Sidewall protector ribs

A pneumatic tire, comprising:

• first and second sidewalls;
• a tread area extending between the first and second sidewalls, the tread area including an inner tread surface and at least a first circumferential row of lugs extending radially outward from the inner tread surface adjacent the first sidewall;
• and
• a circumferentially continuous sidewall protector rib including a radially outer surface defined as an integral extension of the inner tread surface without any surface break line between the radially outer surface and the inner tread surface, and including an axially outer surface projecting axially at least as far as any other part of the first sidewall to protect the first sidewall from damaging engagement with foreign objects;
• wherein the first sidewall includes an axially outer sidewall profile when viewed in a radial cross-section;
• and
• wherein the axially outer surface of the circumferentially continuous sidewall protector rib projects axially beyond the axially outer sidewall profile immediately adjacent the circumferentially continuous sidewall protector rib at least 0.25 inch.

A pneumatic tire, comprising:

• first and second sidewalls;
• a tread area extending between the first and second sidewalls, the tread area including an inner tread surface and at least a first circumferential row of lugs extending radially outward from the inner tread surface adjacent the first sidewall;
• and
• a circumferentially continuous sidewall protector rib including a radially outer surface defined as an integral extension of the inner tread surface without any surface break line between the radially outer surface and the inner tread surface, and including an axially outer surface projecting axially at least as far as any other part of the first sidewall to protect the first sidewall from damaging engagement with foreign objects;
• wherein each lug of the first circumferential row of lugs includes an axially outward facing outer surface including a step portion adjacent the inner tread surface, the step portions of the lugs of the first circumferential row of lugs forming a circumferentially broken sidewall protector rib located immediately radially outward of the circumferentially continuous sidewall protector rib and axially projecting from the first sidewall less than the axially outer surface of the circumferentially continuous sidewall protector rib.

A pneumatic tire, comprising:

• first and second sidewalls;
• a tread area extending between the first and second sidewalls, the tread area including an inner tread surface and at least a first circumferential row of lugs extending radially outward from the inner tread surface adjacent the first sidewall;
• and;
• a circumferentially continuous sidewall protector rib including a radially outer surface defined as an integral extension of the inner tread surface without any surface break line between the radially outer surface and the inner tread surface, and including an axially outer surface projecting axially at least as far as any other part of the first sidewall to protect the first sidewall from damaging engagement with foreign objects;
• wherein the tire has an aspect ratio of no greater than 80% and fits on a wheel rim of 28 inches diameter.

A pneumatic tire, comprising:

• first and second sidewalls;
• a tread portion extending between the first and second sidewalls, the tread portion including a radially inner tread base, and a plurality of lugs extending radially outward from the base, the first sidewall having a sidewall height extending radially from a radially innermost part of the first sidewall to a radially outer ground engaging surface of the tread portion;
• a circumferentially continuous sidewall protector rib located entirely above 60% of the sidewall height, the circumferentially continuous sidewall protector rib projecting axially outward at least as far as any other part of the first sidewall when the tire is in an inflated loaded condition;
• and
• a circumferentially non-continuous sidewall protector rib located radially outward from and radially adjacent to the circumferentially continuous sidewall protector rib, the circumferentially non-continuous sidewall protector rib projecting axially outward beyond the first sidewall a distance less than does the circumferentially continuous sidewall protector rib.

A pneumatic tire, comprising:

• first and second sidewall portions;
• a tread portion extending between the first and second sidewall portions, the tread portion including a floor and at least a first circumferentially spaced row of lugs, each lug of the first row of lugs including an axially outer surface facing in generally the same axial direction as does the first sidewall, each axially outer surface including an axially outwardly projecting step projecting axially outward from the axially outer surface and adjoining the floor;
• and
• a circumferentially continuous sidewall protector rib projecting axially outward from the first sidewall portion and located radially inward of and radially adjacent to the axially outwardly projecting steps of the axially outer surfaces of the lugs of the first row of lugs, the circumferentially continuous sidewall protector rib projecting axially outward further than the axially outwardly projecting steps.