HYDROPLANING PERFORMANCE FOR A TIRE

摘要

This invention relates generally to an improved design that provides better hydroplaning performance for a tire, and, more specifically, to a tire that has a variable pressure shear band located below its tread that provides increased structural stiffness to the tire, helping the tire to resist deformation when the tire encounters water, thereby decreasing the tendency of the tire to hydroplane. Advantageously, the variable pressure shear band can improve the hydroplaning performance and rolling resistance simultaneously without degrading wear performance.

主权项

1. A tire with a ground contacting portion and having radial, longitudinal and axial directions and an equatorial plane, said tire comprising a variable pressure shear band including:
a shear layer having a cross-section wherein the product (Geff*h) varies in the axial direction of the tire; a first membrane that is adhered to the radially inward extent of the shear layer said first membrane having reinforcements wrapped spirally in the longitudinal direction; and a second membrane that is adhered to the radially outward extent of the shear layer, said second membrane comprising annular reinforcements that are posed substantially in the longitudinal direction of the tire, wherein Geff is the effective dynamic shear modulus and h is the height of the shear layer.