Patent ID: 7779876

Claim:
A tire comprising: a circumferential tread including at least one circumferential groove defining a side of at least one tread element and at least one sipe provided in the at least one tread element, the at least one sipe having an open contour curved main portion with a single curve consisting of an arc that is substantially equal to 90 degrees and that includes a first end and a second end, a first substantially straight minor portion, and a second substantially straight minor portion, wherein the first end of the single curve is directly connected only to the first substantially straight minor portion and the second end of the single curve is directly connected only to the second substantially straight minor portion, where the first substantially straight minor portion is in communication with the at least one circumferential groove and the second substantially straight minor portion is terminated in the tread element such that the second substantially straight minor portion is not in communication with a groove and not in communication with another sipe, the at least one sipe having a thickness of less than 0.030 inches and wherein each of the first and second substantially straight minor portions has a length less than the length of the curved main portion.