Patent ID: 6837285
Filing Date: 2005-01-04
Classification: B60C,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A tread of a vehicle tire comprising: a tread layer of rubber material having an outer surface, and the tread layer including pattern blocks separated from each other by wider grooves, and at least in part of these pattern blocks fine slits substantially narrower than the grooves and having a slit depth, each of the slits comprising within an area of the pattern block at least one bend or at least one end, wherein at least part of the pattern blocks comprises surface tear points between at least two adjacent slits, at least the two adjacent slits are both of a first slit type which includes two bends which open in substantially opposite directions, and at least both slits are interlaced in a row in uniform positions forming webs of a first type so that principal directions of intermediate sections between the two bends of the slits are either parallel or gradually changing their direction in a fan-like manner, and the row of interlaced slits is inclined with respect to a circumferential direction; each of the surface tear points formed by webs located between an end of at least a first adjacent slit and an intermediate section of at least a second adjacent slit; and nubs inside the pattern blocks defined by the adjacent slits and respective webs, the nubs having surface-areas; wherein the webs have a thickness and a width dimensioned according to the rubber material of the tread layer so that, as the tire is in use during driving, the web tears into a tear depth inwardly from said outer surface of the tread, the tear depth being substantially smaller than the slit depth and at least 0.5 mm, and the width of the webs being at most five times a width of the slits.