HIGH-GRIP PROFILED TREAD SKIMS

摘要

A tire tread is provided that in an unworn state includes one or more tread features having a layer of a relatively softer, higher grip rubber material. This layer is formed from a first rubber composition that is provided as a skim or relatively thin layer at the contact surface of the tread feature. This skim provides the grip needed as the tire starts to warm up but can then wear away after an initial period of use so that the contact surface is eventually formed from a second rubber composition. This second rubber composition, in turn, provides the desired level of grip and acceptable wear at the higher temperatures that occur as the tire heats up from use. The layer of skim can be profiled depending upon the application and performance characteristics needed.

主权项

1. A tire adapted for mounting onto a rim of a vehicle, the tire having a predetermined orientation for mounting on the vehicle such that the tire defines an outboard shoulder and an inboard shoulder that are spaced apart along an axial direction of the tire with the inboard shoulder located axially inward of the outboard shoulder relative to the vehicle, the tire including a tread having a thickness along a radial direction of the tire, the tread defining a plurality of discrete tread features that are separated from each other along the axial direction by grooves, wherein in an unworn state along the axial direction from the outboard side to the inboard side, the tread features comprise:
an outboard tread feature positioned along the outboard shoulder of the tire and having an outboard contact surface, the outboard tread feature comprising
a first layer comprising a first rubber composition forming at least part of the outboard contact surface;a second layer wholly supporting the first layer of the outboard tread feature and comprising a second rubber composition; a first interior tread feature positioned axially inward of the outboard tread feature and having a first interior contact surface, wherein the first interior tread feature comprises
a first layer comprising the first rubber composition and forming part of the first interior contact surface;a second layer wholly supporting the first layer of the first interior tread feature and comprising the second rubber composition, the second layer of the first interior tread feature also forming part of the first interior contact surface; and an inboard tread feature positioned along the inboard shoulder of the tire and having an inboard contact surface; wherein the first rubber composition has an elastic modulus that is about eighty percent or less of the second rubber composition.