Patent ID: 7222651
Filing Date: 2007-05-29
Classification: B29D,B60C

Abstract:
1. A vehicle comprising a road-engaging tire and a wheel, said tire comprising: a pair of bead portions; a pair of sidewall portions; a tread portion; and the tire having a plurality of ribs and grooves that form (i) a radially outwardly facing tread surface and (ii) a side surface that extends radially inwardly of the radially outwardly facing tread surface, said tire being mounted on the wheel of the vehicle such that the tire directly contacts the road, and at least one of the ribs forming the side surface having low friction material that defines at least a portion of the side surface, wherein the rib forming said side surface is separated from a central region of the tread by a groove extending circumferentially of the tire, wherein a portion of the low friction material nearest the tread surface is spaced from the tread surface by a distance less than the depth of the groove extending circumferentially of the tire, and the low friction material is arranged to engage a road in response to side forces exerted on the tire and to reduce frictional forces between the tire and the road when the low friction material contacts the road, thereby minimizing vehicle rollover or oversteer.