# US 11,027,579 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 11,027,579 B2 - Document ID: US11027579B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/505,038 - Filed: 2015-08-03 - Published: 2017-09-28 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2014-08-19 - Assignees: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. - Applicants: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD. - Inventors: Naoko Suzuki; Hiromitsu Takei - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027579B2 ## CPC - B60C 11/0302: {directional pattern, i.e. with main rolling direction} - B60C 11/03: Tread patterns - B60C 11/0304: {Asymmetric patterns} - B60C 11/0306: {Patterns comprising block rows or discontinuous ribs} - B60C 11/12: characterised by the use of narrow slits or incisions, e.g. sipes - B60C 11/1204: {with special shape of the sipe} - B60C 11/1236: {with special arrangements in the tread pattern} - B60C 2011/0346: {with zigzag shape} - B60C 2011/0353: {characterised by width} - B60C 2011/036: {Narrow grooves, i.e. having a width of less than 3 mm} - B60C 2011/0381: {Blind or isolated grooves} - B60C 2011/0383: {at the centre of the tread} - B60C 2011/1209: {straight at the tread surface} - 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 in a land portion (center land portion 4A) defined by a first circumferential groove (3A) and a second circumferential groove (3B), narrow grooves (third narrow grooves 6C) formed as one set of two grooves provided intersecting the tire circumferential direction and arranged side by side in the tire circumferential direction, communicating with the first circumferential groove (3A) and terminating in the center land portion (4A); and auxiliary grooves (fifth auxiliary grooves 5E) provided intersecting the tire circumferential direction communicating with the second circumferential groove (3B) and terminating within the center land portion (4A) with the positions of the terminating end portions disposed between the terminating end portions of the set of the third narrow grooves (6C) in the tire circumferential direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pneumatic tire, comprising: a first circumferential groove and a second circumferential groove on a tread surface of a tread portion, extending along a tire circumferential direction, and sandwiching a tire equatorial plane; and a land portion defined by the first circumferential groove and the second circumferential groove, the land portion being divided by a first plurality of lateral grooves which communicate with both the first circumferential groove and the second circumferential groove to form a block row, a second plurality of lateral grooves being formed in each block of the block row, the second plurality of lateral grooves consisting of: narrow grooves formed as a set of two narrow grooves provided intersecting the tire circumferential direction, communicating with the first circumferential groove, and terminating within the land portion; and an auxiliary groove provided intersecting the tire circumferential direction, communicating with the second circumferential groove, terminating within the land portion, a terminating end portion of one of the auxiliary grooves being disposed between terminating end portions of each of the sets of the narrow grooves in the tire circumferential direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein a groove width of the second circumferential groove is formed narrower than that of the first circumferential groove, and a groove width of the narrow grooves is formed narrower than that of the auxiliary grooves. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein two narrow grooves of each set are formed extending from communicating end portions of the two narrow grooves communicating with the first circumferential groove towards the terminating end portions of each of the sets of the narrow grooves spreading with an angle in a range not less than 10° and not greater than 50°, and the auxiliary grooves are formed extending from terminating end portions of the auxiliary grooves towards communicating end portions of the auxiliary grooves at an angle in a range not less than 9° and not greater than 30° with respect to a first narrow groove of each set of the two narrow grooves, and at an angle in a range not less than 1° and not greater than 20° with respect to a second narrow groove of each set of the two narrow grooves. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein the narrow grooves are formed based on two or more continuous different straight lines or curved lines. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein each of the narrow grooves are formed smoothly and continuously of three reference lines in order of a first reference line, a second reference line, and a third reference line from the communicating end portion communicating with the first circumferential groove towards the terminating end portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The pneumatic tire according to claim 5, wherein each of the narrow grooves is formed so that the first reference line extends from the communicating end portion of the narrow groove to an inner side with respect to a straight line connected from the communicating end portion of the narrow groove to the terminating end portion of the narrow groove, and the first reference line and the straight line form an angle in a range not less than 5° and not greater than 20°. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The pneumatic tire according to claim 5, wherein each of the narrow grooves is formed so that the third reference line extends from the terminating end portion of the narrow groove to an inner side with respect to a straight line connected from the communicating end portion of the narrow groove to the terminating end portion of the narrow groove, and the third reference line and the straight line form an angle in a range not less than 5° and not greater than 20°. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein each of the auxiliary grooves are formed with a groove width gradually narrowing from the communicating end portion of the auxiliary groove towards the terminating end portion of the auxiliary groove. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein a groove width of the narrow grooves is formed in a range not less than 0.4 mm and not greater than 1.2 mm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein the narrow grooves terminate at the tire equatorial plane. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The pneumatic tire according to claim 10, wherein the auxiliary grooves terminate at the tire equatorial plane. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary grooves terminate at the tire equatorial plane.