Tire having ribs, circumferential grooves and sipe pairs

摘要

Tire having a tread pattern with superior performance characteristics. The tread pattern includes ribs and circumferential grooves which are at least one of tapered and/or generally V-shaped. The walls of each circumferential groove have a wavy and/or sinusoidal contour extending in a generally circumferential direction.

主权项

1. A tire comprising:
a tread pattern having ribs; circumferential grooves which are at least one of tapered and generally V-shaped, wherein walls of each of the circumferential grooves have inwardly and outwardly curved portions which form a wavy and/or sinusoidal contour extending in a generally circumferential direction, wherein the walls extend to a tread surface and form first and second opening edges, the first opening edge having inwardly curved portions, outwardly curved portions, and spaced-apart straight portions, the second opening edge having inwardly curved portions, outwardly curved portions, and spaced-apart straight portions, and a theoretical center line perpendicular to an axis of rotation running along the circumferential direction completely residing between the first and second opening edges; and sipe pairs which break up the first and second opening edges of each of the circumferential grooves, wherein the sipe pairs define the straight portions; and each straight portion extends from a sipe to another sipe and each outwardly curved portion extends from a sipe toward another sipe.