Variable thickness sipes

A tire tread comprising:

• a length extending in a lengthwise direction, the lengthwise direction being a circumferential direction when the tread is arranged on a tire;
• a width extending in a lateral direction, the lateral direction being perpendicular to the lengthwise direction;
• a thickness extending in a depthwise direction from an outer, ground-engaging side of the tread, the depthwise direction being perpendicular to both the lengthwise direction and the widthwise direction of the tread;
• a sipe having a length, a height, and a thickness that is variable across the length and height of the sipe,
• where the thickness includes a thick portion and a thin portion, the thick portion at least partially extending around a perimeter of the thin portion,
• where the thin portion forms upwards of 95% of the surface area defining each of the opposing sides of the sipe, the opposing sides being arranged on opposing sides of the sipe thickness,
• where the thickness of the sipe, including the thick portion and the thin portion of the thickness, undulates back and forth in a direction of the sipe thickness as the sipe extends in a direction of the sipe height and along a direction of the sipe length to form a plurality of undulations, and,
• a void feature in fluid connection with the sipe, the void feature extending primarily in a direction of the sipe length and having a width extending in the direction of the sipe thickness, where the void feature is a second sipe, the void feature having a thickness extending perpendicular to the width of the void feature, the thickness of the void feature being equal to or less than 1 mm, where the width of the void feature is greater than the thickness of the thick portion.

A tire tread comprising:

• a length extending in a lengthwise direction, the lengthwise direction being a circumferential direction when the tread is arranged on a tire;
• a width extending in a lateral direction, the lateral direction being perpendicular to the lengthwise direction;
• a thickness extending in a depthwise direction from an outer, ground-engaging side of the tread, the depthwise direction being perpendicular to both the lengthwise direction and the widthwise direction of the tread;
• a sipe having a length, a height, and a thickness that is variable across the length and height of the sipe,
• where the thickness includes a thick portion and a thin portion, the thick portion at least partially extending around a perimeter of the thin portion,
• where the thin portion forms upwards of 95% of the surface area defining each of the opposing sides of the sipe, the opposing sides being arranged on opposing sides of the sipe thickness,
• where the thickness of the sipe, including the thick portion and the thin portion of the thickness, undulates back and forth in a direction of the sipe thickness as the sipe extends in a direction of the sipe height and along a direction of the sipe length to form a plurality of undulations, and,
• a void feature in fluid connection with the sipe, the void feature extending primarily in a direction of the sipe length and having a width extending in the direction of the sipe thickness, where the void feature extends primarily in the direction of the sipe length along a non-linear path.