Method for controlling the footprint area of a tyre and tyre for vehicle wheels

A motor-vehicle, comprising:

• at least one wheel mounted with a predetermined camber angle different from zero,
• wherein the wheel comprises a rim and a tyre mounted on the rim and inflated to an operating pressure,
• wherein, in each radial half-section, a corresponding medium line of a tread band and a rotation axis of the tyre form a predetermined angle substantially equal to said predetermined camber angle, such that any medium line of the tread band placed in correspondence with a footprint area is substantially parallel to the ground, the predetermined angle being different from zero;
• wherein the rim has housings for beads, the beads being symmetric to a mid-line plane of the wheel,
• wherein, in a radial half-section of the tyre, the tread band is symmetric relative to a symmetry axis thereof,
• wherein a median circumferential line of the tread band is axially shifted by a predetermined distance between about 3 mm and about 30 mm relative to, the mid-line plane of the wheel,
• wherein axial end portions of the tread band have different axial distances from the mid-line plane of the wheel, and
• wherein an axial end portion of the tread band that is axially farthest from the mid-line plane is also the axial end portion that is radially farthest from the rotation axis.

A wheel for motor-vehicles, comprising:

• a rim comprising two housings for beads having a same radial distance from a rotation axis of the wheel;
• and
• a tyre mounted on the rim inflated to an operating pressure and comprising a tread band,
• wherein, in each radial half-section of the wheel, the tread band is symmetric relative to a symmetry axis thereof, and
• wherein, in each radial half-section, a medium line of the tread band and the rotation axis of the wheel form a predetermined angle different from zero,
• wherein the beads are symmetric to a mid-line plane of the wheel,
• wherein a median circumferential line, of the tread band is axially shifted by a predetermined distance between about 3 mm and about 30 mm relative to a mid-line plane of the wheel,
• wherein axial end portions of the tread band have different axial distances from the mid-line plane of the wheel,
• wherein the axial end portion of the tread band, that is axially farthest from the mid-line plane of the wheel is also the axial end portion that is radially farthest from the rotation axis.