Low-running-temperature tyre

Abstract

A tire for a wheel of a vehicle comprises a toroidal carcass provided with axially opposite sidewalls and beads for anchoring the tire to a rim of the wheel, a tread band located crownwise on the carcass, comprising a surface with a plurality of hollows and grooves defining a raised tread pattern, and a belt structure interposed between the carcass and the tread band, axially extending between the sidewalls. The tread band comprises at least first and second circumferential axially-contiguous portions arranged to contact a road surface. The first portion is formed of a first composition comprising a reinforcing filler having at least 40%-by-weight carbon black and at least some white filler, the second portion is formed of a second composition comprising a reinforcing filler having at least 20%-by-weight white filler, and the first composition is different from the second composition. A difference of compositions between the at least first and second portions achieves a tire operating temperature lower than a reference temperature.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to tires for mounting on vehicle wheels, and more particularly to tires for motorcycles and cars, but it may also relate to any other type of tires. More specifically, the invention pertains to the tread band used in tires, which also includes raw or pre-molded treads for covering or “recapping” worn tires, as well as to a method of achieving optimal thermal conditions during use of the tire.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] It is known that today tires must not only possess good performance features in terms of operating on any kind of road surfaces, i.e., dry, wet, or snow-covered surfaces, but also must have good qualities such as a comfortable and smooth ride and high mileage. These features must be maintained even when the tire runs under critical or extreme conditions, due for example to high speed operation in connection with racing on a track, in particular in combination with a high ambient temperature.

[0006] These performance and operational features of the tire are determined by grooves and circumferential and/or transverse hollows of appropriate sizes and orientation that are formed in the tread band. These elements give rise to ribs and/or blocks variously located in the tread band so as to form different designs of tread pattern, optimized according to the intended use for the tire. In particular, said pattern can be defined as symmetric when it is always the same irrespective of the rolling direction of the tire, asymmetric when one side of the tread band is different from the axially opposite side, and finally, directional when the tire is designed to operate in a preferred rolling direction. In the last case, one side of the tread band is a mirror image of the other side, relative to the equatorial plane of the tire.

[0007] Preferably, in particular for the purpose of obtaining good traction on wet or snow-covered road surfaces and on curvy roads, blocks and ribs are provided on the tread band to form an appropriate pattern. This pattern includes a series of narrow grooves of greater or lesser density or width, oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of vehicle movement along which traction has to be provided.

[0008] It is known that the performance of the tire is adversely affected to a great extent by the operating temperature of the tire. One of the most difficult problems to be solved has always been and still is that of maintaining a good resistance to wear and appropriate grip at normal temperatures of operation of the tire (30° C.-50° C.), as well as when the tire exceeds those temperatures due to strong thermal and mechanical stresses, such as those resulting from use under so-called “extreme conditions.”

[0009] The difficulty in obtaining these desired features of the tire under all operating condition essentially originates from the fact that resistance to wear and appropriate grip are two goals substantially incompatible with each other. For the tire to achieve a good resistance to wear and low resistance to rolling, elastomeric blends having a low hysteresis value must be employed in forming the tire tread band. However, these blends are capable of dissipating a limited amount of energy during rolling.

[0010] On the other hand, to achieve the desired tire grip or traction, elastomeric blends of a high hysteresis value are required. These blends are capable of dissipating an amount of energy sufficient to ensure proper adhesion between the tread band and the ground.

[0011] It is important to remember that the temperature reached by the elastomeric blend in operation is proportional to the amount of dissipated energy, and therefore to its hysteresis value. As a result, an optimal elastomeric compound forming the tread band should have quite opposite hysteresis behaviors, incompatible with each other, to simultaneously optimize all desired performance features of the tire.

[0012] So far, attempts carried out in the art to improve tire performance in a temperature range different from the temperatures of normal use have resulted in either a large and undesired loss of grip, or in a significant worsening in the resistance to abrasion of the tread band. In some cases, both drawbacks were present.

[0013] Pirelli in the past has also tried to solve this problem, in particular with a tire being the object of Italian Patent No. 1,087,461 to its name. The tire described in that patent is provided with a tread band consisting of two axially contiguous circumferential portions of different composition, the first portion of which is made of an elastomeric blend having a low glass-transition temperature (referred to as “Tg”), included between −55° C. and −30 C., whereas the blend of the second portion has a higher Tg, included between −25° C. and −10° C. Although some advantages were achieved under conditions of normal or high operating temperatures, under winter conditions when the tire is subject to low environmental temperatures close to the temperature of the highest Tg (−10° C.), the tire showed a significant decay in its operational performance.

[0014] In view of the above, the described problem appears to be substantially unsolved by the known art. In particular, tire tread bands of known type cannot maintain the same grip when the tire, under extreme use conditions, exceeds the above mentioned standard temperatures of use (30°-50° C.), without, on the other hand, simultaneously losing their resistance to abrasion.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] In accordance with the present invention, it has been unexpectedly found that it is possible to retain the tire performance existing under normal conditions, while improving such performance to a higher level during tire use under extreme conditions.

[0016] Applicants approached the problem of producing tires with tread bands of different material while developing a tire having colored inserts, such as for example a white sidewall, and in particular tires with a tread band of two distinct colors. A two-colored tire, in addition to having an agreeable and unusual aesthetic aspect which enables car personalization by an owner with his/her preferred colors, may also have more practical functions such as enabling a correct mounting orientation of the tire on the vehicle when required, or an immediate identification of the type of tire stored among a great number of other types in a warehouse that may be poorly illuminated.

[0017] Applicants realized that making colored elastomeric blends excludes the use, even in minimum proportions, of carbon black as a reinforcing filler, because carbon black has such a coloring power that the effect of any other colored pigment is drowned out.

[0018] Only so-called “white” fillers can be colored with appropriate pigments. Among these, the preferred fillers for use in tires, especially in the tread band region, have been identified as fillers of siliceous material, in particular silica.

[0019] It is known that silica is useful for giving the tire qualities of low rolling resistance, due to the low hysteresis value of the silica filled elastomeric blend, and good grip on snow-covered or wet ground. Silica, however, offers lower performance regarding grip on a dry ground and resistance to wear, so that its use as a reinforcing filler in the tire tread band must be carefully controlled.

[0020] Applicants observed the results of road tests of a series of prototypes having the tread band consisting of two different circumferential portions located axially side-by-side, one portion consisting of an elastomeric blend mainly filled with carbon black (black blend) and the other consisting of a blend exclusively filled with white filler (white blend). Applicants ascertained that the performance on a dry road of those tire prototypes were always globally better than those of the groups of control tires, having respectively the tread band made of a blend filled with carbon black, or with a very high percentage of silica.

[0021] While conducting studies to clarify the reasons of these unexpected results, Applicants carried out some thermographies of the tread band of tires being tested, thus finding out that the two-colored tires according to the invention tended to operate at a lower temperature than the black tread tires. In particular, even the black tread portion of those prototypes operated at a lower temperature than the equivalent tread portion in the tires with a completely black blend tread band.

[0022] The improvement achieved in accordance with the present invention in the road behavior of two-colored tires, as compared with conventional tires, is believed to result from the lower operating temperature of the tire. The improvement achieved relative to white tires depends on the above mentioned and known deficiencies typical of silica filled elastomeric compounds in connection with important aspects of the tire performance on the road.

[0023] In particular, the white blend portion, or in any case the portion formed of a low-hysteresis blend that is a “cold” operating blend, in tires provided with a two-blend tread band is deemed to generate a synergetic action linked to its lower operating temperature. This synergy tends to keep the adjacent tread band portion formed of a black blend colder than in a conventional design, in addition to keeping the overall tread band colder.

[0024] The invention is considered capable of carrying out its effects in a perceptible manner when differences between the hysteresis values and/or the white filler amounts in the two elastomeric blends used in the tread band are preferably included within given limits, as more specifically described below.

[0025] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a method has been found of controlling the working temperature of a tire comprising a toroidal carcass provided with axially opposite sidewalls and beads for anchoring to a corresponding mounting rim, a tread band located circumferentially on the crown portion of said carcass and molded with a raised pattern for rolling contact with the ground, and a belt structure interposed between said carcass and tread band, axially extending in a continuous manner between said sidewalls. The method consists in making the tread band of at least two circumferential and axially contiguous portions, a first portion and a second portion respectively of different compositions, which compositions have a different hysteresis value. The difference between said two hysteresis values results in a working temperature of the tire which is lower, as a whole, than the temperature of a conventional tire with a tread band made of the composition having the greater hysteresis value.

[0026] It has been found that preferably the difference between said hysteresis values must be at least equal to 10% of the higher value, and preferably greater than 20% of said higher value.

[0027] In accordance with a different aspect of the invention, it has been found that an alternative method may be carried out by making the tire tread band of two circumferential portions, located axially in side-by-side relationship, from different compositions. The compositions are respectively a white one and a black one. At least one of the compositions comprises a white filler as the reinforcing filler. The difference between the amount of white filler present in each of the two compositions is selected to obtain an operating temperature of the tire which, as a whole, is lower than the operating temperature of a tire having a tread band made only of the composition containing the lower amount of white filler.

[0028] It has been found that the so-called black composition must preferably contain at least 40%-by-weight of carbon black, whereas the so-called white composition must contain at least 20%-by-weight of white filler, relative to the total amount of reinforcing filler. More specifically, the white blend must contain an amount of white filler, in terms of filler weight, greater than the amount contained in the black blend. The filler amount difference between the two blends must preferably correspond to a percent difference of at least 20% between the percentages-by-weight of white filler out of a total amount of the reinforcing filler in each of the two blends.

[0029] In a different aspect the invention relates to a tire for vehicle wheels comprising a toroidal carcass provided with axially opposite sidewalls and beads for anchoring of said tire to a corresponding mounting rim, a tread band placed crownwise to said carcass. The tread band comprises a plurality of hollows and grooves variously located relative to the equatorial plane of the tire, adapted to define a raised tread pattern for rolling contact with the ground. A belt structure is interposed between said carcass and tread band, axially extending in a continuous manner between said sidewalls. The tread band is formed of at least two circumferential and axially contiguous portions, a first portion and a second portion respectively, formed of different compositions of elastomeric compounds, characterized in that said compositions have different hysteresis values. The difference between said two hysteresis values is selected to obtain a working temperature in the tire which is lower, as a whole, than the working temperature of a tire having a tread band made only of the composition showing the greater hysteresis value.

[0030] In a further aspect, the invention relates to a tire for vehicle wheels comprising a toroidal carcass provided with axially opposite sidewalls and beads for anchoring the tire to a corresponding mounting rim, a tread band located crownwise to said carcass comprising a plurality of hollows and grooves variously located relative to the equatorial plane, adapted to define a raised tread pattern for rolling contact with the ground, and a belt structure interposed between said carcass and tread band, axially extending in a continuous manner between said sidewalls. The tread band is formed of at least two circumferential and axially contiguous portions, a first portion and a second portion respectively, formed of different compositions. The first portion comprises a reinforcing filler of carbon black including at least 40%-by-weight of said carbon black, and the second portion comprises a white reinforcing filler in an amount at least equal to 20%-by-weight of the total amount of reinforcing filler in the elastomeric composition of the second portion. The composition difference between the two portions is selected to obtain a working temperature in the tire that, taken as a whole, is lower than the temperature of operation reached by a tire with a tread band made only of the composition containing the lower amount of white filler.

[0031] It has been found preferable for the second portion to contain the greater amount of white filler, and for the difference between the amounts of said white filler present in the compositions of the two portions to be at least equal to 20%-by-weight in favor of the second or “white” portion, provided that the volume of white filler in said second portion is such that the decrease in operating temperature described above is obtained.

[0032] In accordance with the invention, it has been found preferable for the volume of said second portion to be at least as high as 30% but not higher than 80% of the overall volume of the tread band. In a further different aspect of the invention it has been found preferable for the axial width of said second portion to be at least as high as 25% but not higher than 80% of the overall width of the tread band, and preferably greater than 50%.

[0033] In a further novel and still different aspect, the invention is a tread band that can be made of raw blend or of an already pre-molded blend, for use in covering or “recapping” worn tires. The tread band can then be made according to any one of the above mentioned different alternative embodiments.

[0034] In another and still different aspect, the invention also relates to a method of producing tires for vehicle wheels, and specifically tread bands for said tires having colored inserts of colors different from black.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] The file of this patent contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Patent and Trademark Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.

[0036] FIG. 1 is an axial transverse section of a tire of the type used in four-wheeled vehicles, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

[0037] FIG. 2 is an axial transverse section of a tire of the type used in two-wheeled vehicles, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

[0038] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a portion of tread band in accordance with the invention, showing a tread pattern of the symmetric type;

[0039] FIG. 4 is a front view of a tire with a tread band in accordance with the invention, showing a tread pattern of the asymmetric type;

[0040] FIG. 5 is a plan view of a portion of tread band in accordance with the invention showing a tread pattern of the directional type; and

[0041] FIG. 6 is a color thermograph of a tire tread in accordance with the invention compared with that of a tire of known type, referred to the same tread pattern, of the asymmetric type, under the same working conditions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0042] FIG. 1 shows the structure of the inventive tire in an embodiment used in four-wheeled vehicles. Such structure other than the tread band does not differ substantially from the general structure of traditional tires, however the differences with the latter will become apparent in the following description.

[0043] Tyre 1 comprises a carcass 2 of a strong structure formed of at least one ply 3 of rubberized fabric comprising reinforcing cords of textile or metal material buried into the elastomer material of the fabric, said ply having its ends 3a each turned up about an anchoring ring or bead 4. The bead core is provided on its radially outer surface with a rubber filling 5. Preferably the turned-up flaps 3a of the carcass plies extend up radially outwardly along at least part of the side of said filling.

[0044] As known, the tire area comprising bead core 4 and filling 5, that is the radially inner portion of the tire sidewall, forms the tire bead which is intended for anchoring of the tire to a corresponding mounting rim.

[0045] Located in known manner on the carcass, which is preferably of the radial type having the reinforcing cords lying in planes along the tire axis of rotation, there is a tread band 10, provided with a raised pattern intended for rolling contact of the tire on the ground. The width L of this band is identified by the distance between the intersection points of the tread band and sidewall curvatures, referred to as the edges of the tread band.

[0046] This tread pattern may be comprised of a plurality of ribs and/or blocks 11, 12 separated from each other by corresponding hollows and grooves 13, 14, directed both circumferentially and transversely. Said ribs and/or blocks may be provided with various cuts and narrow slits or “lamellae” 15, forming configurations well known to those skilled in the art.

[0047] Tyre 1 may also be comprised of a belt structure 6 located crownwise on carcass 2, interposed between the carcass and tread band, extending from one side to the other side of the tire, i.e., substantially as wide as the tread band, and comprising two radially superposed layers 7, 8 of reinforcing cords. The reinforcing cords are preferably of metal material and are parallel to each other in each layer, but are located in crossed relationship with those cords of the adjacent layer relative to the equatorial plane of the tire. In a preferred embodiment, a further radially outermost layer 9 of reinforcing cords, preferably of textile material, and more preferably of a heat-shrinkable material (nylon) oriented at 0° relative to a circumferential direction, is located between the tread band and the radially more internal belt layers.

[0048] In accordance with the invention, the tread band is formed of two circumferential portions, a first (hot) portion A and a second (cold) portion B respectively, which are axially contiguous and made up of different compositions. More specifically, said two compositions have a different hysteresis value, and the difference between the two values is such that it causes each portion, during the tire operation, to operate at a different temperature. Preferably, the hysteresis difference must be at least equal to 10% of the higher hysteresis value, and more preferably greater than 20% of said value.

[0049] The hysteresis value to which reference is made above is the loss factor (tan δ) measured on a cylindrical test piece of 14 mm diameter and 25 mm length, tested under the following conditions: temperature of 70° C., deformation frequency equal to 100 Hz in a sinusoidal condition, on a 25%-precompressed test piece submitted to a further deformation width of 3.5% relative to the size of the undeformed test piece.

[0050] It is preferable for the test piece to be submitted in known manner, before measurement, to a conditioning cycle in terms of time and frequency cycles, so as to stabilize data of the subsequent measurement. Said test piece may be also obtained from several suitably-superposed slices of reduced thickness that, for example, can be removed from parts of the tire tread.

[0051] In an alternative embodiment, the two circumferential portions comprise a first (black) portion A and a second (white) portion B. More specifically, said two portions are made of elastomeric compositions that have different reinforcing fillers, including a white filler. The difference between the amount of white filler present in the A and the B portions is at least equal to 20% of the amount present in the white portion.

[0052] It has been found that preferably the black composition must contain at least 40%-by-weight of carbon black, whereas the white composition must contain at least 20%-by-weight of white filler, measured relative to the total amount of the reinforcing filler in the respective elastomeric composition mixtures. The two compositions have a difference in amount of white filler contained that is at least equal to 20%-by-weight, with the white composition having more of the white filler.

[0053] It has been found that the invention accomplishes its goals in a particularly appreciable manner when the volume of the second portion B, i.e., that of the cold or white composition, is such that the overall operating temperature of the tire is reduced relative to a reference temperature. The reference temperature can be either the operating temperature of an equivalent tire submitted to the same operating conditions but provided with a tread made entirely of the cold composition having a greater hysteresis value or, alternatively, of an equivalent tire provided with a tread made entirely of the black composition having the smaller amount of white filler and lower hysteresis value.

[0054] More specifically, it has been found that when the volume of said second portion B represents a significant percentage of the overall volume of the tread band, the operating temperature of both the entire tread band and of each separate blend portion, as well as of all the tire taken as a whole, remains lower than the reference temperature of an equivalent tire having the tread band made entirely of the black, or hot, elastomeric composition. By “equivalent tire” it is herein intended a tire identical to the tire according to the invention, except for the different elastomeric composition forming the tread band.

[0055] It has been found that in a tire formed according to the invention, the decrease in the overall operating temperature of the tire, i.e., the inner temperature of the tire, is on the order of at least 5° C. or more, relative to an equivalent tire.

[0056] In accordance with the invention, a “significant percentage” of the overall volume of the tread band is deemed to mean an amount at least as high as 30% of the overall volume of said tread band, and preferably higher than 50%. This percentage indicates how much of the tread band is formed by an elastomeric compound having the higher proportion of white filler. On the other hand, increasing this percentage reduces the tread resistance to wear and increases grip loss, so that in order to maintain the good performance qualities achieved by the tire of the invention, the volume of this second portion B of the tread band should not exceed 80% of the overall volume of said tread band.

[0057] The ideal relative volume of the two tread band portions also depends on the features of the pattern formed thereon, and in particular on the ratio between lands and hollows. This ratio is generally different between the two portions in the case of asymmetric patterns, so that the width of the second portion, i.e., the so-called cold or white portion, is preferably included between 25% and 80% of the overall width of the tread band, and more preferably greater than 50% of said width.

[0058] In another preferred embodiment of the invention designed to provide a colored composition, in the second portion B the white filler is preferably used in an exclusive manner as the reinforcing filler. In other words, the second portion B preferably forms a colored insert substantially devoid of carbon black. In accordance with the invention, this coloring of the second portion is preferably obtained by mixing the white filler with coloring pigments selected from a wide variety of possible colors. Many suppliers can provide these coloring agents and compositions containing an already colored white filler. Applicants selected the material available from the Italian associated firm CLARIANT to assemble a tire according to the invention.

[0059] With reference to the blends used in the invention, it is to note that carbon black for the reinforcing filler is known in the art. Applicants preferably uses carbon black having an absorption value DBP measured following ISO 4656-1 standards equal to at least 100 ml/100 g, preferably included between 130 ml/l100 g and 160 ml/100 g, and a surface area as determined based on cetyltrimethylammonium absorption according to ISO 6810 standards (CTAB) not exceeding 130 m2/g, and preferably included between 70 m2/g and 115 m2/g.

[0060] The so-called “white” fillers, for example, are reinforcing fillers of inorganic type such as gypsum, talc, kaolin, bentonite, titanium dioxide, silicates of various kinds, and silica. Preferably the white blend of the invention comprises a silica-based white filler that is a reinforcing agent based on silicon dioxide (silica), silicates, and mixtures thereof having a surface area measured according to BET method following ISO 5794-1 standard included between 70 m2/g and 300 m2/g, and an appropriate binding agent capable of chemically reacting with silica and bonding silica with a polymeric base during vulcanization. Among the great number of available binders, Applicants have found it convenient to use a known silane binding agent, identified as Si69, available from DEGUSSA.

[0061] With regard to the polymeric base of the blends in accordance with the invention, it can be selected from the group comprising: natural rubber, 1,4-cis polybutadiene, polychloroprene, 1,4-bis polyisoprene, optionally halogenated isobutene-isoprene copolymers, butadiene-acrylonitrile, stirene-butadiene copolymers and stirene-butadiene-isoprene terpolymers, obtained both in solution and in emulsion, and ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers. In accordance with the invention, these polymeric bases can be used individually or in a mixture thereof in accordance with the features that are wished to be imparted to the finished product.

[0062] By way of example only and not in a limiting sense, two examples of compositions are given hereinafter for the black blend and the white blend respectively, that may be used for tires in accordance with the invention.

[0063] The elastomeric composition of portion A, in the version with a reinforcing filler exclusively of carbon black, may have the following composition, set forth in parts-by-weight:

polymeric base      100.0
carbon black        68.0
ZnO                 2.0
stearic acid        1.0
antioxidants        2.5
anti-fatigue agents 1.0
plasticizers        15
sulphur             1.2
accelerating agents 1.8

[0064] The elastomeric composition of portion B, in the version including only said silica-based white filler as the reinforcing filler, may have the following composition, set forth in parts-by-weight:

polymeric base      100
silica              70
binding agent       8% of silica
ZnO                 2
stearic acid        1
antioxidants        2.5
anti-fatigue agents 1
plasticizers        15
sulphur             1.2
accelerating agents 2.5

[0065] For achievement of the results of the invention, said second portion B may be located either in the central area of the tread band, flanked on both sides by portions A, as shown in FIG. 5, or at a side position on the tread band, adjacent an edge of the tread band, as shown in FIG. 4. However, due to the fact that the second portion B is more sensitive to wear and to grip loss than the first portion A, the most convenient position for the second portion B, at least for tires used in situations that are not extremely demanding, is near the inner edge of the tread band, nearest to the vehicle centerline when the tire is mounted on the vehicle, where stress is lower during operation of the tire. In high-performance tires or tires used in extremely demanding conditions, the centre position will be the preferred one when symmetric and directional tread patterns are utilized, while the side position will be the preferred one for asymmetric patterns. Actually, such asymmetric tread patterns also have two axially distinct circumferential areas with reference to mounting of the tire on the vehicle, an inner area nearer the vehicle centerline and an outer area further from the vehicle centerline, respectively. In this case, said second portion B is preferably situated at the inner area of the pattern, that is the one which is located nearer the vehicle centerline.

[0066] Use of a compound portion reinforced with a white filler, as already described, also enables a convenient coloring of this portion. As explained, it is apparent that it may be difficult to visually mount a tire with a symmetric or directional tread pattern made only of black tread band compound, so that the portion to be mounted on the vehicle side is in the correct orientation. It is therefore apparent that by differently coloring inserts corresponding to different tread portions, this mounting problem too can be solved.

[0067] The invention can also be advantageously applied to tires for motorcycles. These tires (FIG. 2) are distinguished by a high transverse curvature, identified by the value of the ratio of the distance ht of the tread centre from line b passing through the tread ends C-C, measured on the equatorial plane, to the distance wt between said tread ends C-C. This value, generally greater than 0.15:1 in tires for front wheels, is often even greater than 0.30:1 as compared to an usual value in tires for cars on the order of 0.05:1. Throughout the present description said ratio will be referred to as “curvature ratio.” In motorcycle tires, according to the present invention, the tread width must be interpreted as a measurement of the tread extension along its curvature profile.

[0068] FIG. 2 generally shows a motorcycle tire of this type, comprising a very particular geometry structure capable of withstanding very particular use conditions. As is known, two-wheeled vehicles in covering a curvilinear trajectory lean toward the internal side of the turn by an angle referred to as “camber angle,” the value of which can reach 65° relative to a plane vertical to the ground.

[0069] In this motorcycle tire, a carcass structure which is substantially identical to that previously described is provided. The same reference numerals as shown in FIG. 1 have been also used here. However, in this case the belt structure 6 comprises a reinforcing wrapping which is an essential element, and consists of at least a preferably metallic inextensible cord 9 reaching circumferentially crownwise to the carcass ply 3 to form a plurality of turns 9a parallel to each other and located consecutively in side-by-side relationship, substantially oriented along the rolling direction of the tire 1. The radially underlying layers 7, 8 of inclined cords are optional.

[0070] Turns 9a are located consecutively in side-by-side relationship along a curvilinear profile, and by virtue of their substantial longitudinal inextensibility, structurally and dimensionally stabilize tire 1 to maintain the desired transverse-curvature profile.

[0071] In accordance with the invention, the tread band 10 is conveniently formed of said portions A and B made of different elastomeric compounds. The cold or white blend portion B is preferably located on either side of the equatorial plane of the tire for reasons of structural and operating symmetry of the tire, due to its particular geometric shape and the operating conditions of the leaning vehicle in a turn. In other respects, the same considerations, restrictions, and critical values already mentioned above are also valid for this type of tire.

[0072] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a portion of tread band for a tire according to the invention, molded with a known tread pattern of the symmetric type. With regard to these pattern types, disposition of the white blend portion B can take place in any desired manner, both at a side position relative to the tread band or at a centre position in a central area of the tread band. In a preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3, portion B is shown in cross-hatching and is located at a central position, extending axially from the equatorial plane of the tire. In connection with particular technical requirements or for other reasons to be met, said portion B can be located either on one or both of the shown band sides 11, on either side of the equatorial plane, or can be divided into a plurality of circumferential areas alternating with black blend areas.

[0073] FIG. 4 is a front view of a tire provided with a tread band in accordance with the invention, molded with a tread pattern of the asymmetric type which has an inner circumferential area I located axially in side-by-side relationship with another outer circumferential area E.

[0074] As described above, the tire is mounted on the vehicle so that area I is located near the vehicle centerline and area E is located further away from the vehicle. With this asymmetric type, the white blend portion B (in cross-hatching) is preferably located in a side portion of the tread band and, most preferably, on the inner side area I.

[0075] FIG. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the tread band of a tire embodiment according to the invention, molded with a tread pattern of the directional type. In this pattern, the white blend portion B (in cross-hatching) will preferably be located in a central position and, most preferably, on either side of the equatorial plane of the tire.

[0076] The performance of the tire according to the invention has been analyzed under operating conditions, with that of an equivalent black tire taken as a reference, by adopting a particular technique known as tire thermography. In this technique, tires to be compared are driven in rotation by friction against a drum rotating at a predetermined speed. Applicants have used a drum of 1700 mm diameter, rotated at a speed equivalent to 120 km/hour. Tyres are mounted to the recommended rim for operation, inflated to a pressure approaching the operating pressure, and pressed against the drum with a load corresponding to about the rated running load of the tire, as provided by E.T.R.T.O. (European Tyre and Rim Technical Organization) regulations.

[0077] After a time lag varying between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on the tire size, the carcass structure, the tread pattern, and the ambient temperature, it appeared that the inner (overall) temperature of the tire reached a stable value. At that time the tread was thermographically photographed using infrared light. The thermography photographs can be carried out both with the tire at a standstill and with the tire in rotation, the modality being selected by the experimenter depending on the specific requirements. The result in either case is an image of the tire tread that can be conveniently reproduced in colors or on a grey-scale, in which the different colors or grey shades identify, spot by spot, the different tread temperatures, both on the surface of the tread and at the bottom of the tread grooves.

[0078] FIG. 6 is a color thermograph of a prototype tire tread compared with a tire tread of conventional production manufactured by Pirelli. The conventional tire is quite similar to the prototype tire, apart from the fact that the conventional tire tread band is completely made of a black blend.

[0079] On the chromatic scale selected by the Applicants, color changes from blue to red, passing through sky-blue, green, and yellow, as the temperature increases from 25° C. to 65° C.

[0080] The photographed tires are the tire of the invention, to the right in FIG. 6, provided with a black/white two-blend band having the white portion to the right, compared with Pirelli tire “P 200 CHRONO ENERGY” of conventional production, to the left in FIG. 6.

[0081] The tested tires had size 175/70R13, were mounted to a rim type J 5.5″, inflated to a pressure of 2.2 bars, and submitted to a load of 450 kg.

[0082] The compound blends of the two portions used in the tire according to the invention had compositions set forth in the following Table 1:

	TABLE 1
	Ingredient	Black Blend	White Blend
	SBR 1712	80
	SBR 1500	20
	OE-SSBR		80
	BR		33
	Carbon Black - N 220	45
	Silica - VN3 available	20	70
	from DEGUSSA
	Binding Agent	1.6	5.6
	ZnO	2.5	2.5
	Stearic Acid	2	2
	Antioxidants	1.5	1.5
	Anti-fatigue Agents	1	1
	Plasticizers	10	5
	Sulphur	1	1.4
	Accelerating Agents	2.3	3.8

[0083] From FIG. 6 one can easily see that in the tire made according to the invention the colder sky-blue portion indicating 35° C. occupies a remarkably greater area than that of the reference tire, where the warmer green portion indicating 45° C. is prevalent. The colder area also extends further towards the left tire shoulder made of black blend in the two-blend tire, when compared to the corresponding portion of the reference tire.

[0084] Measurements of the inner (overall) temperature of the tire have given a value of 53° C. for the tire according to the invention, as compared to a value of 58° C. for the reference tire.

[0085] Results achieved from different comparative road tests carried out with the above tires are reproduced in the following Table 2. More particularly, column 1 of Table 2 refers to the test results achieved with tire “P 200 CHRONO ENERGY,” and column 2 of the Table refers to results of a tire according to the invention. Both tires were mounted on a VOLKSWAGON POLO 1.4 car. Said Table 2 reproduces the results achieved in performance tests on a mixed route including one portion on a normal road and one portion on a car track, on a dry road surface, at an ambient temperature of 14° C.

	TABLE 2
		Tyres
	Performance	1	2
	Running on a straight run
	Directional stability	6.5	6.5
	Steering rigidity	6.5	6.5
	Fast run
	Empty on the centre	6.0	6.5
	Steering response speed	6.5	7.0
	Steering response progressivity	5.5	6.0
	Directional stability on a bend	6.5	6.5
	Realignment	5.5	6.5
	Extreme Conditions
	Yield	7.0	7.0
	Release on bends	6.5	7.0
	Controllability	7.0	7.0

[0086] The assigned points indicate the score obtained by the corresponding tires, on a 1 to 10 scale, based on the test driver's judgment, with reference to the different tire qualities taken into account in the test. The greater scores indicate better performance.

[0087] As one can see from Table 2, the qualities of the tire according to the invention are substantially identical to those of the conventional tire under normal operating conditions on a straight run, when the tread blend is not particularly under stress. On the contrary, the tire according to the invention performs much better with increased employment severity and increasingly stressful conditions to which the tread blend is submitted. Particularly, when the heat generated in the tire increased so that the temperature reached by the tread increased, the performance of the tire according to the invention also improved, especially with respect to traction. Actually, from Table 2 one can note that the tire according to the invention has obtained a score higher than that of the reference tire from every point of view.

[0088] It is therefore apparent that the present invention has enabled the desired improvements to be achieved by a synergetic combination between distinct tread band portions, made of a black (hot) blend and a white (cold) blend respectively, so that an exclusively positive overall result is obtained, that is equal to or better than the results obtained by conventional tires, seen from any measure of tire performance on a road.

[0089] It is also clear that the invention has provided a convenient method of reducing the operating temperature of the tires while simultaneously safeguarding all required performance qualities. In particular, it is still more evident how the invention can achieve excellent results with reference to recapped tires, where adhesion between the already vulcanized old carcass and the new, raw, or pre-molded tread band has always represented a particularly critical element due to its sensitivity to the operating temperature of the tire, as proved by the separated tread pieces that can be found on motorways.

[0090] Finally, it is apparent that the present invention description only has an explanatory function and not a limiting function, so that a person skilled in the art, after understanding the invention as above described will be able to carry out modifications, variations, and replacements of all variables associated with the present invention in order to meet particular and contingent application requirements, depending on needs.

Claims

26. A tire for a wheel of a vehicle, comprising: a toroidal carcass provided with axially opposite sidewalls and beads for anchoring the tire to a rim of the wheel; a tread band disposed crownwise on the carcass, comprising a surface with a plurality of hollows and grooves defining a raised tread pattern; and a belt structure interposed between the carcass and the tread band, axially extending between the sidewalls, wherein the tread band comprises at least first and second circumferential axially-contiguous portions, wherein the first portion is formed of a first composition comprising a reinforcing filler having at least 40%-by-weight carbon black and at least some white filler, a second portion is formed of a second composition comprising a reinforcing filler having at least 20%-by-weight white filler, and the first composition is different from the second composition, and wherein a difference of compositions between the at least first and second portions achieves a tire operating temperature lower than a reference temperature.

27. A tire for a wheel of a vehicle, comprising: a toroidal carcass provided with axially opposite sidewalls and beads for anchoring the tire to a rim of the wheel; a tread band located crownwise on the carcass, comprising a surface with a plurality of hollows and grooves defining a raised tread pattern; and a belt structure interposed between the carcass and the tread band, axially extending between the sidewalls, wherein the tread band comprises at least first and second circumferential axially-contiguous portions, wherein the first portion is formed of a first composition comprising a reinforcing filler having at least 40%-by-weight carbon black, the second portion is formed of a second composition comprising a reinforcing filler having at least 20%-by-weight white filler, and the first composition is different from the second composition, wherein the second composition further comprises an amount of white filler greater than an amount of white filler in the first composition, a difference between the two amounts of white filler being at least equal to 20% of the amount of white filler in the second composition, wherein a difference of compositions between the at least first and second portions achieves a tire operating temperature lower than a reference temperature, and wherein the at least first and second circumferential axially-contiguous portions are arranged to contact a road surface.

28. The tire of claim 27, wherein a volume of the portion comprising the second composition is at least 30% of a combined volume of the tread band.

29. The tire of claim 27, wherein a volume of the portion comprising the second composition does not exceed 80% of a combined volume of the tread band.

30. The tire of claim 27, wherein a width of the portion comprising the second composition is at least 25% of a combined width of the tread band.

31. The tire of claim 27, wherein a width of the portion comprising the second composition does not exceed 80% of a combined width of the tread band.

32. The tire of claim 27, wherein a width of the portion comprising the second composition is at least 50% of a combined width of the tread band.

33. The tire of claim 27, wherein the white filler is a silica-based reinforcing filler.

34. The tire of claim 27, wherein the reinforcing filler of the portion comprising the second composition is substantially free of carbon black.

35. The tire of claim 34, wherein the reinforcing filler of the portion comprising the second composition further comprises colored pigments.

36. The tire of claim 27, wherein the portion comprising the second composition is located in a central area of the tread band.

37. The tire of claim 36, wherein the raised tread pattern is a symmetric tread pattern.

38. The tire of claim 36, wherein the raised tread pattern is a directional tread pattern.

39. The tire of claim 36, wherein the tread band has a ratio of curvature of at least 0.15:1; wherein the ratio of curvature is a first distance divided by a second distance, wherein the first distance is measured along an equatorial plane of the tire from a line passing through a first tread end and a second tread end to a tread center, and the second distance is measured along the line passing through the first tread end and the second tread end, from the first tread end to the second tread end.

40. The tire of claim 27, wherein the portion comprising the second composition is located adjacent an edge of the tread band.

41. The tire of claim 40, wherein the raised tread pattern is an asymmetric tread pattern having two axially distinct circumferential areas, comprising an inner area adapted for mounting towards a centerline of the vehicle, and an outer area adapted for mounting away from a centerline of the vehicle.

42. A tread band for recapping used tires, comprising at least first and second axially-contiguous circumferential portions, wherein the first portion is formed of a first composition comprising a reinforcing filler having at least 40%-by-weight carbon black, the second portion is formed of a second composition comprising a reinforcing filler having at least 20%-by-weight white filler, and the first composition is different from the second composition, wherein the second composition comprises an amount of white filler greater than an amount of white filler in the first composition, a difference between the two amounts of white filler being at least equal to 20% of the amount of white filler in the second composition, wherein a difference of compositions between the at least first and second portions achieves a tire operating temperature lower than a reference temperature, and wherein the at least first and second axially-contiguous circumferential portions are arranged to contact a road surface.

43. A method of reducing the operating temperature of a tire on a vehicle, comprising: forming a toroidal carcass provided with axially opposite sidewalls and beads for anchoring to a corresponding rim; forming a belt structure located on the carcass, axially extending between the sidewalls; selecting a first composition comprising a reinforcing filler having at least 40%-by-weight carbon black, and a second composition comprising a reinforcing filler having at least 20%-by-weight white filler, wherein the second composition comprises an amount of white filler greater than an amount of white filler in the first composition, and wherein a difference between the two amounts of white filler being at least equal to 20% of the amount of white filler in the second composition to obtain an operating temperature of the tire lower than a reference temperature; forming a tread band comprising at least first and second circumferential axially-contiguous portions, the first portion made of the first composition, and the second portion made of the second composition; and forming a tire comprising the toroidal carcass, the belt structure, and the tread band; wherein the at least first and second circumferential axially-contiguous portions are arranged to contact a road surface.

44. A tire for a wheel of a vehicle, comprising: a toroidal carcass provided with axially opposite sidewalls and beads for anchoring the tire to a rim of the wheel; a tread band located crownwise on the carcass, comprising a surface with a plurality of hollows and grooves defining a raised tread pattern; and a belt structure interposed between the carcass and the tread band, axially extending between the sidewalls, wherein the tread band comprises at least first and second circumferential axially-contiguous portions, wherein the first portion is formed of a first composition comprising a reinforcing filler having at least 40%-by-weight carbon black, the second portion is formed of a second composition comprising a reinforcing filler having at least 20%-by-weight white filler, and the first composition is different from the second composition, wherein the second composition comprises an amount of white filler greater than an amount of white filler in the first composition, a difference between the two amounts of white filler being at least equal to 20% of the amount of white filler in the second composition, wherein a volume of the portion comprising the second composition is at least 30% of a combined volume of the tread band portions, wherein a difference of compositions between the at least first and second portions achieves a decrease in an overall temperature of the tire on an order of 5° C. or more relative to an otherwise identical tire provided with a tread band made entirely of a composition having only carbon black as a reinforcing filler, and wherein the at least first and second circumferential axially-contiguous portions are arranged to contact a road surface.

45. A tire for a motorcycle wheel, comprising: a toroidal carcass provided with axially opposite sidewalls and beads for anchoring the tire to a rim of the wheel; a tread band located crownwise on the carcass, comprising a surface with a plurality of hollows and grooves defining a raised tread pattern; and a belt structure interposed between the carcass and the tread band, axially extending between the sidewalls, the belt structure comprising a reinforcing wrapping of metallic inextensible cord reaching circumferentially to the carcass to form a plurality of turns parallel to each other and located consecutively in a side-by-side relationship, substantially oriented along a rolling direction of the tire, wherein the tread band comprises at least first, second, and third circumferential axially-contiguous portions, wherein the first portion is formed of a first composition comprising a reinforcing filler having at least 40%-by-weight carbon black, the second portion is formed of a second composition comprising a reinforcing filler having at least 20%-by-weight white filler, and the third portion is formed of a third composition comprising a reinforcing filler having at least 20%-by-weight white filler, wherein the first composition is different from the second and third compositions, wherein the second composition comprises an amount of white filler greater than an amount of white filler in the first composition, a difference between the amount of white filler in the first and second compositions being at least equal to 20% of the amount of white filler in the second composition, wherein the third composition comprises an amount of white filler greater than an amount of white filler in the first composition, a difference between the amount of white filler in the first and third compositions being at least equal to 20% of the amount of white filler in the third composition, wherein the second portion is located on a first side of an equatorial plane of the tire and the third portion is located on a second side of the equatorial plane of the tire, and wherein the at least first, second, and third circumferential axially-contiguous portions are arranged to contact a road surface.

46. A tire for a wheel of a vehicle, comprising: a toroidal carcass provided with axially opposite sidewalls and beads for anchoring the tire to a rim of the wheel; a tread band located crownwise on the carcass, comprising a surface with a plurality of hollows and grooves defining a raised tread pattern; and a belt structure interposed between the carcass and the tread band, axially extending between the sidewalls, wherein the tread band comprises at least first and second circumferential axially-contiguous portions, wherein the first portion is formed of a first composition comprising a reinforcing filler having at least 40%-by-weight carbon black, the second portion is formed of a second composition comprising a reinforcing filler having at least 20%-by-weight white filler, and the first composition is different from the second composition, wherein a difference of compositions between the at least first and second portions achieves a tire operating temperature lower than a reference temperature, and wherein the at least first and second circumferential axially-contiguous portions are arranged to contact a road surface.