Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC

The B. F. Goodrich Company

Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC

Michael A Berzins

John J Regallis

Neel K Mani

Todd Alan Buxton

Jacob R Kidney

David A Johnson

Cory Williams

Gregg Rasor

Kenneth D Marshall

Sam Givens

Tire tread

An improved method for determining an initial flat spot magnitude on a tire that has been resting for a period of time on a substantially flat surface uses regression analysis. In accordance with the method, values of a tire flat spot magnitude for a particular type of tire are determined at a number of measurement intervals by a uniformity machine that spins the tire. An equation having at least two exponentially decaying terms is then determined that corresponds to the measured data points. Regression analysis is then used to determine an estimate for an initial flat spot magnitude. The method can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of different tire designs with respect to flat spot recovery rates.

Method for approximating tire flat spot decay and magnitude using regressive analysis

A tractor tire is disclosed having widely spaced lug pairs with a symmetrical Y-shaped footprint, each lug pair having inclined transverse lugs and an elongated longitudinal nose portion at the peripheral centerline providing a central lug projecting in the direction of tire rotation and overlapping the trailing end portions of the next adjacent lug pair. The unique lug arrangement minimizes vibration to improve safety during operation on the highway while retaining the characteristics required for effective off-the-road (OTR) performance on soft ground.

Antivibration tractor tire

Growing community of inventors

Brecksville, OH, United States of America

Michael A Berzins