# US 11,993,100 B2 · Motorcycles tyre > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,993,100 B2 - Document ID: US11993100B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/295,027 - Filed: 2019-11-29 - Published: 2022-02-17 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2018-11-30 - Assignees: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A. - Applicants: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A. - Inventors: Mario Mariani; Luca Bruschelli; Giuliano Bonaccorsi; Matteo Torchiana - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993100B2 ## CPC - B60C 11/0302: {directional pattern, i.e. with main rolling direction} - B60C 11/032: {Patterns comprising isolated recesses} - B60C 11/0332: {by the footprint-ground contacting area of the tyre tread} - B60C 2011/0341: {Circumferential grooves} - B60C 2011/0372: {with particular inclination angles} - B60C 2011/0374: {Slant grooves, i.e. having an angle of about 5 to 35 degrees to the equatorial plane} - B60C 2011/0388: {provided at the equatorial plane} - 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 motorcycle tyre has a tread band (8) comprising a plurality of grooves that form a tread pattern including a module (T) replicated along a circumferential direction of the tyre (1) and having a predetermined circumferential length (C1). The module (T) comprises a pair of circumferential grooves (20) arranged on opposite sides with respect to the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre (1). Such circumferential grooves (20) extend along the circumferential direction of the tyre (1) for only part of said predetermined circumferential length (C1) and define between them a central portion (A) of tread band (8) having a void to solid ratio substantially equal to zero and a predetermined axial width (A1). The module (T) further comprises a plurality of transversal grooves (30, 31, 32, 33) arranged on opposite sides with respect to the equatorial plane (X-X) at a distance from said equatorial plane (X-X) greater than that of said circumferential grooves (20) and a pair of first lateral annular portions (B) axially arranged between said circumferential grooves (20) and said plurality of pairs of transversal grooves (30, 31, 32, 33), each of said first lateral annular portions (B) comprising, in a position axially adjacent to the respective circumferential groove (20), a respective part (B1) of tread band having a circumferential length at least equal to that of said circumferential grooves (20) and a void to solid ratio substantially equal to zero. The tyre (1) has a curvature ratio lower than about 0.32. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A motorcycle tyre, having an equatorial plane (X-X) and a tread band comprising a plurality of grooves forming a tread pattern with a module replicated along a circumferential direction of the tyre and a predetermined circumferential length, wherein the module comprising: a pair of circumferential grooves arranged on opposite sides with respect to the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre, the circumferential grooves extending along the circumferential direction for only part of the predetermined circumferential length of the module and defining between them a central portion of the tread band having a void to solid ratio substantially equal to zero and a predetermined axial width, wherein each groove of the pair of circumferential grooves extends in the module along the circumferential direction of the tyre for a circumferential segment having a length shorter than the predetermined circumferential length of the module; a plurality of pairs of transversal grooves arranged on opposite sides with respect to the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre at a distance from the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre greater than a distance from the circumferential grooves to the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre; and a pair of first lateral annular portions axially arranged between the pair of circumferential grooves and the plurality of pairs of transversal grooves, each of the first lateral annular portions comprising, in a position axially adjacent to the respective circumferential groove, a respective part having a circumferential length at least equal to that of the circumferential grooves and a void to solid ratio substantially equal to zero; wherein the tyre has a curvature ratio lower than about 0.32, wherein the module comprises a pair of secondary grooves arranged on opposite sides with respect to the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre, each of the secondary grooves being in a position circumferentially adjacent to a respective groove of the pair of circumferential grooves, and wherein the plurality of pairs of transversal grooves comprises four pairs of transversal grooves, wherein each groove of the four pairs of transversal grooves has respective first ends proximal to the equatorial plane (X-X) and opposite second ends distal from the equatorial plane (X-X) and wherein the first ends of the grooves of three of the four pairs of transversal grooves have substantially the same axial distance from the equatorial plane (X-X), wherein each groove of the remaining pair of transversal grooves of the four pairs of transversal grooves has a respective first end proximal to the equatorial plane (X-X) that is axially adjacent to a respective secondary groove of the pair of secondary grooves. ### Claim 2 A motorcycle tyre, having an equatorial plane (X-X) and a tread band comprising a plurality of grooves forming a tread pattern with a module replicated along a circumferential direction of the tyre and a predetermined circumferential length, wherein the module comprising: a pair of circumferential grooves arranged on opposite sides with respect to the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre, the circumferential grooves extending along the circumferential direction for only part of the predetermined circumferential length of the module and defining between them a central portion of the tread band having a void to solid ratio substantially equal to zero and a predetermined axial width, wherein each groove of the pair of circumferential grooves extends in the module along the circumferential direction of the tyre for a circumferential segment having a length shorter than the predetermined circumferential length of the module; a plurality of pairs of transversal grooves arranged on opposite sides with respect to the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre at a distance from the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre greater than a distance from the circumferential grooves to the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre; and a pair of first lateral annular portions axially arranged between the pair of circumferential grooves and the plurality of pairs of transversal grooves, each of the first lateral annular portions comprising, in a position axially adjacent to the respective circumferential groove, a respective part having a circumferential length at least equal to that of the circumferential grooves and a void to solid ratio substantially equal to zero; wherein the tyre has a curvature ratio lower than about 0.32, wherein the module comprises a pair of secondary grooves arranged on opposite sides with respect to the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre, each of the secondary grooves being in a position circumferentially adjacent to a respective groove of the pair of circumferential grooves, and wherein the grooves of the pair of secondary grooves have respective first ends proximal to the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre and opposite second ends distal from the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre, wherein the first ends of the grooves of the pair of secondary grooves are spaced apart from each other by a first axial segment having a width less than the predetermined axial width of the central portion of the tread band and the second ends of the grooves of the pair of secondary grooves are spaced apart from each other by a second axial segment having a width greater than the predetermined axial width of the central portion of the tread band. ### Claim 3 A motorcycle tyre, having an equatorial plane (X-X) and a tread band comprising a plurality of grooves forming a tread pattern with a module replicated along a circumferential direction of the tyre and a predetermined circumferential length, wherein the module comprising: a pair of circumferential grooves arranged on opposite sides with respect to the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre, the circumferential grooves extending along the circumferential direction for only part of the predetermined circumferential length of the module and defining between them a central portion of the tread band having a void to solid ratio substantially equal to zero and a predetermined axial width, wherein each groove of the pair of circumferential grooves extends in the module along the circumferential direction of the tyre for a circumferential segment having a length shorter than the predetermined circumferential length of the module; a plurality of pairs of transversal grooves arranged on opposite sides with respect to the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre at a distance from the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre greater than a distance from the circumferential grooves to the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre; and a pair of first lateral annular portions axially arranged between the pair of circumferential grooves and the plurality of pairs of transversal grooves, each of the first lateral annular portions comprising, in a position axially adjacent to the respective circumferential groove, a respective part having a circumferential length at least equal to that of the circumferential grooves and a void to solid ratio substantially equal to zero; wherein the tyre has a curvature ratio lower than about 0.32, and wherein the length of the circumferential segment ranges from about 60% to about 80% of the predetermined circumferential length of the module. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The motorcycle tyre according to claim 3, wherein the tyre has a maximum cord having a predetermined length, and the predetermined axial width of the central portion of the tread band ranges from about 10% to about 20% of the predetermined length of the maximum cord. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The motorcycle tyre according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined axial width of the central portion of the tread band is less than or equal to about 28 mm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The motorcycle tyre according to claim 3, wherein the length of the circumferential segment ranges from about 100 mm to about 200 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The motorcycle tyre according to claim 3, wherein the length of the circumferential segment ranges from about 65% to about 75% of the predetermined circumferential length of the module. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The motorcycle tyre according to claim 3, wherein the tyre has a ground-contacting area with a predetermined circumferential width and a predetermined axial width, wherein a ratio between the predetermined circumferential width of the ground-contacting area and the predetermined axial width of the ground-contacting area is lower than about 1.6. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The motorcycle tyre according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined axial width of the central portion of the tread band ranges from about 20% to about 50% of the predetermined axial width of the ground-contacting area. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The motorcycle tyre according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of pairs of transversal grooves comprises four pairs of transversal grooves arranged in succession along the circumferential direction of the tyre. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The motorcycle tyre according to claim 10, wherein each groove of the four pairs of transversal grooves has a respective first end proximal to the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre and an opposite second end distal from the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre and wherein the first ends of the grooves of three of the four pairs of transversal grooves are arranged at substantially the same axial distance from the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The motorcycle tyre according to claim 10, wherein each groove of only two of the four pairs of transversal grooves has a respective first end proximal to the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre that is axially adjacent to the respective part of the respective first lateral annular portion of the module. ### Claim 13 (depends on 3) The motorcycle tyre according to claim 3, wherein the module comprises a pair of secondary grooves arranged on opposite sides with respect to the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre, each of the secondary grooves being in a position circumferentially adjacent to a respective groove of the pair of circumferential grooves. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The motorcycle tyre according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of pairs of transversal grooves comprises four pairs of transversal grooves, wherein each groove of the four pairs of transversal grooves has respective first ends proximal to the equatorial plane (X-X) and opposite second ends distal from the equatorial plane (X-X) and wherein the first ends of the grooves of three of the four pairs of transversal grooves have substantially the same axial distance from the equatorial plane (X-X), wherein each groove of the remaining pair of transversal grooves of the four pairs of transversal grooves has a respective first end proximal to the equatorial plane (X-X) that is axially adjacent to a respective secondary groove of the pair of secondary grooves. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The motorcycle tyre according to claim 13, wherein the grooves of the pair of secondary grooves have respective first ends proximal to the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre and opposite second ends distal from the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre, wherein the first ends of the grooves of the pair of secondary grooves are spaced apart from each other by a first axial segment having a width less than the predetermined axial width of the central portion of the tread band and the second ends of the grooves of the pair of secondary grooves are spaced apart from each other by a second axial segment having a width greater than the predetermined axial width of the central portion of the tread band. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The motorcycle tyre according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of pairs of transversal grooves comprises four pairs of transversal grooves, wherein each groove of the four pairs of transversal grooves has respective first ends proximal to the equatorial plane (X-X) and opposite second ends distal from the equatorial plane (X-X) and wherein the first ends of the grooves of three of the four pairs of transversal grooves have substantially the same axial distance from the equatorial plane (X-X), wherein the width of the second axial segment is less than the distance between the first ends of the grooves of the three pairs of transversal grooves.