Patent ID: 7581577

Claim:
A low noise pneumatic tire having a tread, the tread having a radially inner surface, a belt-shaped sound absorbing member being mounted on the radially inner surface of the tread by an annular fixing elastic band, the belt-shaped sound absorbing member being formed of a porous material and having a width of 40% to 90% of a maximum width of the tire and a thickness of 5 mm to 50 mm, whereby the elastic force of the elastic band secures the sound absorbing member on the inner surface of the tread, wherein the belt-shaped sound absorbing member has a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface, at least one of the radially inner and outer surfaces of the belt-shaped sound absorbing member has notches that extend widthwisely of the belt-shaped sound absorbing member and are disposed at prescribed intervals longitudinally of the belt-shaped sound absorbing member, and wherein one of the radially inner and outer surfaces has the widthwisely extending notches, and the other of the radially inner and outer surfaces has longitudinally extending notches.