Patent Publication Number: US-2022219492-A1

Title: Pneumatic tire

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a pneumatic tire. 
     BACKGROUND 
     To improve the drainage performance when wear progresses, it has been proposed to arrange a sipe, provided with a wide-diameter portion having a larger groove width, in the innermost tread rubber layer in the tire radial direction, which is a different rubber layer from the tread rubber layer forming the tread surface of the tread portion. For example, see Patent Literature (PTL) 1. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     PTL 1: JP 2001-130227 A 
     SUMMARY 
     Technical Problem 
     However, when the aforementioned grooves with a large groove width in the aforementioned technology are exposed as wear progresses, the rigidity of the land portions is reduced. This may result in reduced wear resistance, particularly when, for example, rubber that wears easily is used in the aforementioned innermost tread rubber layer in the tire radial direction. 
     The present disclosure aims to provide a pneumatic tire capable of improving the drainage performance without sacrificing wear resistance when wear progresses. 
     Solution to Problem 
     A summary of the present disclosure is as follows. 
     A pneumatic tire according to the present disclosure includes: 
     a tread portion; and 
     at least one sipe on a tread surface of the tread portion, wherein 
     the sipe includes a first sipe portion on the tread surface side, a second sipe portion on a sipe bottom side, and a wide-diameter portion, between the first sipe portion and the second sipe portion, having a sipe width larger than a sipe width of the first sipe portion and a sipe width of the second sipe portion, and 
     at least a bottom portion of the wide-diameter portion is included in an intermediate tread rubber layer located at an intermediate position in a tire radial direction between a tread rubber layer forming the tread surface and a tread rubber layer on an innermost side of the tread portion in the tire radial direction. 
     Here, the “tread surface” refers to the entire tread surface in the tread circumferential direction that comes into contact with the road surface when the pneumatic tire is mounted on an applicable rim, filled to a prescribed internal pressure, and subjected to the maximum load. 
     The “sipe” refers to a sipe having an opening width of 2.5 mm or less at the tread surface when the pneumatic tire is mounted on an applicable rim, filled to a prescribed internal pressure, and under no load. 
     In the present specification, the “applicable rim” refers to a standard rim of an applicable size, such as the Measuring Rim in the STANDARDS MANUAL of the European Tyre and Rim Technological Organisation (ETRTO) in Europe or the Design Rim in the YEAR BOOK of the Tire and Rim Association, Inc. (TRA) in the USA, that is described, or will be described in the future, in industrial standards effective in the region where the tire is manufactured and used, such as the YEAR BOOK published by the Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association (JATMA) in Japan, the STANDARDS MANUAL of the ETRTO, and the YEAR BOOK of the TRA. (In other words, the “rim” encompasses not only current sizes but also sizes that may be included in industrial standards in the future. An example of the “size that will be described in the future” is the size described under “future developments” in the ETRTO Standards Manual 2013). In the case of a size not specified in the aforementioned industrial standards, the “rim” refers to a rim whose width corresponds to the bead width of the tire. 
     The “prescribed internal pressure” represents the air pressure (maximum air pressure) corresponding to the maximum load capability of a single wheel in an applicable size/ply rating described by the aforementioned JATMA or the like. In the case of a size not listed in the industrial standards, the “prescribed internal pressure” refers to the air pressure (maximum air pressure) corresponding to the maximum load capability prescribed for each vehicle on which the tire is mounted. 
     The “maximum load” refers to the load corresponding to the aforementioned maximum load capability. 
     In the present specification, the “loss tangent” refers to the ratio (E″/E′) of the dynamic loss modulus (E″) to the dynamic storage modulus (E′) and is the value measured on a test piece of tread rubber having a thickness of 2 mm, a width of 5 mm, and a length of 20 mm under the conditions of an initial load of 160 g, an initial strain of 1%, a vibration frequency of 50 Hz, and a temperature of 30° C. 
     In the present specification, the “circumferential main groove” refers to a groove extending in the tread circumferential direction, having an opening width of 2 mm or more at the tread surface when the pneumatic tire is mounted on an applicable rim, filled to a prescribed internal pressure, and under no load, and having a wear indicator affixed thereto. 
     Advantageous Effect 
     According to the present disclosure, a pneumatic tire capable of improving the drainage performance without sacrificing wear resistance when wear progresses can be provided. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the accompanying drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a developed view schematically illustrating a tread pattern of a pneumatic tire according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an example of a sipe in a pneumatic tire according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an example of a comparative sipe for the sake of comparison. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure are described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 
     The internal structure and the like of the pneumatic tire (hereinafter referred to simply as the tire) can be the same as those of a conventional tire that has a tread portion. As an example, the tire can have a pair of bead portions, a pair of sidewall portions connected to the pair of bead portions, and a tread portion disposed between the pair of sidewall portions. The tire can also have a carcass extending toroidally between the pair of bead portions and a belt disposed on the radially outward side of a crown portion of the carcass. 
     Unless otherwise specified, the dimensions and the like refer to the dimensions and the like when the tire is mounted on an applicable rim, filled to a prescribed internal pressure, and under no load (referred to as the “reference state” in the present specification). 
       FIG. 1  is a developed view schematically illustrating a tread pattern of a pneumatic tire according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the tire of the present example includes, on the tread surface  1  of the tread portion (also referred to below as the tread surface  1 ), a plurality (three in the illustrated example) of circumferential main grooves  2  ( 2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c ) extending in the tread circumferential direction, and a plurality (four in the illustrated example) of land portions  3  ( 3   a,    3   b ,  3   c ,  3   d ) defined by circumferential main grooves  2  adjacent in the tread width direction among the plurality of circumferential main grooves  2 , or by the circumferential main grooves  2  ( 2   a ,  2   c ) and the tread edges TE. In the present example, one circumferential main groove  2   b  is positioned on the tire equatorial plane CL, and the other circumferential main grooves  2   a ,  2   c  are respectively positioned in one half and the other half, in the tread width direction, divided by the tire equatorial plane CL. In the present example, two land portions  3  are arranged in each tread widthwise half. As illustrated, the land portions  3   b ,  3   c  are land portions by the center in the tread width direction, and the land portions  3   a ,  3   d  are land portions adjacent to the tread edges TE. In the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the number of circumferential main grooves  2  is three, but the number can be two or less ( 0  to  2 ) or can be four or more. Accordingly, the number of land portions  3  can also be three or less (one to three), or can be five or more. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the land portions  3   a ,  3   d  adjacent to the tread edges TE are divided into blocks  5  by a plurality of widthwise grooves  4  extending in the tread width direction (two grooves in the illustrated range). In the present example, the land portions  3   b ,  3   c  by the center in the tread width direction are thus rib-like land portions, and the land portions  3   a ,  3   d  adjacent to the tread edge TE are not rib-like, i.e., are block-shaped land portions. A “rib-like land portion” refers to a land portion that is not completely divided in the tread circumferential direction by a widthwise groove or widthwise sipe extending in the tread width direction. On the other hand, all the land portions may be rib-like land portions, or all the land portions may be block-shaped land portions. Alternatively, when some of the land portions are rib-like land portions and the remaining land portions are block-shaped land portions, as in the present example, the land portions at any position in the tread width direction may be rib-like land portions. In the land portions that include the widthwise grooves  4 , the number of the widthwise grooves  4  is not particularly limited and can be determined appropriately in consideration of the negative ratio and the like. 
     In the illustrated example, the circumferential main grooves  2  all extend along the tread circumferential direction (without inclination) in plan view of the tread surface  1 , but at least one of the circumferential main grooves  2  may extend at an inclination relative to the tread circumferential direction. In this case, the circumferential main groove  2  may be inclined at an angle of, for example, 5° or less relative to the tread circumferential direction. In the illustrated example, all of the circumferential main grooves  2  extend straight in the tread circumferential direction, but at least one of the circumferential main grooves  2  may have a shape such as a zigzag shape or a curved shape. 
     In the illustrated example, all of the widthwise grooves  4  extend along the tread width direction (without inclination), but at least one of the widthwise grooves  4  may extend at an inclination relative to the tread width direction. In this case, the widthwise grooves  4  are preferably inclined relative to the tread width direction at an inclination angle of 45° or less, and are more preferably inclined at an inclination angle of 30° or less. In the illustrated example, all of the widthwise grooves  4  extend straight in the tread width direction, but at least one of the widthwise grooves  4  may have a bent portion. 
     In the illustrated example, the widthwise grooves  4  of the land portion  3   a  adjacent to the tread edge TE of one half in the tread width direction and the widthwise grooves  4  of the land portion  3   d  adjacent to the tread edge TE of the other half in the tread width direction are arranged at matching positions in the tread circumferential direction so as to overlap when projected in the tread width direction. The widthwise grooves  4  of the land portions  3  can, however, be arranged at positions shifted with respect to each other in the tread circumferential direction so as not to overlap when projected in the tread width direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the tire of the present embodiment includes one or more sipes  6  on the tread surface  1  of the tread portion. In the present example, each land portion  3  includes one or more sipes  6 , but there may be land portions  3  without sipes  6  as long as one or more land portions  3  include a sipe  6 . 
     In the present example, each block  5  has only one sipe  6  in the land portions  3   a ,  3   d  adjacent to the tread edges TE. Each block  5  may, however, have two or more sipes  6 , or some blocks may have no sipe  6 . 
     In the illustrated example, the sipe  6  provided in each block  5  of the land portions  3   a ,  3   d  adjacent to the tread edges TE is a widthwise sipe  6   a  extending in the tread width direction. The widthwise sipe  6   a  extends along the tread width direction in the illustrated example but may extend at an inclination relative to the tread width direction, in which case the widthwise sipe  6   a  is preferably inclined relative to the tread width direction at an inclination angle of 45° or less, and more preferably inclined at an inclination angle of 30° or less. 
     On the other hand, when the sipe  6  is provided in the block  5 , the sipe  6  can be a circumferential sipe extending in the tread circumferential direction. In this case, the sipe may be a circumferential sipe extending along the tread circumferential direction or may extend at an inclination to the tread circumferential direction. In the case in which the circumferential sipe extends at an inclination relative to the tread circumferential direction, the circumferential sipe is preferably inclined relative to the tread circumferential direction at an inclination angle of 45° or less, more preferably an inclination angle of 30° or less. 
     Alternatively, when sipes  6  are provided on the block  5 , both widthwise sipes and circumferential sipes may be provided. 
     In the present example, the land portions  3   b ,  3   c  by the center in the tread width direction each include four sipes  6  within the illustrated range. Specifically, widthwise sipes  6   a  extending in the tread width direction and circumferential sipes  6   b  extending in the tread circumferential direction are connected in a substantial T-shape and arranged at intervals in the tread circumferential direction. On the other hand, when the land portions  3   b ,  3   c  by the center in the tread width direction include sipes  6 , the land portions  3   b ,  3   c  can include only the widthwise sipes  6   a  or only the circumferential sipes  6   b . In this case, the number of sipes  6  (the number of widthwise sipes  6   a  and the number of the circumferential sipes  6   b ) is not particularly limited and can be set appropriately. When both the widthwise sipes  6   a  and the circumferential sipes  6   b  are provided, the combination of the number of the widthwise sipes  6   a  and the number of the circumferential sipes  6   b  is not particularly limited and can be set appropriately. The widthwise sipe  6   a  and the circumferential sipe  6   b  may intersect, as in the present example, or may be configured not to intersect. 
     In the illustrated example, the widthwise sipe  6   a  extends along the tread width direction, but the widthwise sipe  6   a  may also extend at an inclination relative to the tread width direction. The circumferential sipe  6   b  extends along the tread circumferential direction in the illustrated example but may extend at an inclination relative to the tread circumferential direction, in which case the circumferential sipe  6   b  is preferably inclined relative to the tread circumferential direction at an inclination angle of 45° or less, and more preferably inclined at an inclination angle of 30° or less. 
     In the illustrated example, the widthwise sipes  6   a  of the land portion  3   a  adjacent to the tread edge TE in one half, in the tread width direction, bounded by the tire equatorial plane CL and the widthwise sipes  6   a  of the land portion  3   d  adjacent to the tread edge TE in the other half, in the tread width direction, bounded by the tire equatorial plane CL are aligned in phase in the tread circumferential direction so as to overlap when projected in the tread width direction but may instead be arranged at different phases in the tread circumferential direction. 
     In the illustrated example, the widthwise sipes  6   a  of the land portion  3   b  by the center in the tread width direction in one half, in the tread width direction, bounded by the tire equatorial plane CL and the widthwise sipes  6   a  of the land portion  3   c  by the center in the tread width direction in the other half, in the tread width direction, bounded by the tire equatorial plane CL are aligned in phase in the tread circumferential direction so as to overlap when projected in the tread width direction but may instead be arranged at different phases in the tread circumferential direction. In the illustrated example, the circumferential sipes  6   b  of the land portion  3   b  by the center in the tread width direction in one half, in the tread width direction, bounded by the tire equatorial plane CL and the circumferential sipes  6   b  of the land portion  3   c  by the center in the tread width direction in the other half, in the tread width direction, bounded by the tire equatorial plane CL are aligned in phase in the tread circumferential direction so as to overlap when projected in the tread width direction but may instead be arranged at different phases in the tread circumferential direction. 
     In the illustrated example, the widthwise sipes  6   a  of the land portions  3   a ,  3   d  adjacent to the tread edges TE and the widthwise sipes  6   a  and circumferential sipes  6   b  of the land portions  3   b ,  3   c  by the center in the tread width direction are arranged with shifted phases in the tread circumferential direction so as not to overlap when projected in the tread width direction but may be arranged so as to overlap at least partially when projected in the tread width direction. 
     In the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the sipes  6  all extend straight in the extending direction in this plan view, but the sipes  6  can instead extend while curving in this plan view. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an example of a sipe in a pneumatic tire according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 2  illustrates the sipe in a cross-section orthogonal to the extending direction in plan view. In the illustrated example, the case in which the sipe is a circumferential sipe is illustrated, but in the following description, the sipe is not limited to being a circumferential sipe. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the sipe  6  of the present example includes a first sipe portion  7  on the tread surface  1  side, a second sipe portion  8  on the sipe bottom side, and a wide-diameter portion  9 , between the first sipe portion  7  and the second sipe portion  8 , in which the sipe width is larger than the sipe width of the first sipe portion  7  and the sipe width of the second sipe portion  8 . 
     As described above, the sipe  6  includes the first sipe portion  7  on the tread surface  1  side. The first sipe portion  7  can achieve the same function as an ordinary sipe from when the tire is new to the early stage of wear. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , in the present example, the first sipe portion  7  extends while curving in the depth direction of the sipe. The first sipe portion  7  can, however, also extend straight in the depth direction of the sipe (in plan view of the sipe  6 , the first sipe portion  7  in the present example can extend straight in the extending direction, can extend while curving, or can extend in any combination thereof, as described above). 
     As described above, the sipe  6  includes the second sipe portion  8  on the sipe bottom side. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an example of a comparative sipe for the sake of comparison. As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , during vulcanization, the tread rubber  10  forming the tread surface  1  with the grooves  2  is extruded inwardly in the tire radial direction in such a way as to avoid the grooves  2 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , if a sipe having a sipe portion  70  and a wide-diameter portion  90  on the tread surface  1  side were simply to be provided to improve the drainage performance when wear progresses, the widened portion  90  would be located farthest inwards in the tire radial direction. As in the case of forming a groove, the tread rubber  10  forming the tread surface  1  would be extruded during vulcanization in such a way as to avoid the wide-diameter portion  90 , and the wide-diameter portion  90  would end up not in an intermediate tread rubber layer  120  but rather in the tread rubber layer  100  forming the tread surface  1 . 
     In contrast, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the portion located farthest inwards in the tire radial direction is the second sipe portion  8  in the present example. Therefore, extrusion of the tread rubber  1  forming the tread surface  1  can be suppressed during vulcanization, so that at least the bottom portion (all in the present example) of the wide-diameter portion  9  can be included in an intermediate tread rubber layer  12 . 
     When the wide-diameter portion  9  is exposed as wear progresses, the wide-diameter portion  9  can be used to improve the drainage performance, and the above configuration enables use of the intermediate tread rubber layer  12  at this time. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , in the present example, the second sipe portion  8  extends straight in the depth direction of the sipe. The second sipe portion  8  can, however, also extend in the depth direction of the sipe while bending. In plan view of the sipe  6 , the second sipe portion  8  in the present example can extend straight in the extending direction, can extend while curving, or can extend in any combination thereof, as described above. 
     The sipe  6  most preferably extends while bending in the extending direction in plan view, the first sipe portion  7  most preferably extends in the depth direction of the sipe while bending, and the second sipe portion  8  most preferably extends straight in the depth direction of the sipe. 
     When the tread surface  1  has one or more circumferential main grooves  2  extending in the tire circumferential direction, as in the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the innermost edge of the second sipe portion  8  in the tire radial direction is preferably located farther outward in the tire radial direction than the groove bottom of the circumferential main groove  2 . This can suppress the occurrence of cracks at the sipe bottom of the second sipe portion  8 , thereby improving the tire durability. 
     In the present example, the sipe width of the second sipe portion  8  is 2.0 mm or less, and the ratio of the extension length of the second sipe portion  8  in the sipe depth direction to the sipe width of the second sipe portion  8  is 2 or more. This can further suppress the above-described flow of the tread rubber during vulcanization, thereby further improving the manufacturability of the tire. 
     As in the present example, the extension length of the first sipe portion  7  in the sipe depth direction is preferably longer than the extension length of the second sipe portion  8  in the sipe depth direction. The extension length of the first sipe portion  7  in the sipe depth direction can, however, be shorter than or the same as the extension length of the second sipe portion  8  in the sipe depth direction. 
     As described above, the sipe  6  includes the wide-diameter portion  9 . As a result, the wide-diameter portion  9  with a large sipe width appears when wear progresses, thereby improving the drainage performance. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the wide-diameter portion  9  is spherical in the present example, and more specifically is a sphere. On the other hand, the wide-diameter portion  9  can be spherical and have an elliptical cross-sectional shape, for example, or the wide-diameter portion  9  can have a cross-section shaped as a rectangle (square, rectangle, trapezoid, or the like), for example. In this case, any one or more of corner portions may be chamfered. 
     Here, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , at least the bottom portion of the wide-diameter portion  9  is included in the intermediate tread rubber layer  12 , which differs from the tread rubber layer  10  forming the tread surface  1  and a tread rubber layer  11  on the innermost side of the tread portion in the tire radial direction. In particular, in the present example, at least all of the wide-diameter portion  9  is included in the intermediate tread rubber layer  12 . As a result, the tread rubber layer  12  is used when the wide-diameter portion  9  (at least the bottom portion thereof, or all in the present example) appears, and by appropriately adjusting the wear resistance of the tread rubber layer  12 , the wear resistance when wear progresses can be further improved. For example, the wear resistance of the tread rubber layer  12  can be adjusted by adjusting the loss tangent tan δ 1  of the intermediate tread rubber layer  12 . In this case, the loss tangent tan δ 1  of the intermediate tread rubber layer  12  is preferably larger than the loss tangent tan δ 2  of the tread rubber layer  11  on the innermost side of the tread portion in the tire radial direction. The loss tangent tan δ 1  of the intermediate tread rubber layer  12  can be larger, smaller, or the same as the loss tangent tan δ 3  of the tread rubber layer  10  forming the tread surface  1 . 
     The thicknesses of the tread rubber layers  10 ,  11 , and  12  in  FIG. 2  are illustrated schematically, and any of the layers may be thicker or thinner than any other. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the first sipe portion  7  in the present example is included (entirely) in the tread rubber layer  10  forming the tread surface  1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , part or all (all in the illustrated example) of the second sipe portion  8  in the present example is included in the intermediate tread rubber layer  12 . Part of the second sipe portion  8  on the inner side in the tire radial direction may, however, be included in the tread rubber layer  11  on the innermost side of the tread portion in the tire radial direction. 
     In the present example, the tread portion includes a cap rubber layer and a base rubber layer positioned farther inward in the tire radial direction than the cap rubber layer. In the present example, the cap rubber layer includes an outer cap rubber layer and an inner cap rubber located farther inward in the tire radial direction than the outer cap rubber layer. 
     That is, in the present example, the tread rubber layer  10  forming the aforementioned tread surface  1  is the outer cap rubber layer. In the present example, the tread rubber layer  11  on the innermost side of the tread portion in the tire radial direction is the base rubber layer. The intermediate tread rubber layer  12  is the inner cap rubber layer. 
     Accordingly, in the present example, at least the bottom portion (all in the illustrated example) of the wide-diameter portion  9  is included in the inner cap rubber layer. 
     As a result, the drainage performance can be improved without sacrificing wear resistance when wear progress in the case in which the tread portion has a laminated rubber structure. 
     The tread portion is not, however, limited to a laminated rubber structure. 
     At this time, the loss tangent tan δCi of the intermediate cap rubber layer  12  is preferably larger than the loss tangent tan δB of the base rubber layer  11 . 
     The aforementioned sipes  6  can, for example, be manufactured by machining with metal sheets, casting, or laminate molding (3D printing). 
     While embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is in no way limited to the above embodiments. For example, the tread rubber layer  10  forming the tread surface and the tread rubber layer  11  on the innermost side of the tread portion in the tire radial direction are each one layer in the above examples but may instead be two or more layers. The intermediate tread rubber layer  12  is also one layer in the above examples but may be two or more layers. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
         
           
               1  Tread surface 
               2 ,  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c  Circumferential main groove 
               3 ,  3   a ,  3   b ,  3   c ,  3   d  Land portion 
               4  Widthwise groove 
               5  Block 
               6  Sipe 
               6   a  Widthwise sipe 
               6   b  Circumferential sipe 
               7  First sipe portion 
               8  Second sipe portion 
               9  Wide-diameter portion 
               10  Tread rubber layer forming tread surface 
               11  Tread rubber layer on innermost side of tread portion in tire radial direction 
               12  Intermediate tread rubber layer 
             CL Tire equatorial plane 
             TE Tread edge