Patent ID: 7188650

Claim:
A tire, comprising; a tread including a plurality of tread blocks disposed circumferentially around the tire, each said tread block having a top surface; and a least one sipe formed into at least one of said tread blocks; said sipe defined by first and second confronting sidewalls and having a cross-sectional profile in a plane generally perpendicular to said top surface of said tread block, said profile having a generally arcuate central portion and first and second ends separated by said central portion, said first and second sidewalls spaced apart at least one first width at said central portion, and spaced apart at least one second width at one of said first and second ends, said second width greater than said first width such that said first and second sidewalls contact one another along said central portion under deformation in a direction parallel to said top surface; said sipe further comprising a stepped profile in said central portion; said stepped profile comprising alternating, substantially straight segments and curved segments, wherein said substantially straight segments are substantially perpendicular to said top surface, and said segments are arranged such that said central portion of said sipe is generally convex from said first end to said second end.