Tire treads
AssigneeDunlop Limited
InventorsMichael R. Corner, Barry J. Allbert
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tire tread and a tire including a tread when the tread width is divided into circumferentially extending ribs by two or more circumferential grooves and at least one rib is subdivided into tread elements by transversely extending slots. The grooves are such that they close in the contact patch to resist movement between the tread elements and the slots provide water holding capacity for wet road use.
Claims15
A tire tread for a heavy vehicle comprising at least two circumferentially extending grooves which divide the full width of the tread into at least three circumferentially extending ribs and a series of spaced apart transversely extending slots of a width wider than said circumferential grooves such that they do not close when they are in the contact patch and which subdivide at least one rib into discrete tread elements, the slots thus providing a plurality of road gripping edges for good wet grip;
- the grooves having a zig-zag configuration comprising short straight portions at an actue angle in the range of 10.degree.-40.degree. to the longitudinal direction of the tread so as to inter-engage adjacent tread elements and being shaped so that in use on a vheicle when the tire thread is in the contact patch the opposed sides of the ribs engage to resist relative movement of the tread elements and said transverse slots remain open.
A tire tread for a heavy vehicle comprising at least two circumferentially extending grooves which divide the full width of the tread into at least three circumferentially extending ribs and a series of spaced apart transversely extending slots in each rib except for the two outer or shoulder ribs, said slots being of a width wider than said circumferential grooves such that they do not close when they are in the contact patch and which subdivide at least one rib into discrete tread elements, the slots thus providing a plurality of road gripping edges for good wet grip;
- the grooves being shaped so that in use on a vheicle when the tire tread is in the contact patch the opposed sides of te ribs engage to resist relative movement of the tread elements and said transverse slots remain open.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.