Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin

Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.a.

Michelin Recherche Et Technique

Societe Detechnologie Michelin

Paul Andrew Mayni

Daniel McEachern Hicks

Michael Craig Andrews

Stefan Voss

Kai Chun Yang

William R Hudek

Luz M Restrepo

Nathan Joel Panning

Joseph A Stain

Ralston Horace Moore

Nicholas Mailhiot

David Lee Pressley

Charles Andrew McPillan

Tony Zivkovic

Jeremy Trowbridge

Virgile Ayglon

William Bennett Clayton

Juan-Pablo Gallego

Benoit Marie Foucher

Lisa Bachtel

Anant Jha

Bill Hudek

Michael Andrews

A heavy truck tire tread () is provided that has a partially hidden longitudinal groove () with an undersurface channel () engaged by a longitudinal sipe (). The partially hidden longitudinal groove () has a surface opening () that extends from a surface of the tread to the undersurface channel (). The tread () has at least one of two features. The first feature is that the surface opening () extends from the surface to the undersurface channel () at an angle to the thickness direction such that the surface opening () at the surface is forward of the surface opening () at the undersurface channel () in the rolling direction (). The second feature is that a lateral sipe () engages the surface opening () so that the first end is at the surface opening (), and the second end is forward of the first end in the rolling direction ().

Truck tire having water flow orienting tread feature

Tire

A heavy truck tire is provided that includes a casing with a central axis, and a rubber tread that has a first layer and a second layer. The first layer is located farther from the central axis in a radial direction than the second layer. The first layer has a lower max tan(&#x3b4;) than a max tan(&#x3b4;) of the second layer. The max tan(&#x3b4;) of the first layer is from 0.06-0.15, and the max tan(&#x3b4;) of the second layer is from 0.12-0.27. The tire also has a sculptural feature that reduces irregular wear.

Truck tire with tread design for reducing abnormal wear

A tread () for a heavy truck tire having a groove () with a bottom () and a stone ejector () located within the groove () that extends upwards from the groove bottom () wherein the stone ejector () has a front side (), a back side () and an upper surface () that extends at different distances upwards at different locations on the upper surface () such that a first location () on the upper surface () is located closer to the back side () and extends a longer distance upwards than a second location () on the upper surface () that is located closer to the front side ().

Inclined stone ejector for irregular wear protection

Tire tread

A tire tread having features that improve thermal wear performance is provided. A tread block is provided with an aperture. The aperture is positioned and sized in a manner that reduces stresses and/or strains in the tread block so as to reduce thermal wear. Certain variations in the depth and shape of the aperture are provided. Such tread feature can provide for a tire capable of operating at higher speeds for a given load.

Tread block with features for improved thermal wear

A tire having aggressive tread features with improvements in uniformity that can also improve endurance is provided along with a method and apparatus for manufacturing such a tire. The tire and its manner of manufacture can achieve a reduction or elimination of certain non-uniformities that can occur during the molding of large tread blocks. The reduction or removal of these non-uniformities can improve temperature performance to provide increased tire endurance.

Method and tire for improved uniformity and endurance of aggressive tread designs

This invention relates generally to treads having a configuration and/or properties for improving or preventing irregular wear on the tread of a tire, and, more specifically, to a tire that has a tread with a gradient of properties that helps to prevent or improve irregular wear, especially suitable for tires that are free rolling such as steer or trailer tires used on trucks.

Tread having a gradient of properties for improving irregular wear

The present invention relates to a method of retreading a tire and a retread tire () made by this method. The method comprises the steps of providing a tread layer () having a tread side () and a sole side () wherein the surface of the sole side () includes a plurality of tread elements () such as sipes and/or grooves or other void. Each tread element () has a first edge () and a second edge () at the surface of the sole side () of the tread layer (). At least one of the first edge () and second edge () is formed to have a break edge () such as a rounded edge or a chamfered edge of 0.4 mm or more. The break edge () removes the sharp corner and provides increased endurance for the retreaded tire ().

Method for improved retread endurance

Growing community of inventors

Greenville, SC, United States of America

Paul Andrew Mayni