Pneumatic tyre

Abstract: A pneumatic tyre having an improved sidewall structure comprising at least one carcass ply (6) of cords (11), being an axially innermost part (13) extending through a sidewall portion (3) from a belt edge (7E) to the axially inside of a bead core (5) and an axially outermost part (15) extending through the sidewall portion (3) from the belt edge to the axially outside of the bead core, and the rubber thickness (TO) measured at the maximum tyre section width point (P1) in the sidewall portion from the outer surface of the tyre to the carcass cords in the axially outermost part being not more than 1.5 times the diameter of the carcass cords but not less than 0.2 mm.

Description: The present invention relates to a pneumatic tyre having a sidewall structure being capable of improving the tyre weight, rolling resistance and road noise without deteriorating the manoeuvrability. In general, in the sidewall portions of pneumatic tyres, a sidewall rubber made of a hard rubber compound is disposed axially outside the carcass. The sidewall rubber has a minimum thickness which usually occurs around the maximum tyre section width point and which is conventionally at least 2 to 4 mm. Generally speaking, the minimum thickness is at least 2 times the carcass cord diameter. This is a trend in various types of pneumatic tyres, especially passenger car tyres, for the tyre aspect ratio to become smaller, and the above-mentioned minimum thickness is relatively increased as the aspect ratio decreases. In such a sidewall structure, when the sidewall portion is bent with a relatively heavy tyre load, the carcass cords are subjected to a large compressive force. As cord has little resistance to a compressive force, there are problems with cord buckling, cord breakage and cord separation from the surrounding rubber. These problems can be solved by further increasing the thickness of the sidewall rubber. However, the tyre weight inevitably increases and the rolling resistance is liable to increase because the energy loss in the sidewall rubber increases. Further, noise during running is liable to increase because the transmission of vibrations from the tread portion to the bead portions is increased by the thick sidewall rubber. On the other hand if the sidewall rubber thickness is insufficient, the sidewall portions are short of rigidity, providing insufficient tyre stiffness, cornering power and cornering force. As a result, the steering stability is not good. US 4 096 899 discloses a tyre according to the preamble of claim 1, having a sidewall rubber which is thin and in the range of 0.5 to 3.0mm or more preferably 0.5 to 2.0mm. The rubber sidewall is made of this thickness across its full height which provides a reduction in weight. It is however an object of the present invention to provide a pneumatic tyre, in which each of the tyre weight, rolling resistance and noise are decreased, without decreasing the tyre stiffness and deteriorating the steering stability and the like. Accordingly the present invention provides a pneumatic tyre as set out in claim 1. Therefore, the neutral line between the tensile strain and compressive strain produced in a sidewall portion during bending deformation is shifted axially inwards. Accordingly, the stress acting on the axially outmost carcass cords turns to a tensile stress. As a result, the carcass cords can be prevented from cord buckling, cutting and separation. Further, as the carcass cords display their full resistance to a tensile stress, the tyre stiffness is maintained or increased, although the rubber thickness is decreased. Furthermore, as the rubber thickness is small, the rolling resistance and noise can be improved. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Fig.1 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention showing an example of the carcass; Fig.2 is a schematic cross sectional view showing another example of the carcass; Fig.3 is a schematic cross sectional view showing still another example of the carcass; Fig.4 is an enlarged cross sectional view showing an example of the sidewall portion; Fig.5 is an enlarged cross sectional view showing another example of the sidewall portion; and Fig.6 is a cross sectional view for explaining a method of making the tyre. In the drawings, the pneumatic tyre 1 according to the present invention is a passenger car radial tyre whose aspect ratio (tyre section height H/width W) is not more than 60 %, for example 55 %. The tyre 1 comprises a tread portion 2, a pair of sidewall portions 3, a pair of bead portions 4 each with a bead core 5 therein, a carcass 6 extending between the bead portions 4, and a belt disposed radially outside the carcass 6 in the tread portion 2. The belt comprises a breaker 7 and optionally a bandage 9. The breaker 7 comprises two crossed plies 7a and 7b of parallel cords laid at an angle of from 10 to 30 degrees with respect to the tyre equator CO. For the breaker cords, high elastic modulus cords, e.g. aromatic polyamide fibre cord, steel cord and the like are used. The breaker width BW or the width of the widest ply (in this example, radially inner ply 7a) is set in the range of from 0.9 to 1.1 times the tread width TW so as to reinforce the substantially overall width of the tread portion 2. The bandage 9 is disposed radially outside the breaker 7 to prevent the tread portion 2 from being lifted radially outwardly during high speed running. In this example, the bandage 9 is made of spiral windings of at least one organic fibre cord, e.g. nylon and the like, and the cord angle is set in the range of not more than 5 degrees with respect to the tyre equator CO. The carcass 6 comprises at least one carcass ply of rubberised cords 11 which are arranged radially at an angle of from 70 to 90 degrees with respect to the tyre equator CO. In case of passenger car tyres, organic fibre cords, e.g. polyester, nylon, rayon, aromatic polyamide and the like are preferably used for the carcass cords 11. The above-mentioned at least one carcass ply comprises an axially innermost part 13 which extends through the sidewall portion 3 from the belt edge TE to the axially inner side of the bead core 5 and an axially outermost part 15 extending through the sidewall portion 3 from the belt edge TE to the axially outside of the bead core 5. In Fig.1, the carcass 6 is composed of a single carcass ply 10 turned up around the bead cores 5 from the inside to the outside of the tyre to form a pair of turnup portions and a main portion therebetween. Each turnup portion extends into the tread portion 2 beyond the breaker edge 7E and the end Ei thereof is located beneath the breaker 7. In this example, therefore, the above-mentioned axially outermost part 15, is defined by the turnup portion, and the axially innermost part 13 is defined by the main portion. The axial width L of the overlap of the turnup portion with the breaker 7 is set in the range of from 5 to 30 mm. If the overlap width is less than 5 mm, the force securing the carcass becomes insufficient. If more than 30 mm, the rigidity of the tread central portion is increased which deteriorates the ride comfort and causes an unfavourable weight increase. Fig.2 shows a modification of the carcass 6 shown in Fig.1, wherein a further carcass ply 10a is disposed in addition to the above-mentioned carcass ply 10. This ply 10a is also turned up around the bead cores 5 from the inside to the outside of the tyre, but the turnup portion is terminated between the belt edge 7E and the radially outer end 5E of the bead core 5, preferably between the maximum tyre section width point P and the bead core end 5E. This axially inner turnup portion may be extended into the tread portion 2. Thus the axially outermost part 15 and axially innermost part 13 are defined by the turnup portion and main portion of the carcass ply 10, respectively. Fig.3 shows another example of the carcass 6. In this example, the carcass is composed of an inner carcass ply 10a and an outer carcass ply 10b. The inner carcass ply 10a is extended between the bead portions 4 and turned up around the bead cores 5 from the inside to the outside of the tyre and each turnup portion is terminated between the maximum tyre section width point P and the radially outer end 5E of the bead core 5. The outer carcass ply 10b is extended between the bead portions 4 and somewhat turned around the bead core 5 from the outside to the inside of the tyre, and the terminal end Eo thereof is positioned radially inward of the radially outer end 5E of the bead core 5, preferably under the bead core 5 to be secured between the bead core 5 and a wheel rim. In this example, the axially outermost part 15 and axially innermost part 13 are defined by the main portion of the outer carcass ply 10b and the main portion of the inner carcass ply 10a, respectively. Each bead portion 4 is provided between the carcass ply main portion and turnup portion with a bead apex 8. The bead apex 8 is made of a hard rubber extending radially outwardly from the radially outside of the bead core 5 to the vicinity of the maximum tyre section width point P, while tapering radially outwardly. As shown in Fig.4, the rubber thickness T measured in the sidewall portions 3 from the outer surface 3S of the tyre to the axially outmost carcass cords 11 is a minimum at the maximum tyre section width point P. The minimum thickness T0 at the maximum width point P is in the range of not more than 1.5 times preferably 1.0 times the diameter D of the carcass cord 11. If the minimum thickness T0 is more than 1.5 D, it is difficult to improve the steering stability and the like. From a viewpoint of the rigidity, the rubber thickness T0 may be zero. However, from a viewpoint of the appearance, the minimum thickness T0 is preferably not less than 0.2 mm. In this embodiment, the rubber thickness T is maintained at a substantially constant value same as the thickness T0 in a region Y1 which is defined as extending radially inward and outward from the point P by a distance L2 of at least 5 % of the tyre section height H. Then the thickness T increases towards the tread portion 2 and bead portion 4. The thickness Tc at the middle point Pc between the tread edge TE and the widest point P along the tyre outer surface is in the range of from about 2 to 4 times the thickness T0, and the thickness Te measured at the tread edge TE is set in the range of about 6 to 15 times the rubber thickness T0. Thus, the rubber thickness T is minimised in the region where the deformation or deflection in bending is most. Therefore, the neutral line between the tensile strain and compressive strain during deformation is positioned axially inwards compared to previous tyres, and the stress acting on the axially outmost carcass cords 11 becomes a tensile stress. As a result, the rigidity is increased, although the rubber thickness is decreased, and the steering stability can be effectively improved. This effect to improve the steering stability becomes maximised in radial tyres having a low aspect ratio of less than about 60% in which the sidewall rubber is relatively thick. Therefore, the present invention is suitably applied to passenger car tyres having an aspect ratio of not more than 60%. On the premise that the tyre profile or the tyre sectional shape is not changed, in other words, the tyre vulcanisation mould is the same, the tyre inside volume or the volume of the air chamber increases in proportion to the decrease in the rubber thickness. Accordingly, the tyre is increased in the load capacity, which decreases the tyre deformation. As a result, the tyre stiffness and rolling resistance are improved. Further, there are improvements in road noise and the like. Incidentally, on the inside of the carcass, only a thin airtight inner liner 20 is disposed. As one of method of decreasing the rubber thickness T0 as explained above, the thickness of the raw sidewall rubber 16 which is applied to the axially outside of the carcass 6 is decreased as shown in Fig.4. In this case, as shown in Fig.6, an assembly of the thin sidewall rubber 16 and an inner liner rubber 20 is first applied to a tyre building drum 21, and the carcass ply 10, 10a is wound thereon. Then, the carcass ply 10, 10a is turned up around the bead core 5 together with the sidewall rubber 16. Thus the working efficiency can be improved. Fig.5 shows another method, wherein the thickness of topping rubber 12 for the carcass ply 10 is increased on the outside of the carcass. The sidewall rubber is divided into a radially outer and inner sidewall rubbers 16A and 16B. The radially outer and inner sidewall rubbers 16A and 16B are applied to the outside of the outer topping rubber 12, leaving the above-mentioned region Y1 to form the above mentioned constant-thickness part 17. As a modification of this method, it is possible to eliminate the above-mentioned sidewall rubbers 16A and 16B by making a radially inwardly extending part on the tread rubber 18 and a radially outwardly extending part on the bead rubber 19, and by using these extended parts as a substitute for the above-mentioned radially divided sidewall rubbers 16A and 16B. Thus the production efficiency is further improved. Comparison Tests Test tyres of size 195/55R15 were made by way of test according to the structure shown in Fig.1 and the specifications given in Table 1, and the tyre weight, rolling resistance, road noise, steering stability, ride comfort, vertical stiffness, lateral stiffness, cornering power, cornering force were measured. The test tyres were all of the same structure as shown in Fig.1 except for the rubber thickness in the sidewall portions. The carcass was composed of 1 ply of 1500d/2 polyester cords arranged radially at 88 to 90 degrees to the tyre equator. (cord count: 50 ends/5cm) The belt was composed of two breaker plies of steel cords. (cord angle: +24 and -24 degrees, cord count: 40 ends/5cm) The specifications and test results are shown in Table 1. Tyre Weight Test The weight of each tyre was measured, and the results are indicated by an index based on Ref.1 being 100, wherein the smaller the index, the lighter the tyre. Rolling Resistance Test The rolling resistance was measured with a tester under the following conditions. The results are indicated by an index based on the prior art tyre being 100, wherein the smaller the index, the smaller the resistance. Wheel rim: 15X6JJ standard Inner pressure: 200 kpa Running speed: 80 km/h Tyre load: 3530 Newtons (360 kgf) Road Noise Test As a test car a right-hand drive 1600cc FF passenger car provided on all the wheels with test tyres was run on a rough road surface of a paved test course, and during running at a constant speed of 50 km/h, the overall noise level in dB(A) was measured near the driver's left ear and in the centre of the rear seat at a passenger's ears height. The mean value at these two positions is shown in Table 1 as a difference from that of prior art tyre. Thus, the minus sign means that the noise level is lower than with prior art tyres. Steering Stability Test and Ride Comfort Test Running the test car on a dry paved test course, the test driver evaluated the steering stability and ride comfort into ten ranks wherein the prior art tyre was ranked as six and the larger the index, the better the performance. Vertical Stiffness Test The variation in the vertical strain of the tyre when the tyre load was varied plus/minus 490 Newtons (50 kgf) from 3530 Newtons (360 kgf) (or 3040 Newtons (310) to 4020 Newtons (410 kgf)) was measured. In Table 1, as the vertical stiffness, the reciprocal of the measured variation is indicated by an index based on prior art tyre being 100. Thus, the larger the index, the smaller the tyre deformation. Lateral Stiffness Test The lateral strain of the tyre when a lateral force of 490 Newtons (50 kgf) is applied to the tyre under a constant tyre load of 3530 Newtons (360 kgf) was measured. In table, as the lateral stiffness, the reciprocal of the measured strain is indicated by an index based on prior art tyre being 100. Thus, the larger the index, the smaller the tyre deformation. Cornering Power Test and Cornering Force Test Using an indoor tyre tester, the cornering power (side force at a slip angle of 1 degree) and the cornering force (side force at a slip angle of 12 degrees) were measured. In Table 1, the results are indicated by an index based on prior art tyre being 100, wherein the larger the index, the larger the side force. Tyre Prior Ref.1 Ref.2 Ex.1 Ex.2 Ex.3 Ex.4 Ex.5 Carcass cord dia. D (mm) 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 Rubber thickness T0 (mm) 3.0 2.5 1.6 1.4 1.1 0.7 0.4 0.2 T0/D 3.0 2.5 1.6 1.4 1.1 0.7 0.4 0.2 Test results Tyre weight 100 98 94 93 92 91 90 89 Rolling resistance 100 96 95 93 92 90 89 85 Road noise 0 -0.1 -0.1 -0.5 -0.5 -0.6 -0.6 -0.9 Steering stability 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 Ride comfort 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 Vertical stiffness 100 100 99 99 99 102 101 102 Lateral stiffness 100 96 94 98 100 101 100 101 Cornering power 100 97 96 99 100 102 101 104 Cornering force 100 98 95 100 99 101 101 103 From Table 1, it was confirmed that, although Example tyres 1 to 5 were greatly decreased in the thickness T0, the vertical stiffness and lateral stiffness were maintained or improved to increase the cornering power and cornering force. Thus the steering stability was improved, though it was difficult to obtain a pronounced effect from the driver's feeling tests. It was also confirmed that the tyres according to the invention were improved in the tyre weight, rolling resistance and road noise.

Claims: A pneumatic tyre comprising a tread portion (2), a pair of sidewall portions (3), a pair of bead portions (4) each with a bead core (5) therein, a carcass (6) comprising at least one carcass ply of cords (11), and a belt (7) disposed radially outside the carcass in the tread portion and having axial edges (7E), said at least one carcass ply comprises an axially innermost part (13) extending through one of the sidewall portions (3) from one of the edges (7E) of the belt (2) to the axially inside of one of the bead cores (5) and an axially outermost part (15) extending through the sidewall portion (3) from the edge of the belt (7E) to the axially outside of the bead core (5) characterised in that the rubber thickness (TO, Tc, Te) measured from the outer surface of the tyre to the carcass cords (11) in the axially outermost part has the following distribution: the thickness (TO) at the maximum tyre section width point (P) in the sidewall portion (3) is not less than 0.2mm but not more than 1.5 times the diameter D of the carcass cords (11); the thickness is maintained at substantially a constant value (TO) in a region (Y1) extending radially inward and outward from the maximum tyre section width point (P) by a distance (L2) of at least 5% of the tyre section height (H); the thickness (Tc) at the middle point (Pc) between the maximum tyre section width point (P) and the tread edge (TE) is in the range of 2 to 4 times the thickness (TO); and the thickness (Te) measured at the tread edge (TE) is in the range of 6 to 15 times the thickness (TO). A pneumatic tyre according to claim 1, characterised in that said at least one carcass ply is a single ply which is extended between the bead portions (3) and turned up around the bead cores (5) from the inside to the outside of the tyre to form a pair of turnup portions (15) and a main portion (13) therebetween, and said axially outermost part (15) is defined by one of the turnup portions. A pneumatic tyre according to claim 1, characterised in that said at least one carcass ply is an inner ply which extended between the bead portions and turned up around the bead cores from the inside to the outside of the tyre to form a pair of turnup portions and a main portion therebetween, and an outer ply which extends at least between the bead portions, and said axially outermost part is defined by the outer ply.

Inventors: HANYA MASAHIRO, SUZUKI KAZUYA, HANYA, MASAHIRO, SUZUKI, KAZUYA
Applicants: SUMITOMO RUBBER IND, SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B60C3
IPC codes: B60C13, B60C9, B60C3, B60C15