# US 11,077,714 B2 · Tire and three-wheeled vehicle with the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,077,714 B2 - Document ID: US11077714B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/803,139 - Filed: 2017-11-03 - Published: 2018-05-10 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-04 - Assignees: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. - Applicants: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. - Inventors: Toshiyuki Matsunami; Yumiko Yoshida; Satoshi Matsunaga - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077714B2 ## CPC - B60C 11/0083: {characterised by the curvature of the tyre tread} - B60C 11/0302: {directional pattern, i.e. with main rolling direction} - B60C 11/032: {Patterns comprising isolated recesses} - B60C 11/033: {by the void or net-to-gross ratios of the patterns} - B60C 11/24: Wear-indicating arrangements - B60C 2011/0025: {Modulus or tan delta} - B60C 2011/0339: {Grooves} - B60C 2011/0383: {at the centre of the tread} - B60C 2017/0081: {comprising special reinforcing means in the crown area} - B60C 2200/10: for motorcycles, scooters or the like - B60C: VEHICLE TYRES; TYRE INFLATION; TYRE CHANGING; CONNECTING VALVES TO INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIES IN GENERAL; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES ## Abstract A tire includes a tread portion provided with a tread profile which is curved in an arcuate shape in a tire meridian section so that the tread portion includes a crown region contacting with the ground during straight running, and a pair of shoulder regions contacting with the ground during cornering by leaning the tire at a certain camber angle. The crown region has a land ratio of not less than 98%, and the shoulder regions have a land ratio of from 85% to 93%. A three-wheeled vehicle has a pair of front wheels and a single rear wheel on which the tire is mounted. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tire comprising: a tread portion provided with a tread profile which is curved in an arcuate shape in a tire meridian section so that the tread portion comprises a crown region contacting with the ground during straight running, and a pair of shoulder regions contacting with the ground during cornering by leaning the tire at a certain camber angle, wherein the crown region is defined as being centered on a tire equator and ranging 30% of an axial width between tread edges of the tread portion, and the shoulder regions are defined as extending from the respective tread edges to the crown region, the crown region is provided with at least one crown slot disposed on the tire equator and extending straight discontinuously along the tire circumferential direction so that the crown region has a land ratio of not less than 98%, the shoulder regions have a land ratio of from 85% to 93% and an axial width W1 of said at least one crown slot is 2% to 5% of a tread width of the tread portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein in a tire meridian section, the tread profile has a radius of curvature of from 45% to 65% of the tread width of the tread portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tire according to claim 2, wherein a tread rubber disposed in the tread portion to define the ground contacting surface thereof has a loss tangent not less than 0.27 at a temperature of 0 deg. C. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A three-wheeled vehicle having a pair of front wheels and a single rear wheel to be leant during cornering, wherein the tire according to claim 2 is mounted on the rear wheel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein each of the shoulder regions is a region contacting with the ground during cornering when the camber angle is 10 degrees or more. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The tire according to claim 5, wherein a tread rubber disposed in the tread portion to define the ground contacting surface thereof has a loss tangent not less than 0.27 at a temperature of 0 deg. C. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A three-wheeled vehicle having a pair of front wheels and a single rear wheel to be leant during cornering, wherein the tire according to claim 5 is mounted on the rear wheel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein a tread rubber disposed in the tread portion to define the ground contacting surface thereof has a loss tangent not less than 0.27 at a temperature of 0 deg. C. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A three-wheeled vehicle having a pair of front wheels and a single rear wheel to be leant during cornering, wherein the tire according to claim 8 is mounted on the rear wheel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein said at least one crown slot is provided therein with a tread wear indicator. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A three-wheeled vehicle having a pair of front wheels and a single rear wheel to be leant during cornering, wherein the tire according to claim 1 is mounted on the rear wheel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the crown region is provided with only said at least one crown slot. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The tire according to claim 12, wherein said at least one crown slot is a plurality of the crown slots arranged at intervals in the tire circumferential direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A three-wheeled vehicle having a pair of front wheels and a single rear wheel to be leant during cornering, wherein the tire according to claim 13 is mounted on the rear wheel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) A three-wheeled vehicle having a pair of front wheels and a single rear wheel to be leant during cornering, wherein the tire according to claim 12 is mounted on the rear wheel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential length of the crown slot is 4 to 7 times the axial width W1. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The tire according to claim 16, wherein the depth in the tire radial direction of the crown slot is 0.3 to 0.9 times the axial width W1. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) A three-wheeled vehicle having a pair of front wheels and a single rear wheel to be leant during cornering, wherein the tire according to claim 16 is mounted on the rear wheel.