PNEUMATIC TIRE

In a pneumatic tire provided with a pattern on a surface of a sidewall, the pattern has a plurality of annular figures that are longer in a tire circumferential direction than in a tire radial direction. The plural annular figures have different sizes from one another, which are arranged so that a larger annular figure is placed on an outer side of a smaller annular figure without crossing each other, and so that intervals of the annular figures differ on one side and the other side in the tire circumferential direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire.

2. Description of the Related Art

There has been known a pneumatic tire provided with a pattern formed by arranging a plurality of ridges extending along a tire surface on a surface of a sidewall.

Many of patterns in related art provided on the surface of the sidewall are formed by arranging many ridges extending in straight lines at equal intervals. Moreover, JP-A-2014-180947(Patent Literature 1) discloses a pattern in which curved-line ridges are arranged at equal intervals. Every pattern increases designability of the sidewall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Patterns in various modes have been proposed until now; however, an innovative pattern to create new-type visual effects is required.

An object of the invention is to provide a pneumatic tire in which visual effects can be created.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a pneumatic tire including a pattern on a surface of a sidewall, in which the pattern has a plurality of annular figures that are longer in a tire circumferential direction than in a tire radial direction, and the plural annular figures have different sizes from one another, which are arranged so that a larger annular figure is placed on an outer side of a smaller annular figure without crossing each other, and so that intervals of the annular figures differ on one side and the other side in the tire circumferential direction.

As the present invention has the above features, contrast in the tire circumferential direction is improved and visual effects having directionality can be created.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

A pneumatic tire1according to a first embodiment has the same structure as a common radial tire except a structure of a sidewall.FIG.1shows a cross-sectional structure of the pneumatic tire1according to the embodiment.FIG.1shows only a half of the structure in a tire axial direction, and the actual pneumatic tire1is approximately right-and-left symmetrical with respect to a center line C.

The pneumatic tire1is provided with beads9on both sides in the tire axial direction. Each bead9includes a bead core formed of steel wire wound in a circular shape and a rubber bead filler provided on an outer side in a radial direction of the bead core.

One or two carcass plies2are hung across the beads9on both sides in the tire axial direction. The carcass ply2is a sheet-shaped member in which many ply cords aligned in a direction orthogonal to a tire circumferential direction are coated with rubber. The carcass plies2form a frame shape of the pneumatic tire1between the beads9on both sides in the tire axial direction and wrap the beads9by being turned up from the inside to the outside in the tire axial direction and being wound up around the beads9. Moreover, a rubber chafer3is provided at a place on an outer side in the tire axial direction of a turned-up portion2aof the carcass plies2.

One or a plurality of belts4are provided on an outer side in a tire radial direction of the carcass plies2, and a belt reinforcing layer5is provided on an outer side in the tire radial direction of the belts4. The belt4is a member formed of many steel cords coated with rubber. The belt reinforcing layer5is a member formed of many organic fiber cords coated with rubber. A tread rubber6is provided on an outer side in the tire radial direction of the belt reinforcing layer5. Many grooves are formed on the tread rubber6to form a tread pattern.

Sidewall rubbers7are provided on both sides in the tire axial direction of the carcass plies2. The tread rubber6and the sidewall rubber7overlap each other on a buttress; however, any of the tread rubber6and the sidewall rubber7may overlap on the tire surface side. A portion of the sidewall rubber7on an inner side in the tire radial direction extends close to the bead9and covers part of the rubber chafer3. In the embodiment, not only a portion where the sidewall rubber7appears on the tire surface but also the entire range which can be visually recognized when the pneumatic tire1is seen from the tire axial direction is regarded as a sidewall10.

A sheet-shaped inner liner8made of rubber with low air permeability is bonded to the inside of the carcass ply2. In addition to these members, members such as a belt-under pad and a chafer are provided according to functional need of the tire.

As shown inFIG.1andFIG.2, a decorative area11and a band-shaped area40are provided on at least one of the sidewalls10on both sides in the tire axial direction.

The decorative area11is an annular area centered at a tire rotation axis. The decorative area11is an area with a fixed width, which is surrounded by an inner diameter-side line12having a circular shape with a small diameter and an outer diameter-side line13having a circular shape with a larger diameter than the inner diameter-side line12. The inner diameter-side line12and the outer diameter-side line13may be lines formed by recesses/protrusions or steps on the tire surface, or may be virtual lines not actually exist. A width HA in a tire radial direction RD of the decorative area11is 5% or more to 60% or less (preferably 10% or more to 35% or less) of a tire cross-sectional height H (a length from an inner diameter end of the bead core to an outer diameter surface of the pneumatic tire1in the tire radial direction RD).

A place of the decorative area11in the tire radial direction RD is a place including a position of the maximum width of the pneumatic tire1. Here, the position of the maximum width of the pneumatic tire1is a position where a length in the tire axial direction from the surface of one sidewall10in the tire axial direction to the surface of the other sidewall10in the tire axial direction is the longest.

The decorative area11may be provided so as to include a place where steps tend to appear on the surface of the sidewall10. The place where steps tend to appear on the surface of the sidewall10typically includes places at ends of tire constituting members such as a place where an interface between the tread rubber6and the sidewall rubber7appears on the tire surface and a place overlapping an end of the turned-up portion2aof the carcass plies2in a tire width direction.

As shown inFIG.2, marking areas11ain which markings16are formed are provided at two places opposite to each other in the tire radial direction in the annular decorative area11. Pattern areas11bin which patterns30are formed are provided at two places opposite to each other in the tire radial direction in the annular decorative area11. Each pattern area11bis provided so as to be sandwiched between the two marking areas11ain the tire circumferential direction.

In order to allow sufficient space between the marking area11aand the pattern area11bwhich are adjacent to each other in the tire circumferential direction, the minimum value of an interval LB between an end of the marking area11aand an end of the pattern area11b(a length from and end of the marking16provided in the marking area11ato an end of the pattern30provided in the pattern area11bin a tire circumferential direction CD) is set to 3 mm. Moreover, in order to secure a sufficient area of the patterns30provided in the decorative area11, the maximum value of the interval LB between the marking area11aand the pattern area11bis set to 60% of a length LA of the marking area11ain the tire circumferential direction CD (an interval between markings16provided at both ends in the tire circumferential direction of the marking area11a).

One or a plurality of markings16are formed to be arranged in the tire circumferential direction CD in the marking area11a. The markings16are formed of letters, numerals, a symbol, a figure, or the like, indicating information such as a manufacturer, a brand, a type, and a size of the tire. The markings16included in the marking area11aare formed by being edged by lines of grooves or ridges.

A plurality of patterns30are formed to be arranged in the tire circumferential direction CD in the pattern area11b. The pattern30is formed by combining a plurality of annularFIGS.31having sizes different from one another as shown inFIG.2andFIG.3. It is preferable that the pattern30is formed by combining five or more annularFIGS.31.

Any of the plural annularFIGS.31forming the pattern30is an annular figure that is longer in the tire circumferential direction CD than in the tire radial direction RD. The plural annularFIGS.31have an approximately elliptical shape in the embodiment.

A ratio of a length in the tire radial direction RD to a length in the tire circumferential direction CD of the plural annularFIG.31is preferably 0.5 or more to 0.8 or less. A length in the tire radial direction RD of the largest annularFIG.31in the plural annularFIGS.31is preferably 50% or more to 95% or less of the width HA in the tire radial direction RD of the decorative area11.

The plural annularFIGS.31forming the pattern30are arranged so that a larger annularFIG.31is placed on an outer side of a smaller annularFIG.31without crossing each other. The plural annularFIGS.31are also arranged so that intervals of the annularFIGS.31differ on one side and on the other side in the tire circumferential direction.

Specifically, the larger annularFIGS.31are sequentially arranged on the outer side of smaller annularFIGS.31so as to surround smaller annularFIGS.31without contacting the figures except at an overlapping part32. That is, the plural annularFIGS.31are arranged so as to form the overlapping part32where the annularFIGS.31overlap one another at one end part in the tire circumferential direction CD, to form a first separated part33where the annularFIGS.31are arranged at intervals on the other side in the tire circumferential direction CD, and to form second separated parts34where the annularFIGS.31are arranged at intervals on both sides in the tire radial direction RD.

The plural annularFIGS.31may be provided so as to be disposed at equal intervals at the first separated part33provided on the other side in the tire circumferential direction CD. It is also preferable that the plural annularFIGS.31are provided so that the interval of the annularFIGS.31is gradually increased from the annularFIG.31arranged on an inner side toward an outer side at the first separated part33. A specific numerical value of the interval of the annularFIGS.31at the first separated part33(a distance of a position farthest from the overlapping part32on the annularFIG.31) is, for example, 0.6 mm or more to 2.4 mm or less.

Any of the plural annularFIGS.31is formed by connecting recessed grooves recessed from the surface of the sidewall or ridges protruding from the surface of the sidewall into a ring shape. When the annularFIGS.31are formed of ridges20, a cross-sectional shape of the ridges20in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction includes a semicircular shape as shown inFIG.4, a shape made of a semicircle and straight lines thereunder as shown inFIG.5, a triangular shape as shown inFIG.6, a shape in which an apex of a triangle is rounded by an arc as shown inFIG.7, a trapezoidal shape as shown inFIG.8, a rectangular shape as shown inFIG.9, and so on. Here, the shape in which the apex of the triangle is rounded is a kind of triangles. Moreover, shapes in which the above cross-sectional shapes are slightly deformed such as a sawtooth shape obtained by deforming triangles inFIG.6to be inclined or other shapes may be adopted, though not shown. Note that lines drawn as the annularFIGS.31inFIG.2andFIG.3are center lines in a width direction of the ridges20(lines at positions denoted by “T” inFIG.4toFIG.9).

In the ridges20with any of the cross-sectional shapes shown inFIG.4toFIG.9, a height H1of the ridge20is 0.1 mm or more to 0.8 mm or less (preferably 0.1 mm or more to 0.4 mm or less). In the ridges20with any of the cross-sectional shapes, a width W1of the ridge20is 0.1 mm or more to 1.0 mm or less. The ridges20can be formed by a mold to be used at the time of vulcanization molding. The ridges20can be formed by various processing such as machine processing and laser processing. Small ridges20with the height H1of approximately 0.1 to 0.2 mm and the width W1of approximately 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm can be formed by a mold in which fine irregularities are formed by laser processing.

When a radius of the semicircles inFIG.4andFIG.5is “R”, a length H2of the straight line in the ridge20having the cross-sectional shape made of the semicircle and the straight lines shown inFIG.5is represented by (the height H1of the ridge20)—(the radius R of the semicircle). Moreover, in the ridge20having the trapezoidal shape in cross section as shown inFIG.8, a length W2of an upper base is 20% or more to 50% or less of a length of a lower base (namely, the width W1of the ridge20).

In the embodiment, a plurality of patterns30are provided in the decorative area11at intervals in the tire circumferential direction CD as shown inFIG.2. All patterns30are provided in the decorative area11so that the overlapping parts32are placed on one side in the tire circumferential direction CD. It is also preferable that the plural patterns30are arranged so that other patterns30are placed at opposite positions with the tire rotation axis interposed therebetween when seen from the tire axial direction as shown inFIG.2.

The band-shaped area40is an annular area provided adjacent to an outer circumference of the decorative area11. A plurality of ridges41raised from an outer surface of the sidewall10are provided in the band-shaped area40. The plural ridges41are arranged at equal intervals of 0.3 to 1.9 mm in the tire circumferential direction CD according to the embodiment. The band-shaped area40may be provided at part of the circumference in the tire circumferential direction CD, but is provided over the entire circumference in the tire circumferential direction CD in this example. Accordingly, the band-shaped area40is formed in an annular shape adjacent to the outside of the decorative area11and surrounding the entire circumference thereof. A dimension HC (seeFIG.1) of the band-shaped area40in the tire radial direction RD is preferably 5 to 12 mm.

When the above band-shaped area40is provided, irregularities and sink marks called bear generated at an interface between members of the tread6and the sidewall10can be suppressed. Moreover, the black band-shaped area40is formed by light attenuation effects obtained by providing the ridges41, which can emphasize the decorative area11.

The band-shaped area40may be provided on the sidewall10so as to include the place where steps tend to appear on the surface of the sidewall10such as the places at the ends of the tire constituting members including the place where the interface between the tread rubber6and the sidewall rubber7appears on the tire surface, the place overlapping the end of the turned-up portion2aof the carcass plies2in the tire width direction, a place overlapping an end of the belt4in the tire width direction, and the like in the same manner as the decorative area11. A parting line42which is a dividing line between a tread mold and a sidewall mold in a tire mold may be formed at a boundary portion on the outer side in the tire radial direction of the band-shaped area40.

The pneumatic tire1according to the embodiment includes the pattern30in the sidewall10, in which the plural annularFIGS.31overlapping at one end in the tire circumferential direction and spaced on the other side in the tire circumferential direction as well as on both sides in the tire radial direction are arranged; therefore, contrast (light and shade) with a sense of depth is generated from the first separated part33toward the overlapping part32, which creates innovative visual effects.

As the plural annularFIGS.31are arranged at equal intervals in the first separated part33and the second separated parts34, a smoother sense of depth is generated in the pattern30. When the plural annularFIGS.31are provided so that the interval of the annularFIGS.31is gradually increased from the annularFIG.31arranged on the inner side toward the outer side, the sense of depth created from the first separated part33toward the overlapping part32can be emphasized.

In a case where the pneumatic tire1is a tire in which a rotation direction is designated, all patterns30to be provided on the surface of the sidewall10may be arranged so that the overlapping parts32are placed on the front side in a rotation direction RF (seeFIG.2). When the patterns30are arranged in this manner, the rotation direction can be indicated while having excellent designability.

Modification Examples of First Embodiment

The above first embodiment is cited as an example and does not intend to limit the scope of the invention. The novel embodiment can be achieved in other various modes, and various omissions, replacements, modifications may occur in a scope not departing from the gist of the invention.

For example, the shape of the plural annularFIGS.31is not limited to the approximately elliptical shape in the above embodiment. Any annular figure that is longer in the tire circumferential direction CD than in the tire radial direction RD when seen from the direction perpendicular to the surface of the sidewall10(tire axial direction) may be adopted. A preferred shape among such annular figures is a shape called oval. The oval is a closed annular shape mainly formed by a curved line (for example, more than half of the entire length of lines forming a contour of the annularFIG.31is a curved line). The oval includes an ellipse, a perfect circle, an ovoid shape, and the like, in addition to the elliptical shape in the embodiment. The oval also includes a closed curved line formed by crossing between the surface of a cone and a plane perfectly traversing the cone.

In the above embodiment, all patterns30are provided on the surface of the sidewall10so that the overlapping parts32are placed on one side in the tire circumferential direction CD; however, various arrangements of the overlapping parts32can be considered.

For example, as shown inFIG.10, the patterns30may be arranged so that the overlapping parts32are directed to one of the marking areas11a(the marking area11aon the left side inFIG.10), or the patterns30may be arranged so that the overlapping parts32are directed to the marking areas11aclose to the patterns30as shown inFIG.11. It is also preferable that the patterns30are arranged so that directions of the overlapping parts32are alternately changed in the tire circumferential direction CD as shown inFIG.12andFIG.13. When a pair of patterns30adjacent to the marking area11ain the tire circumferential direction CD are arranged so that the overlapping parts32are directed to the marking area11aas shown inFIG.10.FIG.11andFIG.12, a customer tends to fix his/her eyes on the marking area11asandwiched by the overlapping parts32, which can emphasize the markings16provided in the making area11a.

When many annularFIGS.31are provided in one pattern30, parts of large annularFIGS.31may be broken without being held inside the decorative area11as shown inFIG.14. In such case, it is preferable to provide many annularFIGS.31so that five or more annularFIGS.31in one pattern30are held inside the decorative area11.

Although two pattern areas11bare provided on one sidewall10in the above embodiment, one pattern area11bor three or more pattern areas11bmay be provided on one sidewall10.

Moreover, four patterns30are provided in one pattern area11bin the above embodiment; however, an arbitrary number of patterns30may be provided in one pattern area11b.

Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

A pneumatic tire100according to the embodiment has the same structure as a common radial tire except a structure of the sidewall. The pneumatic tire100according to the embodiment is a tire having the same cross-sectional structure as the pneumatic tire1according to the first embodiment shown inFIG.1. The pneumatic tire100according to the embodiment has the same arrangement of the decorative area11and the band-shaped area40in the sidewall10, but differs from the pneumatic tire1according to the first embodiment in patterns provided in the decorative area11. Accordingly, same symbols are given to the same as or corresponding to elements in the first embodiment, and the detailed explanation for the cross-sectional structure of the pneumatic tire100and the arrangement of the decorative area11and the band-shaped area40in the sidewall10is omitted. Patterns130provided in the decorative area11of the pneumatic tire100according to the embodiment will be explained in detail below.

As shown inFIG.15, the marking areas11ain which the markings16are formed are provided at two opposite places in the annular decorative area11. The pattern areas11bin which the patterns130are formed are formed at two opposite places in the annular decorative area11so as to be sandwiched between the two marking areas11a.

In order to allow sufficient space between the marking area11aand the pattern area11bwhich are adjacent to each other, the minimum value of an interval LB between an end of the marking area11aand an end of the pattern area11b(a length from an end of the marking16provided in the marking area11ato an end of the pattern130provided in the pattern area11bin the tire circumferential direction CD) is set to 3 mm. Moreover, in order to secure a sufficient area of the patterns130provided in the decorative area11, the maximum value of the interval LB between the marking area11aand the pattern area11bis set to 60% of a length LA in the tire circumferential direction of the marking area11a(an interval between the markings16provided at both ends in the tire circumferential direction of the marking area11a).

One or a plurality of markings16are formed to be arranged in the tire circumferential direction CD in the marking area11a. The markings16are formed of letters, numerals, a symbol, a figure, or the like, indicating information such as a manufacturer, a brand, a type, and a size of the tire. The markings16included in the marking area11aare formed by being edged by lines of grooves or ridges.

A plurality of patterns130are formed to be arranged in the tire circumferential direction CD in the pattern area11b. The pattern130is formed by combining a plurality of annularFIGS.131having sizes different from one another as shown inFIG.15andFIG.16. It is preferable that the pattern130is formed by combining five or more annularFIGS.131.

Any of the plural annularFIGS.131forming the pattern130is an annular figure that is longer in the tire circumferential direction CD than in the tire radial direction RD. The plural annularFIGS.131have an approximately elliptical shape in the embodiment.

A ratio of a length in the tire radial direction RD to a length in the tire circumferential direction CD in the plural annularFIGS.131is preferably 0.5 or more to 0.8 or less. A length in the tire radial direction RD of the largest annularFIG.131in the plural annularFIGS.131is preferably 50% or more to 95% or less of the width HA in the tire radial direction RD of the decorative area11.

The plural annularFIGS.131forming the pattern130are arranged so that a larger annularFIG.131is placed on an outer side of a smaller annularFIG.131without crossing each other. The plural annularFIGS.131are also arranged so that intervals of the annularFIGS.131differ on one side and on the other side in the tire circumferential direction.

Specifically, a larger annularFIG.131is arranged on the outer side of a smaller annularFIG.131with an interval so as to surround the annularFIGS.131placed on the inner side. The plural annularFIGS.131are arranged so that a dense part132is formed on one side of a smallest annularFIG.132ain the tire circumferential direction CD and a separated part133is formed on the other side.

An interval K1between adjacent annularFIGS.131in the tire circumferential direction CD in the dense part132is smaller than an interval K2between annularFIGS.131in the tire circumferential direction CD in the separated part133(seeFIG.16). That is, the annularFIGS.131are arranged densely so that intervals between the annularFIGS.131in the tire circumferential direction CD are narrower on one side of the smallest annularFIG.131than in the other side in the tire width direction. The interval K2between adjacent annularFIGS.131in the separated part133is preferably 1.1 times or more to 5.0 times or less of the interval K1in the dense part132. The interval K1between the annularFIGS.131in the dense part132and the interval K2between the annularFIGS.131in the separated part133may be gradually increased from the inner side toward the outer side, and may be equal.

Here, the interval between adjacent annularFIGS.131in the tire circumferential direction CD indicates a distance from a center P to the farthest position on the annularFIG.131in the tire circumferential direction CD, which is a direction between points on a major axis when the annularFIGS.131have an elliptical shape.

In the plural annularFIGS.131, a center Pa of a smallest annularFIG.131ais arranged at a position closer to one side in the tire circumferential direction CD than a center Pb of a largest annularFIG.131b, and centers Pc of other annularFIGS.131are arranged between the center Pa of the smallest annularFIG.131aand the center Pb of the largest annularFIG.131b. The centers Pa, Pb, and Pc of the annularFIGS.131(hereinafter, these may be collectively referred to as the center P) are preferably provided on one reference line121. The center P of each annularFIG.131corresponds to a center of gravity of a plane having a shape drawn by the annularFIG.131. When the shape drawn by the annularFIG.131is a shape in which the center is mathematically defined, the center P of the annularFIG.131is determined in accordance with the definition.

In the plural annularFIGS.131, when comparing an interval K3between adjacent annularFIGS.131on an outer side of the center P in the tire radial direction RD with an interval K4on an inner side in the tire radial direction RD, the interval K3and the interval K4may be equal to each other as well as differ from each other. When these intervals differ from each other, it is preferable that the interval K3on the outer side in the tire radial direction RD is larger than the interval K4on the inner side in the tire radial direction RD. The interval K3and the interval K4are distances between points on a straight line “m” which passes through the center Pa of the smallest annularFIG.131and is parallel to the tire radial direction RD.

The plural patterns130provided in the pattern area11bis preferably arranged so that the centers P of the plural annularFIGS.131forming each pattern130are provided on one reference line121as shown inFIG.15. The reference line121is one line extending in the tire circumferential direction at a particular position in the tire radial direction on the decorative area11. The reference line121is not actually drawn on the decorative area11but is a virtual line. The position of the reference line121in the tire radial direction is preferably a central position in the tire radial direction on the decorative area11. It is also preferable that the reference line121is a line drawing a circle about the tire rotation axis in which a radius has a length of 45% or more to 65% or less of the tire cross-sectional height H.

Any of the plural annularFIGS.131is formed by connecting recessed grooves recessed from the surface of the sidewall or ridges protruding from the surface of the sidewall into a ring shape. When the annularFIGS.31are formed of ridges20, a cross-sectional shape of the ridges20in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction includes a semicircular shape as shown inFIG.4, a shape made of a semicircle and straight lines thereunder as shown inFIG.5, a triangular shape as shown inFIG.6, a shape in which an apex of a triangle is rounded by an arc as shown inFIG.7, a trapezoidal shape as shown inFIG.8, a rectangular shape as shown inFIG.9, and so on. Here, the shape in which the apex of the triangle is rounded is a kind of triangles. Moreover, shapes in which the above cross-sectional shapes are slightly deformed such as a sawtooth shape obtained by deforming triangles inFIG.6to be inclined or other shapes may be adopted, though not shown. Note that lines drawn as the annularFIGS.131inFIG.15andFIG.16are center lines in a width direction of the ridges20(lines at positions denoted by “T” inFIG.4toFIG.9).

In the ridges20with any of the cross-sectional shapes shown inFIG.4toFIG.9, a height H1of the ridge20is 0.1 mm or more to 0.8 mm or less (preferably 0.1 mm or more to 0.4 mm or less). In the ridges20with any of the cross-sectional shapes, a width W1of the ridge20is 0.1 mm or more to 1.0 mm or less. The ridges20can be formed by a mold to be used at the time of vulcanization molding. The ridges20can be formed by various processing such as machine processing and laser processing. Small ridges20with the height H1of approximately 0.1 to 0.2 mm and the width W1of approximately 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm can be formed by a mold in which fine irregularities are formed by laser processing.

When a radius of the semicircle inFIG.4andFIG.5is “R”, a length H2of the straight line in the ridge20having the cross-sectional shape made of the semicircle and the straight lines shown inFIG.5is represented by (the height H1of the ridge20) — (the radius R of the semicircle). Moreover, in the ridge20having the trapezoidal shape in cross section as shown inFIG.8, a length W of an upper base is 20% or more to 50% or less of a length of a lower base (namely, a width W1of the ridge20).

In the embodiment, a plurality of patterns130are provided in the decorative area11at intervals in the tire circumferential direction CD as shown inFIG.15. It is also preferable that the plural patterns130are arranged so that other patterns130are placed at opposite positions with the tire rotation axis interposed therebetween when seen from the tire axial direction as shown inFIG.15.

The band-shaped area40is an annular area provided adjacent to an outer circumference of the decorative area11. A plurality of ridges41raised from an outer surface of the sidewall10are provided in the band-shaped area40. The plural ridges41are arranged at equal intervals of 0.3 to 1.0 mm in the tire circumferential direction CD according to the embodiment. The band-shaped area40may be provided at part of the circumference in the tire circumferential direction CD, but is provided over the entire circumference in the tire circumferential direction CD in this example. Accordingly, the band-shaped area40is formed in an annular shape adjacent to the outside of the decorative area11and surrounding the entire circumference thereof. A dimension HC (seeFIG.1) of the band-shaped area40in the tire radial direction RD is preferably 5 to 12 mm.

When the above band-shaped area40is provided, irregularities and sink marks called bear generated at an interface between members of the tread6and the sidewall10can be suppressed. Moreover, the black band-shaped area40is formed by light attenuation effects obtained by providing the ridges41, which can emphasize the decorative area11.

The band-shaped area40may be provided on the sidewall10so as to include the place where steps tend to appear on the surface of the sidewall10such as the places at the ends of the tire constituting members including the place where the interface between the tread rubber6and the sidewall rubber7appears on the tire surface, the place overlapping the end of the turned-up portion2aof the carcass plies2in a tire width direction, the place overlapping an end of the belt4in the tire width direction, and the like in the same manner as the decorative area11. A parting line42which is a dividing line between a tread mold and a sidewall mold in a tire mold may be formed at a boundary portion on the outer side in the tire radial direction of the band-shaped area40.

The pneumatic tire1according to the embodiment includes the pattern130on the sidewall10, in which larger annularFIGS.131are arranged on the outer side of the smaller annularFIGS.131so as to form the dense part132on one side of the smallest annularFIG.131ain the tire circumferential direction CD, in which intervals of the annularFIGS.131are narrower than those in the separated part133provided on the other side. Accordingly, contrast (light and shade) with the sense of depth is generated from the separated part133toward the dense part132while suppressing blurring as compared with a case where the annularFIGS.131are arranged at equal intervals on both sides of the smallest annularFIG.131ain the tire circumferential direction CD, which creates innovative visual effects.

As the annularFIGS.131are provided at intervals in the dense part132, the annularFIGS.131are not arranged too close to one another, which can easily mold the dense part132into a desired recessed and projected shape when the tire is vulcanization-molded.

As the plural annularFIGS.131are arranged at equal intervals in the dense part132and the separated part133, a smoother sense of depth is generated in the pattern130. When the plural annularFIGS.131are provided so that the interval of the annularFIGS.131is gradually increased at a fixed rate from the annularFIG.131arranged in the inner side toward the outer side, the sense of depth created from the separated part133toward the dense part132can be emphasized.

In a case where the pneumatic tire1is a tire in which a rotation direction is designated, all patterns130to be provided on the surface of the sidewall10may be arranged so that the dense parts132are placed on the front side in a rotation direction RF (seeFIG.15). When the patterns130are arranged in this manner, the rotation direction can be indicated while having excellent designability.

Modification Examples of Second Embodiment

The above embodiment is cited as an example and does not intend to limit the scope of the invention. The novel embodiment can be achieved in other various modes, and various omissions, replacements, modifications may occur in a scope not departing from the gist of the invention.

For example, the shape of the plural annularFIGS.131is not limited to the approximately elliptical shape in the embodiment. Any annular figure that is longer in the tire circumferential direction CD than in the tire radial direction RD when seen from the direction perpendicular to the surface of the sidewall10may be adopted. A preferred shape among such annular figures is a shape called oval. The oval is a closed annular shape mainly formed by a curved line (for example, more than half of the entire length of lines forming a contour of the annularFIG.131is a curved line). The oval includes an ellipse, a perfect circle, an ovoid shape, and the like, in addition to the elliptical shape in the embodiment. The oval also includes a closed curved line formed by crossing between the surface of a cone and a plane perfectly traversing the cone.

In the above embodiment, all patterns130are provided on the surface of the sidewall10so that the dense parts132are placed on one side in the tire circumferential direction CD; however, various arrangements of the dense parts132can be considered.

For example, as shown inFIG.17, the patterns130may be arranged so that the dense parts132are directed to one of the marking areas11a(the marking area11aon the left side inFIG.17), or the patterns130may be arranged so that the dense parts132are directed to the marking areas11aclose to the patterns130as shown inFIG.18. It is also preferable that the patterns130are arranged so that directions of the dense parts132are alternately changed in the tire circumferential direction CD as shown inFIG.19andFIG.20. When a pair of patterns130adjacent to the marking area11ain the tire circumferential direction CD are arranged so that the dense parts32are directed to the marking area11aas shown inFIG.17,FIG.18andFIG.19, a customer tends to fix his/her eyes on the marking area11asandwiched by the dense parts32, which can emphasize the markings16provided in the making area11a.

When many annularFIGS.131are provided in one pattern130, parts of large annularFIGS.131may be broken without being held inside the decorative area11as shown inFIG.21. In such case, it is preferable to provide many annularFIGS.131so that five or more annularFIGS.31each connected in a ring shape in one pattern130are held inside the decorative area11.

Although two pattern areas11bare provided on one sidewall10in the above embodiment, one pattern area11bor three or more pattern areas11bmay be provided on one sidewall10.

Moreover, four patterns130are provided in one pattern area11bin the above embodiment; however, an arbitrary number of patterns130may be provided in one pattern area11b.

The respective dimensions in the specification are values in an unloaded normal state where the pneumatic tire is fitted to a normal rim and is filled with a normal internal pressure. Examples of the normal rim include the “standard rim” in the JATMA standard, and the “Measuring Rim” in the TRA standard and in the ETRTO standard. Examples of the normal internal pressure include the “maximum air pressure” in the JATMA standard, the “maximum value” described in “TIRE LOAD LIMITS AT VARIOUS COLD INFLATION PRESSURES” in the TRA standard, and “INFLATION PRESSURE” in the ETRTO standard. However, the normal internal pressure is normally set to 180 kPa in the case of the tire for the passenger car, and set to 220 kPa in the case of a tire on which “Extra Load” or “Reinforced” is written.

Concerning a range of various numerical values described in the specification, an upper limit value and a lower limit value can be arbitrarily combined respectively, and all combinations are described as a preferable range of numerical values in the specification. The description of the range of numerical values “X to Y” means X or more to Y or less.

The embodiments may include embodiments of (1) to (14) below.

(1) A pneumatic tire including a pattern on a surface of a sidewall, in which the pattern has a plurality of annular figures that are longer in a tire circumferential direction than in a tire radial direction, and the plural annular figures have different sizes from one another, which are arranged so that a larger annular figure is placed on an outer side of a smaller annular figure without crossing each other, and so that intervals of the annular figures differ on one side and the other side in the tire circumferential direction.

(2) The pneumatic tire described in (1), in which the plural annual figures are arranged so that the larger annular figure is placed on the outer side of the smaller annular figure to form an overlapping part where the annular figures overlap one another at one end part in the tire circumferential direction and to form separated parts where the annular figures are arranged at intervals on the other side in the tire circumferential direction and on both sides in the tire radial direction.

(3) The pneumatic tire described in (2), in which the plural annular figures are provided at equal intervals at the separated part on the other side in the tire circumferential direction.

(4) The pneumatic tire described in (2) or (3) further including a marking area in which one or a plurality of markings are provided and a pair of patterns on the surface of the sidewall, in which the pair of patterns are arranged on both sides in the tire circumferential direction of the marking area so that the overlapping parts are directed to the marking area.

(5) The pneumatic tire described in (2) or (3), in which the pneumatic tire is a tire in which a rotation direction is designated, and the patterns are provided on the surface of the sidewall so that the overlapping parts are placed on the front side in the rotation direction.

(6) The pneumatic tire described in (1), in which the plural annular figures are arranged so that the larger annular figure is placed on the outer side of the smaller annular figure with an interval to form a dense part on one side in the tire circumferential direction, in which an interval of the annular figures is smaller than on the other side.

(7) The pneumatic tire described in (6), in which the interval of the plural annular figures varies in the dense part.

(8) The pneumatic tire described in (6) or (7) further including a marking area in which one or a plurality of markings are provided and a pair of patterns on the surface of the sidewall, in which the pair of patterns are arranged on both sides in the tire circumferential direction of the marking area so that the dense parts are directed to the marking area.

(9) The pneumatic tire described in (6) or (7), in which the pneumatic tire is a tire in which a rotation direction is designated, and the patterns are provided on the surface of the sidewall so that the dense parts are placed on the front side in the rotation direction.

(10) The pneumatic tire described in any one of (6) to (9), in which an interval between the annular figures adjacent to each other in an outer side in the tire radial direction is larger than an interval on an inner side in the tire radial direction.

(11) The pneumatic tire described in any one of (1) to (10), in which the annular figures are patterns of an ovoid shape.

(12) The pneumatic tire described in any one of (1) to (11), in which a ratio of a length in the tire radial direction to a length in the tire circumferential direction in the annular figures is preferably 0.5 or more to 0.8 or less.

(13) The pneumatic tire described in any one of (1) to (12), in which the plural annular figures are formed of recessed groove recessed from the surface of the sidewall or ridges protruding from the surface of the sidewall, and a cross-sectional shape of the plural annular figures includes a triangular shape, a trapezoidal shape, and a semicircular shape.

(14) The pneumatic tire described in any one of (1) to (13), in which an area where a plurality of ridges extending in the tire radial direction are arranged at equal intervals in the tire circumferential direction is provided on the sidewall at an outer side in the tire radial direction of the decorative area where the annular figures are provided, in which a dimension of the area in the tire radial direction is 5 mm or more to 12 mm or less.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

11: decorative area

11a: marking area

11b: pattern area

32: overlapping part

33: first separated part

34: second separated part