# US 10,479,143 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 10,479,143 B2 - Document ID: US10479143B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/643,658 - Filed: 2017-07-07 - Published: 2018-02-01 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-28 - Assignees: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. - Applicants: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. - Inventors: Madoka Satake - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479143B2 ## CPC - B60C 13/02: Arrangement of grooves or ribs - B60C 11/01: Shape of the shoulders between tread and sidewall, e.g. rounded, stepped or cantilevered - 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, a pair of sidewall portions, bead portions formed radially inside the sidewall portions, shoulder blocks arranged in the tire circumferential direction with first pitches on at least one of end portions of the tread portion, side protectors protruding axially outwardly on at least one of the sidewall portions which is located on a side of the shoulder blocks, a recessed portion between a pair of side protectors adjacent in the tire circumferential direction. The side protectors are arranged in the tire circumferential direction with second pitches larger than the first pitches. Each side protector is provided with at least one first groove extending radially inwardly from a side of the tread portion and terminating within the side protector and at least one second groove extending radially outwardly from a side of the bead portion and terminating within the side protector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pneumatic tire comprising a tread portion; a pair of sidewall portions each extending inwardly in a tire radial direction from both end portions of the tread portion; a bead portion formed on an inside of each of the sidewall portions in the tire radial direction; a plurality of shoulder blocks divided by shoulder lateral grooves, wherein the shoulder blocks are arranged in the tire circumferential direction with first pitches on at least one of the end portions of the tread portion; a plurality of side protectors protruding outwardly in a tire axial direction on at least one of the sidewall portions which is located on a side of the shoulder blocks; a recessed portion between a pair of side protectors adjacent in the tire circumferential direction, wherein the recessed portion is provided at a position so as to connect with one of the shoulder lateral grooves; the side protectors being arranged in the tire circumferential direction with second pitches larger than the first pitches; and each of the side protectors being provided with one first groove extending inwardly in the tire radial direction from a side of the tread portion and terminating within the side protector and a pair of second grooves extending outwardly in the tire radial direction from a side of the bead portion and terminating within the side protector and provided on both sides in the tire circumferential direction of the first groove. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein, the first groove and the second groove are each inclined to a same direction with respect to the tire radial direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein, an inner end of the first groove in the tire radial direction is located inward of an outer end of the second groove in the tire radial direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein, the recessed portion extends obliquely with respect to the tire radial direction so that adjacent side protectors overlap each other when viewed in the tire radial direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein, in a front view of the sidewall portions, terminating end portions of the first groove and the second groove are rounded in an arc shape. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein, a width of the recessed portion gradually decreases inwardly in the tire radial direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein, the recessed portion is formed in a shape having at least one bent portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein, the second pitches are twice as large as the first pitches. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein, each of the side protectors are provided so as to extend over two adjacent shoulder blocks. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein, the shoulder blocks are divided by shoulder lateral grooves, and an opening width of the recessed portion is larger than an opening width of the shoulder lateral grooves. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein, one of the second grooves disposed on one side of the first groove is connected with the recessed portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein, the recessed portion includes a first portion provided radially outermost, a second portion connected with the first portion on the inside thereof in the tire radial direction, and a third portion connected with the second portion on the inside thereof in the tire radial direction, and a center line of the first portion is inclined at an angle in a range of from 25 to 45 degrees with respect to the tire radial direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The pneumatic tire according to claim 12, wherein, at least one of edges of the third portion is connected with the edge of the second portion in a bent manner. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The pneumatic tire according to claim 12, wherein, a center line of the third portion is inclined at an angle in a range of from 45 to 65 degrees with respect to the tire radial direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The pneumatic tire according to claim 11, wherein, the second groove disposed on the one side of the first groove is provided at a position farther away from the first groove than the second groove disposed on the other side of the first groove. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The pneumatic tire according to claim 12, wherein, an angle with respect to the tire radial direction of the second groove is smaller than an angle with respect to the tire radial direction of the second portion of the recessed portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The pneumatic tire according to claim 11, wherein, a maximum width of the second groove on the one side of the first groove and a maximum width of the second groove on the other side of the first groove are smaller than a maximum width of the first groove. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein, an overlap length in the tire radial direction between an inner end of the first groove and an outer end of the second groove is not less than 0.09 times and not greater than 0.43 times a maximum width of the side protectors in the tire radial direction. ### Claim 19 A pneumatic tire comprising a tread portion; a pair of sidewall portions each extending inwardly in a tire radial direction from both end portions of the tread portion; a bead portion formed on an inside of each of the sidewall portions in the tire radial direction; a plurality of shoulder blocks arranged in the tire circumferential direction with first pitches on at least one of the end portions of the tread portion; a plurality of side protectors protruding outwardly in a tire axial direction on at least one of the sidewall portions which is located on a side of the shoulder blocks; a recessed portion between a pair of side protectors adjacent in the tire circumferential direction; the side protectors being arranged in the tire circumferential direction with second pitches larger than the first pitches; and each of the side protectors being provided with one first groove extending inwardly in the tire radial direction from a side of the tread portion and terminating within the side protector and a pair of second grooves extending outwardly in the tire radial direction from a side of the bead portion and terminating within the side protector and provided on both sides in the tire circumferential direction of the first groove, wherein one of the second grooves disposed on one side of the first groove is connected with the recessed portion. ### Claim 20 A pneumatic tire comprising a tread portion; a pair of sidewall portions each extending inwardly in a tire radial direction from both end portions of the tread portion; a bead portion formed on an inside of each of the sidewall portions in the tire radial direction; a plurality of shoulder blocks arranged in the tire circumferential direction with first pitches on at least one of the end portions of the tread portion; a plurality of side protectors protruding outwardly in a tire axial direction on at least one of the sidewall portions which is located on a side of the shoulder blocks; a recessed portion between a pair of side protectors adjacent in the tire circumferential direction; the side protectors being arranged in the tire circumferential direction with second pitches larger than the first pitches; and each of the side protectors being provided with one first groove extending inwardly in the tire radial direction from a side of the tread portion and terminating within the side protector and a pair of second grooves extending outwardly in the tire radial direction from a side of the bead portion and terminating within the side protector and provided on both sides in the tire circumferential direction of the first groove, wherein an overlap length in the tire radial direction between an inner end of the first groove and an outer end of the second groove is not less than 0.09 times and not greater than 0.43 times a maximum width of the side, protectors in the tire radial direction.