METHOD OF COMPENSATING FOR RESIDUAL ALIGNING TORQUE (RAT)

摘要

A method for changing the residual aligning torque (RAT) of a pneumatic tire by forming angled sipes in certain of the tread blocks in at least a pair of circumferentially extending ribs, each rib being located on an opposite side of the 5mid-circumferential plane of the tire. The sipes in the tread blocks in one of the ribs are formed at an inclined angle opposite to the inclined angle of the sipes in the tread blocks in the opposite rib. The RAT can also be changed by varying the depth and width of the opposed angled sipes.