Patent ID: 6427742
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: B60C,Y10T

Abstract:
A pneumatic radial ply tire (10) for mounting onto a 5Â° tapered bead seat design rim (22), the tire (10) having a nominal rim diameter NRD, a tread (12), a pair of reinforcing belts (39) located radially inward of the tread (12), a pair of sidewalls (14) extending radially inward from the tread (12), and a tire carcass structure (16) having a pair of bead portions (25) extending radially inwardly from each sidewall (14) each bead portion (25) having a substantially inextensible bead core (20) and at least one cord reinforced ply (17) extending from one bead portion (25) to the opposite bead portion (25), the tire (10) characterized by:each bead core (20) has a generally flat base (44) having at least 6 wire ends when viewed in cross-section, the flat base (44) being inclined relative to an axis of rotation of the bead at an angle of at least 15Â° as measured from an axially inner location (54) of the flat base (44) to an axially outer location (56) wherein radially inward of the bead core flat base (44), the bead portion (25) has a radially inner bead heel surface (60), the radially inner bead heel surface (60) having a toe portion (63) and a heel portion (65) and disposed between the bead toe (63) and heel (65) is a central portion (61), the central portion (61) being inclined at an angle of at least 10Â° relative to the axis of rotation of the bead and being at least 4Â° less than the angle of the flat base side, the flat base side (44) having an axial width of at least 50% of the axial width of bead heel surface (60).