Patent ID: 7290578

Claim:
A tire tread, comprising: a tread block having, a first sidewall, a second sidewall and an axially outer circumferentially extending sidewall, the first side wall defining a leading edge having an upper and lower region, the leading edge situated adjacent a lateral groove and adjoined to the second side wall at a corner, the second side wall having an upper and lower region and being undercut and situated adjacent a circumferential groove that intersects with the lateral groove, and the axially outer circumferentially extending side wall being linear in shape, the circumferential groove defining a water channel disposed about the tire tread wherein water flows in a direction toward the leading edge and along the second side wall, wherein the upper region of the leading edge defines an obtuse angle as measured from a line parallel to the flow of water in the circumferential groove to a line tangent to the leading edge of the upper region drawn from the corner thereof whereby the shape of the upper region limits water flow deviation from the circumferential groove into the lateral groove, wherein the lower region of the leading edge defines an acute angle as measured from the line parallel to the flow of water in the circumferential groove to a line tangent to the leading edge of the lower region drawn from the corner thereof whereby the shape of the lower region deviates water flow from the circumferential groove into the lateral groove.