Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin

Compagnie Generale Des Etablissments Michelin

Mark E Collett

Francois Hottebart

Jason Zychiewicz

Philip Kovanis

Jason Schoenmaker

Martin Lipham

Constantin Lazar

David Freeman

Tire

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.

Variable thickness sipes

Tire tread including one or more tread elements arranged between a pair of discontinuities extending in a direction of the tread width. The first and second longitudinally-spaced sides of the tread element are spaced-apart in a direction of the tread length. The first longitudinally-spaced side is oriented at an average first-side angle relative to the depthwise direction of the tread and the second longitudinally-spaced side is oriented at an average second-side angle relative to the depthwise direction of the tread. An average inclination angle comprising a combined average of the average first side-angle and the second side-angle for all of the one or more tread elements along the first and second longitudinally-spaced sides is substantially greater than zero.

Tire treads having tread elements with inclined leading sides

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Greenville, SC, United States of America

Mark E Collett