Reduced noise generating tread pattern for a tire
AssigneeThe Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Company
InventorLaurie W. Killian
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tire having a mid-circumferential plane and comprising a plurality of circumferentially arranged tread blocks for contacting a road surface. Surfaces define a pair of substantially parallel grooves extending transverse to the mid-circumferential plane of the tire for at least partially defining each of the tread blocks. A channel separates each respective one of the plurality of tread blocks into a pair of tread elements. A first channel in a first tread block is oriented at a first angle relative to the mid-circumferential plane of the tire. The first angle varies from second and third angles at which second and third channels in respective second and third tread blocks adjacent the first tread block are oriented relative to the mid-circumferential plane of the tire.
Claims17
A tire having a mid-circumferential plane, said tire comprising:
- a plurality of circumferential arranged tread blocks for contacting a road surface;
- each of said tread blocks at least partially defining a pair of substantially parallel grooves extending transverse to the mid-circumferential plane of the tire for at least partially defining each of said tread blocks;
- a first channel circumferentially separating a first one of said plurality of tread blocks into a pair of tread elements, said first channel being oriented at a first angle relative to the mid-circumferential plane of the tire;
- a second channel circumferentially separating a second one of said plurality of tread blocks located circumferentially adjacent said first tread block into a pair of tread elements, said second channel being oriented at a second angle relative to the mid-circumferential plane of the tire which varies from the first angle;
- and
- a third channel circumferentially separating a third one of said plurality to tread blocks located circumferentially adjacent at least one of said first and second tread blocks into a pair of tread elements, said third channel being oriented at a third angle relative to the mid-circumferential plane of the tire which varies from the first and second angles.
A tread for a tire, said tread, when in a substantially annular configuration for mounting on a tire, comprising:
- a pair of axially spaced apart shoulder ribs, each of said pair of shoulder ribs including a plurality of circumferentially arranged shoulder tread blocks for contacting a road surface;
- each of said plurality of tread blocks at least partially defining a pair of substantially parallel grooves extending transverse to the mid-circumferential plane of the tire, each of the transverse grooves separating a pair of adjacent should tread blocks;
- intermediate ribs located between said shoulder ribs, said intermediate ribs including a plurality of circumferentially arranged intermediate tread blocks, adjacent intermediate tread blocks being separated by a continuation of a respective transverse groove in at least one of said shoulder ribs;
- and
- each of said intermediate tread blocks having a channel dividing said tread block into a pair of tread elements, said channel oriented at an angle relative to the mid-circumferential plane of the tire different from the angles at which channels in adjacent intermediate tread blocks are oriented.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.