Tire tread with groove having a groove projection with bumper

A tire tread that has a lateral direction, a thickness direction, and a circumferential direction, comprising:

• a first rib having a first rib sidewall;
• a second rib having a second rib sidewall, wherein the first rib sidewall and the second rib sidewall define a circumferential groove;
• a groove projection that is located within the circumferential groove, wherein the groove projection extends for a greater distance in the thickness direction than in the lateral direction, wherein the groove projection has a groove projection upper surface;
• a groove bottom that engages both the first rib sidewall and the second rib sidewall, wherein the groove projection extends in the thickness direction from the groove bottom;
• and
• a bumper that extends from the groove projection, wherein the groove projection extends for a greater distance in the thickness direction than does the bumper, wherein the bumper is spaced from and is free from engagement with the groove projection upper surface, the groove bottom, the first rib sidewall, and the second rib sidewall.