Pneumatic tire

Abstract

A pneumatic tire is provided, which readily achieves rain groove wandering resistance without sacrificing wet performance and other performances. Plural steep-angle grooves 16 are provided at opposite sides of the tire equatorial plane CL. Each steep-angle groove 16 is inclined at an angle of not more than 45 degrees relative to the tire circumferential direction, such that the steep-angle groove 16 contacts the ground from a tire equatorial plane CL side. Recessed portions 36 are formed along a tread surface side edge of a land portion adjacent to an inner side in a tire axial direction of the steep-angle transverse groove 16. A depth of the recessed portion 36 gradually increases and a width thereof gradually decreases along a middle portion in a longitudinal directional toward end portion at the tire equatorial plane CL of the steep-angle transverse groove 16. This pattern smoothly drains water around the center of the ground contacting area from the tire equatorial plane CL side to the steep-angle transverse grooves 16 through the recessed portion 36. Although the number of circumferential grooves 14 is small, high wet performance can be obtained. Further, since the number of the circumferential groove 14 is small, rain groove wandering can be suppressed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.