Patent ID: 6022082
Filing Date: 2000-02-08
Classification: B60B

Abstract:
A system for selectively providing enhanced traction to a vehicle's tires comprising:a pair of expanded rotatable tire portions having non-studded peripheral tread, said pair of tire portions mounted to a common rotatable mounting bracket in fixed spaced apart relation;an expandable tire portion having a peripheral tread with studs mounted on the tread, said expandable tire portion mounted between and confined by the pair of expanded tire portions, in fixed relation rotatably to the pair of tire portions;said expandable tire portion as mounted between the pair of tire portions having a deflated configuration and an inflated configuration, said deflated configuration providing said expandable tire including studs projected therefrom with a circumference that is within the circumference of said pair of tire portions and said inflated configuration providing said expandable tire with the studs thereof projected outward of the circumference of said pair of tire portions, said pair of tire portions and said expandable tire portion in its inflated configuration having similar properties of resiliency whereby all three tire portions share a load imposed by the vehicle's weight, and whereby the tread of all three tire portions cooperatively grip a road surface; anda valve mechanism provided for said expandable tire and a media source engageable with said valve mechanism to selectively inflate and deflate said expandable tire.