Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin

Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.a.

Robert Cecil Lawson

Sadi Kose

Damon Lee Christenbury

Jeffrey Thomas Warfford

Timothy A White

Jason Zychiewicz

David Scott Morgan

Phillip Check

Mark Daurer

A tire tread () having one or more grooves (), one or more split bridges () arranged in each groove (), wherein the one or more split bridges () having a narrow gap () arranged along the width of the corresponding split bridge () and extending fully across the length and height of the corresponding split bridge (), a top side of the one or more split bridges () is arranged closest to an outer side () of the tread (), at least a portion of the top side is spaced apart from the outer side () of the tread () in a direction of a depth of the groove () by a variable distance, and a bottom side of the one or more split bridges () is spaced apart from a bottom of the groove () to form a void between the corresponding split bridge () and the bottom of the groove ().

Tire tread

The present invention includes tire treads having a plurality of sipes () where at least one of the opposing sides of the sipe thickness includes a plurality of projections () and recesses () and a method for forming the same.

Egg crate sidewall features for sipes

Embodiments of the invention include methods for reducing deformation of a sipe-molding member () arising during manufacturing operations, and sipe-molding members () comprising a sipe-forming portion () and a plurality of stiffening members () spaced along the sipe-forming portion. The sipe-forming portion () has a length extending in a lengthwise direction of the sipe-molding member (), a height configured to extend into a depth of a molding cavity, and a thickness extending perpendicular to both the length and height. The sipe-molding member () is configured to form a sipe having a thickness commensurate with the thickness of the sipe-forming portion, a length formed by at least a portion of the length of the sipe-forming portion, and a depth formed by at least a portion of the height of the sipe-forming portion. Each of the plurality of stiffening members () extend outwardly from the thickness of the sipe-forming element. Further embodiments include methods of forming a molded tire tread.

Stiffeners for sipe-molding members

The present invention includes tire treads () and a method for forming tire treads () having a sipe () with a length extending between opposing terminal ends of the sipe and having a height and a thickness which is variable across the length and height of the sipe. The thickness of the sipe () includes a sipe portion arranged between the opposing terminal ends defining the sipe length and having a thick portion extending at least partially around a perimeter of a thin portion. The thin portion is substantially 0.2 millimeters or less thick and forms at least 40% of the surface area along each of the opposing sides of the sipe, the opposing sides being arranged on opposing sides of the sipe thickness.

Tire tread comprising variable thickness sipes with multiple areas of reduced thickness

Particular embodiments of the invention include a tire tread having a plurality of tread elements including one or more shoulder elements arranged along a first lateral side edge of the tread. The one or more shoulder elements include a recessed terminal side spaced apart from the first lateral side edge, where the recessed terminal side is offset in a direction of the tread width towards the second lateral side edge from a pair of adjacent terminal sides of the one or more shoulder elements. A sipe is arranged in connection with a submerged void within the tread thickness, where the sipe and submerged void extend in a direction of the tread width towards a second lateral side edge from the recessed terminal side such that the sipe and submerged void are recessed from the pair of adjacent terminal sides.

Tire tread with sipe

Particular embodiments of the present invention include a multi-stage tire tread having two or more wear layers comprising an outer wear layer and one or more inner wear layers arranged within the thickness of the tread below the outer wear layer and one or more outer grooves are arranged within the outer wear layer. The tread further includes a volumetric void ratio equal to approximately 0.25 to 0.40 in the unworn condition and approximately 0.25 to 0.40 in a worn condition where the outer, ground-engaging side is arranged along one of the inner wear layers in the worn condition, the tread further having a contact surface ratio equal to approximately 0.66-0.72 in the unworn condition and approximately 0.56-0.66 in the worn condition.

Tire tread having a plurality of wear layers

Particular embodiments of the present invention include a multi-stage tire tread having two or more wear layers comprising an outer wear layer and one or more inner wear layers arranged within the thickness of the tread below the outer wear layer. One or more outer grooves are arranged within the outer wear layer, while one or more inner grooves arranged within at least one of the one or more inner wear layers. The tread further includes a volumetric void ratio equal to approximately 0.25 to 0.40 in the unworn condition and approximately 0.25 to 0.40 in a worn condition where the outer, ground-engaging side is arranged along one of the inner wear layers in the worn condition, the tread further having a contact surface ratio equal to approximately 0.66-0.72 in the unworn condition and approximately 0.56-0.66 in the worn condition.

Growing community of inventors

Pelzer, SC, United States of America

Robert Cecil Lawson