The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.

Takeshi Kaneko

Takumi Morito

Yukio Kuroda

Kenichiro Endo

Yoshifumi Koishikawa

Takanori Uemura

Seiji Iga

Takashi Maki

A tire includes a mounting direction indicator indicating a tire mounting direction with respect to a vehicle. Additionally, the tire includes a first circumferential groove and a second circumferential groove extending intermittently or continuously in a tire circumferential direction. Additionally, the second circumferential groove is located further on an inner side than the first circumferential groove in a vehicle width direction in a state in which the tire is mounted on a vehicle. In addition, a distance D1 from the tire equatorial plane to the groove center line of the first circumferential groove and a distance D2 from the second circumferential groove to the groove center line have the relationship D1<D.

Tire

A tire includes a mounting direction indicator that indicates a tire mounting direction with respect to a vehicle. The tire includes a first circumferential groove and a second circumferential groove extending intermittently or continuously in a tire circumferential direction. Additionally, the second circumferential groove is located further on an inner side than the first circumferential groove in a vehicle width direction in a state in which the tire is mounted on a vehicle. Additionally, a groove volume Vof the first circumferential groove and a groove volume Vof the second circumferential groove have the relationship V<V

In a tire, each of first and second circumferential grooves include groove portions arranged discontinuously in a row in a circumferential direction. The groove portions are arranged in a staggered manner in the circumferential direction. A distance D1 from an equatorial plane to a center line of the first circumferential groove and a distance D2 from the equatorial plane to a center line of the second circumferential groove satisfy 0.90≤D2/D1≤1.10. A maximum groove width W1 of the groove portion of the first circumferential groove and a maximum groove width W2 of the groove portion of the second circumferential groove satisfy 0.90≤W2/W1≤1.10. A maximum circumferential length L1 of the groove portion of the first circumferential groove and a maximum circumferential length L2 of the groove portion of the second circumferential groove satisfy 0.90≤L2/L1≤1.10.

Automobile tire

A region on a sidewall surface of at least one of a pair of side portions of a pneumatic tire includes a maximum tire width position. The region is provided with a plurality of recesses shaped as dimples varying periodically in size along a tire circumferential direction, and with a plurality of trough portions shaped as lines, disposed around each of the recesses, and extending unidirectionally so as to cover the recesses. The recesses are, for example, at least three types of circular recesses, each type having a different size. Here, the circular recesses vary stepwise in size along the tire circumferential direction. The bottom face of the circular recesses is spherical. The maximum depth of the circular recesses is constant irrespective of size, being from 0.3 mm to 1.5 mm.

Growing community of inventors

Hiratsuka, Japan

Takeshi Kaneko