Patent ID: 8171967

Claim:
A tire tread apparatus, comprising a plurality of tread pads adapted for engagement with a tread surface of a tire; a cable network interconnecting the plurality of tread pads; first and second shoulder pads adapted for circumferential engagement about a first and second shoulder of the tire, the first and second shoulder pads cooperatively interconnected with the plurality of tread pads through the cable network; a first annular cable depending from the first shoulder pad adjacent the first sidewall of the tire; and a second annular cable depending from the second shoulder pad adjacent a second sidewall of the tire; wherein the first and second annular cables are formed in respective closed loops by one or more tensioning fasteners; and the first and second annular cables are interlaced in cooperation with the cable network to effect a preset tension within the cable network through a constant tension applied to the first and second annular cables by the one or more tensioning fasteners.