Patent ID: 8286680

Claim:
A tire having an inner peripheral surface forming a tire cavity, the tire comprising: a pair of circumferentially extending bead portions comprising: a bead core; a ledge region radially inward of the bead core and forming a substantially cylindrical or substantially frustoconical annular surface, the ledge region having at least one circumferentially continuous ledge groove disposed therein, wherein each ledge groove has at least three substantially planar surfaces including a first substantially planar ledge groove surface oriented at an angle between 15 degrees and 60 degrees relative to a line tangent to the annular surface of the ledge region, a second substantially planar ledge groove surface parallel to the first substantially planar ledge groove surface, and a third substantially planar ledge groove surface extending from the first substantially planar ledge groove surface to the second substantially planar ledge groove surface; a flange region axially outward of the bead core and forming a substantially planar or substantially frustoconical annular surface, the flange region having at least one circumferentially continuous flange groove disposed therein, wherein each flange groove has at least three substantially planar surfaces including a first substantially planar flange groove surface oriented at an angle between 15 degrees and 60 degrees relative to a line tangent to the annular surface of the flange region, a second substantially planar flange groove surface parallel to the first substantially planar flange groove surface, and a third substantially planar flange groove surface extending from the first substantially planar flange groove surface to the second substantially planar flange groove surface; a toe region forming an annular surface that connects the annular surface of the ledge region to the inner peripheral surface of the tire; and a heel region having a smooth, continuous annular surface extending from the annular surface of the ledge region to the annular surface of the flange region.