# US 2019/0168546 A1 · Stabilizer structure for a tread of a tire > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0168546 A1 - Document ID: US20190168546A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/828,541 - Filed: 2017-12-01 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-01 - Assignees: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company - Applicants: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company - Inventors: Ashley Amanda JONES; John Stephen GUILFORD; Derek John BECKER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168546A1 ## CPC - B60C 11/1218: {Three-dimensional shape with regard to depth and extending direction} - B60C 11/0323: {tread comprising channels under the tread surface, e.g. for draining water} - B60C 11/042: {further characterised by the groove cross-section} - B60C 11/125: {arranged at the groove bottom} - B60C 2011/1213: {sinusoidal or zigzag at the tread surface} - B60C 2200/06: for heavy duty vehicles - B60C: VEHICLE TYRES; TYRE INFLATION; TYRE CHANGING; CONNECTING VALVES TO INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIES IN GENERAL; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES ## Abstract A tread for a tire includes a first circumferential main groove, a second circumferential main groove, a third circumferential main groove, and a fourth circumferential main groove. The fourth main groove has a stabilizing structure for increasing tread stiffness. The stabilizing structure has a circumferentially extending wavy subgroove in a radially innermost bottom of the fourth circumferential main groove. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tread for a tire comprising: a first circumferential main groove; a second circumferential main groove; a third circumferential main groove; and a fourth circumferential main groove, the fourth main groove having a stabilizing structure for increasing tread stiffness, the stabilizing structure having a circumferentially extending wavy subgroove in a radially innermost bottom of the fourth circumferential main groove. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tread as set forth in claim 1 wherein the subgroove has a curved, cylindrical radially innermost surface for mitigating cracking and increasing axial flexibility of the stabilizing structures. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tread as set forth in claim 2 wherein an axial width of the subgroove shrinks to 0.0 mm under a predetermined operating condition. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The tread as set forth in claim 3 wherein the subgroove has a first sidewall and a second sidewall interconnected by the curved, cylindrical radially innermost surface of the subgroove. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The tread as set forth in claim 4 wherein the first sidewall abuts the second sidewall under the predetermined operating condition. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The tread as set forth in claim 5 wherein relative motion between the first sidewall and the second sidewall is prevented by a wavy configuration of the first sidewall and a corresponding wavy configuration of the second sidewall. ### Claim 7 A method for stiffening a tire tread comprising the steps of: extending a first circumferential main groove across the tire tread; extending a second circumferential main groove across the tire tread; circumferentially extending a wavy subgroove across a radially innermost cylindrical bottom surface of the first main groove; and curving a radially innermost surface of the subgroove, the radially innermost surface of the subgroove being radially inside the radially innermost cylindrical bottom surface of the first main groove. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein curved radially innermost surface of the subgroove mitigates cracking and increases axial flexibility of the first main groove. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein an axial width of the subgroove shrinks to 0.0 mm under a predetermined operating condition. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the subgroove has a first sidewall and a second sidewall interconnected by the curved radially innermost surface of the subgroove. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method as set forth in claim 10 further including the step of abutting the first sidewall against the second sidewall under the predetermined operating condition. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein relative motion between the first sidewall and the second sidewall is prevented by a wavy configuration of the first sidewall and a corresponding wavy configuration of the second sidewall. ### Claim 13 A system for increasing cornering stiffness of a tire tread comprising: a first circumferential main groove; a second circumferential main groove; and a stabilizing structure for increasing tread stiffness, the stabilizing structure having a circumferentially extending wavy subgroove in a radially innermost bottom of the first main groove. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the subgroove has a curved, cylindrical radially innermost surface for mitigating cracking and increasing axial flexibility of the stabilizing structures. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system as set forth in claim 14 wherein an axial width of the subgroove shrinks to 0.0 mm under a predetermined operating condition. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the subgroove has a first sidewall and a second sidewall interconnected by the curved, cylindrical radially innermost surface of the subgroove. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system as set forth in claim 16 wherein the first sidewall abuts the second sidewall under the predetermined operating condition. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system as set forth in claim 17 wherein relative motion between the first sidewall and the second sidewall is prevented by a wavy configuration of the first sidewall and a corresponding wavy configuration of the second sidewall.