Patent ID: 8662123
Filing Date: 2014-03-04
Classification: B60C

Abstract:
1. A tire having a rubber tread of a cap/base construction comprised of an outer rubber tread cap layer containing an outer running surface and an underlying rubber tread base layer, wherein said tread cap layer is comprised of a plurality of circumferential, longitudinal rubber tread cap zones of graduated physical properties, wherein said tread cap zones individually extend from said tread cap running surface radially inward to said tread base layer: wherein said tread cap zones are comprised of two primary tread cap zones, one central tread cap zone and two lateral tread cap zones; wherein said central tread cap zone is positioned between said primary tread cap zones and spans at least 5 percent of the total running surface of the tread cap layer, wherein said primary tread cap zones are of unequal widths and collectively span at least 50 percent of the total running surface of the tread cap layer, wherein said lateral tread cap zones are of substantially equal widths, span at least 5 percent of the total running surface of the tread cap layer and are individually positioned axially outward from said primary tread cap zone, wherein, said individual rubber tread cap zones are characterized by: (A) viscoelastic properties comprised of: (B) viscoelastic properties comprised of: (C) viscoelastic properties comprised of: (D) viscoelastic properties comprised of: (E) viscoelastic properties comprised of: wherein the running surface of said lateral tread cap zones is positioned axially outward of the free rolling footprint of the tire when inflated and running under 75 percent of its rated load and are thereby intended to be ground-contacting only under cornering conditions.