Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin

Constantin Lazar

Francois Hottebart

Mark E Collett

Brian William Jenkins

Martin Lipham

The present invention includes tire treads having a sipe () and a void feature () in fluid communication with the sipe. Particular embodiments of the present invention also include methods for forming the same. In various embodiments, the sipe has a length, a height, and a thickness that is variable across the length and height of the sipe. The thickness of the sipe includes a thick portion () and a thin portion (), the thick portion at least partially extending around a perimeter of the thin portion. In particular embodiments, the void feature () which is in fluid communication with the sipe extends primarily in a direction of the sipe length and has a width extending in the direction of the sipe thickness equal to or greater than substantially 1 millimeter.

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Greenville, SC, United States of America

Constantin Lazar