Patent ID: 8156977

Claim:
A tire comprising: first and second shoulder rows of shoulder tread elements opposite respective first and second interior rows of interior tread elements within a tire tread region, the first and second shoulder rows being separated from the first and second interior rows by circumferentially extending, substantially zig-zag shaped first and second circumferential grooves, respectively, each circumferential groove defined by opposed shoulder tread elements and interior tread elements, and the first and second circumferential grooves each having a circumferentially continuous see-through central groove portion extending parallel to a circumferential centerplane of the tread; the shoulder tread elements and interior tread elements of the first shoulder row and the first interior row each being at least partially bounded by angled lateral sides extending to the first circumferential groove, and wherein circumferentially adjacent interior tread elements being separated by a funnel-shaped lateral interior groove defined by the angled sides of the adjacent interior tread elements; and each funnel shaped lateral groove having a mouth portion at the first circumferential groove and a groove segment extending axially inward beyond the first interior row toward a central region of the tread; and wherein the shoulder tread elements and interior tread elements of the second shoulder row and second interior row are circumferentially staggered and at least partially bounded by angled lateral sides extending to the second circumferential groove, and wherein circumferentially adjacent shoulder tread elements of the second shoulder row are separated by a funnel-shaped lateral shoulder groove defined by the angled sides of the adjacent second row shoulder elements.