 2016-03-18 - Published: 2016-10-13 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-09 - Assignees: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. - Applicants: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. - Inventors: Hiroyuki Ishino - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118445B2 ## CPC - B60C 11/0327: {characterised by special properties of the tread pattern} - B60C 11/0302: {directional pattern, i.e. with main rolling direction} - B60C 11/0306: {Patterns comprising block rows or discontinuous ribs} - B60C 11/11: in which the raised area of the pattern consists only of isolated elements, e.g. blocks (B60C11/12, B60C11/13 take precedence) - B60C 11/1236: {with special arrangements in the tread pattern} - B60C 11/1315: {having variable inclination angles, e.g. warped groove walls} - B60C 2011/0334: {Stiffness} - B60C 2011/0339: {Grooves} - B60C 2011/0374: {Slant grooves, i.e. having an angle of about 5 to 35 degrees to the equatorial plane} - B60C 2011/0381: {Blind or isolated grooves} - B60C: VEHICLE TYRES; TYRE INFLATION; TYRE CHANGING; CONNECTING VALVES TO INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIES IN GENERAL; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES ## Abstract A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion being provided with a plurality of inclined main grooves extending beyond a tire equator from one of a first tread edge and a second tread edge and terminating without reaching the other one of the first tread edge and the second tread edge. Each of the inclined main grooves includes an outer portion and an inner portion. The outer portion extends from the first tread edge or the second tread edge without reaching the tire equator while increasing an angle relative to an axial direction of the tire. The inner portion is connected to the outer portion and traverses the tire equator at a smaller angle relative to the axial direction of the tire than the angle of the outer portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pneumatic tire comprising: a tread portion being provided with a plurality of inclined main grooves extending beyond a tire equator from one of a first tread edge and a second tread edge and terminating without reaching the other one of the first tread edge and the second tread edge, wherein the inclined main grooves comprise a plurality of first inclined main grooves extending from the first tread edge and a plurality of second inclined main grooves extending from the second tread edge; each of the inclined main grooves comprising an outer portion and an inner portion, wherein the inner portions of the first inclined main grooves are communicated with the outer portions of the second inclined main grooves at connecting portions of the inner portions and the outer portions of the second inclined main grooves, the inner portions of the second inclined main grooves are communicated with the outer portions of the first inclined main grooves at connecting portions of the inner portions and the outer portions of the first inclined main grooves, and angles relative to the axial direction of the tire of the inclined main grooves gradually increase from the first tread edge or the second tread edge toward the tire equator and stop increasing at the connecting portions; the outer portion extending from the first tread edge or the second tread edge without reaching the tire equator while increasing an angle relative to an axial direction of the tire; the inner portion being connected to the outer portion and traversing the tire equator at a smaller angle relative to the axial direction of the tire than the angle of the outer portion; and the inner portion comprising a width increasing gradually toward the outer portion; wherein the tread portion comprises a plurality of inclined land portions each of which is disposed between a pair of circumferentially adjacent inclined main grooves, each of the inclined land portions being provided with a longitudinal groove to separate the inclined land portion into an axially inner block and an axially outer block, wherein the inner block is provided with a lug groove that comprises a first end communicated with one of the inclined main grooves and a second end terminating within the inner block, wherein the inclined main grooves comprise a plurality of first inclined main grooves extending from the first tread edge, and a plurality of second inclined main grooves extending from the second tread edge, the inner portions of the first inclined main grooves being communicated with the outer portions of the second inclined main grooves, the inner portions of the second inclined main grooves being communicated with the outer portions of the first inclined main grooves; and wherein the lug groove comprises a first lug groove that is smoothly continuous to the inner portion of one of the second inclined main grooves through one of the first inclined main grooves and a second lug groove that is smoothly continuous to the inner portion of one of the first inclined main grooves through one of the second inclined main grooves. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein the width of the inner portion increases gradually towards the outer portion from an end thereof opposite to the outer portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein the inner block is provided with a plurality of inner sipes inclined in an opposite direction to the inclined main grooves adjacent to the inner block, and the outer block is provided with a plurality of outer sipes inclined in the same direction as the first inclined main grooves adjacent to the outer block. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein the inner block comprises a protruding portion in an axial direction of the tire between the inner portion of one of the first inclined main grooves and the inner portion of one of the second inclined main grooves. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The pneumatic tire according to claim 4, wherein the inner block has a tapered shape. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein the outer portion extends in an arc shape and the inner portion extends in a substantially straight shape. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein the inner portions of the first inclined main grooves are inclined in an opposite direction to the inner portions of the second inclined main grooves. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein the first inclined main grooves and the second inclined main grooves are arranged alternately in a circumferential direction of the tire. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein the tread portion is not provided with any circumferentially and continuously extending straight grooves. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein the outer portion comprises a width decreasing gradually towards the connecting portion and increases at the connecting portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The pneumatic tire according to claim 4, wherein the protruding portion is directly sandwiched by the inner portions of a pair of one of the first inclined main grooves and one of the second inclined main grooves adjacent to each other. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein the inner portions of the first inclined main grooves and the second inclined main grooves are directly connected alternately so as to form a zigzag shape extending in the tire circumferential direction.