Patent Application
20230125440
This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-172994, filed on 22 Oct. 2021, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a tire suited to traveling on a road surface which is off road, for example.
Tires for which traveling on a road surface which is off-road is assumed, normally, often form a block pattern in a tread surface by demarcating land portions constituting the tread surface of the tread into a plurality of blocks, by fixedly setting main grooves extending along the tire-circumferential direction, or main grooves, and transverse grooves extending between main grooves and between the main groove and tread ends.
With such a tire, upon travelling on an off-road road surface, a phenomenon called cut chip tends to occur, in which the tread, particularly rubber of end parts of blocks positioned in the shoulder region of the tread in particularly, goes missing, by impact or contact with unevenness of stones, etc. assuming various shapes scattered on the road surface, pointed parts of rocks, etc.
If cut chip occurs in a plurality of blocks, since the ground contact area of the tire decreases, there is concern over the stability and controllability such as traction performance declines. In addition, early wearing of the tread also tends to occur, a result of which there is a problem in that early replacement of the tire becomes necessary by the useful life of the tire shortening.
As a conventional tire in which a block pattern is formed, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2005-247153 discloses a tire for irregular ground travel having a block pattern row on a shoulder side of the tread, in which a sloping angle relative to the tread surface normal vector is within the range of 5 to 10 degrees at the center side, and is within the range of 10 to 30 degrees at the shoulder side of the groove wall on the treading side of each block constituting the block pattern row, and an angle tapering part in which the sloping angle from the shoulder side towards the center part tapers is formed in the entirety or part of the groove wall.
However, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2005-247153 merely discloses improving the durability and stability and controllability, in comparatively gentle traveling conditions when defining a floating gravel road surface covering by gravel (rounded stones having constant fineness in grain size) as the running surface. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2005-247153, for example, has no disclosure of performance evaluation of a road surface which is off-road under severe travel conditions, as in the case of the stones scattered on the road surface being stones having jagged shape, or a case of travelling on a road where sharp parts of rocks exist, particularly a road surface of a harsh desert race such as a desert area abundant in undulations or a mountainous areas crossing over a rocky area. Additionally, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2005-247153, no considered is given for suppressing cut chip which tends to occur at the end part of the blocks positioned in the shoulder region of the tread, upon having a vehicle travel on the road surface which is off-road which is under such a severe travel condition.
An object of the present invention is to provide a tire which can effectively suppress cut-chip which tends to occur at the end part of a shoulder block positioned at the shoulder area of the tread in particular, and can maintain favorable traction performance over a long period, even in the case of travelling on a road surface which is off-road under severe travel conditions, for example.
The present inventors have found that cut chip which tends to occur at the end part of shoulder blocks can be effectively suppressed in particular, by achieving optimization of the shape of groove corner parts connecting the groove wall and groove bottom of shoulder transverse grooves with the angle of the groove wall of the shoulder transverse groove demarcating the shoulder blocks positioned in the shoulder region of the tread, even in the case of traveling on a road surface which is off-road under severe travel conditions, for example, thereby arriving at completion of the present invention.
More specifically, the tire of the present invention includes a tread including: a shoulder region formed by dividing by a tread end and a shoulder main groove extending along a tire-circumferential direction, wherein a shoulder transverse groove extending from the shoulder main groove towards an outer side in a tire-width direction to the tread end is fixedly set in the shoulder region; and a shoulder block row configured by arranging side-by-side in the tire-circumferential direction a shoulder block divided by the tread end, the shoulder main groove and the shoulder transverse groove, in which viewing the shoulder transverse groove in a tire-circumferential direction cross section, an angle formed by a groove wall and a vertical line drawn from a groove opening end position to a tread surface of the shoulder block is in a range of 10 to 20 degrees, and the groove wall and groove bottom are connected by a concaved surface having a radius of curvature of at least 6 mm and no more than 15 mm.
In the tire of the present invention configured in this way, by the shoulder transverse groove, when viewing in a tire-circumferential direction cross section, has an angle of a groove wall relative to a vertical line drawn from the groove opening end position to the tread surface of the shoulder block set in a range of 10 to 20 degrees, even in the case of traveling on a road surface which is off-road, it is possible to effectively raise the land portion rigidity of the shoulder blocks positioned in the shoulder region of the tread, particularly the end parts of the shoulder blocks.
In addition, in the tire of the present invention, by having groove corners connecting the groove wall and groove bottom, and forming the groove corners in a concaved surface shape with a radius of curvature of at least 6 mm and no more than 15 mm, for example, since the groove corner parts which are junctions between the groove wall of the shoulder transverse groove and groove bottom of the shoulder transverse groove are formed in a smooth concaved surface shape without being squared to become rounded, while securing groove volume of the shoulder transverse groove of an extent which can exhibit traction performance by paddling water, soil, sand, mud, etc., the occurrence and/or progression of rubber cracking due to stress concentration at the groove corner parts hardly arises, a result of which rubber chipping in the shoulder blocks hardly occurs.
As a result thereof, it is possible to effectively suppress cut-chip which tends to occur at the end part of a shoulder block positioned at the shoulder area of the tread in particular, and can maintain favorable traction performance over a long period, even in the case of travelling on a road surface which is off-road under severe travel conditions, for example.
In addition, in the tire of the present invention, a circumferential direction dimension to a tread surface of the shoulder block is preferably at least 2.2 times and no more than 3.8 times a groove depth of the shoulder transverse groove.
It is thereby possible to more reliably raise the land portion rigidity of the end part of blocks, while securing the groove volume of the shoulder transverse groove.
Furthermore, in the tire of the present invention, a groove width of the shoulder transverse groove is preferably at least 15 mm and no more than 30 mm at an opening position, and at least 5 mm and no more than 15 mm at a groove bottom position. Moreover, in the tire of the present invention, the shoulder transverse groove preferably has a groove depth of at least 11 mm.
Since it is thereby possible to sufficiently secure the groove volume of the shoulder transverse groove, it is possible to more reliably realize favorable traction performance.
Additionally, in the tire of the present invention, the shoulder transverse groove preferably has a bump which partially projects at a groove bottom towards a groove opening side.
It is thereby possible to much better maintain favorable traction performance over a long period, by preventing foreign materials such as mud and stones from clogging up the shoulder transverse grooves.
In addition, in the tire of the present invention, the tread preferably includes a center region demarcated and formed by the pair of shoulder main grooves, wherein a center main groove extending along a tire-circumferential direction is fixedly set in the center region; and two center block rows configured by arranging side-by-side in the tire-circumferential direction a plurality of center blocks divided by configuring the center main groove and the pair of shoulder main grooves in an extended form of substantially zigzag shape connecting to each other.
It is thereby possible to sufficiently realize favorable traction performance across normal paved roads and every running road surface of off-road surfaces which are not paved.
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a tire which can effectively suppress cut-chip which tends to occur at the end part of a shoulder block positioned at the shoulder area of the tread in particular, and can maintain favorable traction performance over a long period, even in the case of travelling on a road surface which is off-road under severe travel conditions, for example.
Next, an embodiment of a tire according to the present invention will be explained below while referencing the drawings.
The tire 1 of the present invention is a pneumatic tire (hereinafter may be referred to simply as “tire”) which can be favorably used in a vehicle for which travelling not only on paved roads, but also on a road surface which is off-road is assumed. However, the tire 1 of the present invention is not limited only to such a situation or use. It should be noted that “road surface which is off-road” referred to herein indicates a road surface including every location of terrain to which the vehicle can enter such as grassy, gravely, sandy or muddy areas which are unpaved, for example.
As shown in
In addition, the tire 1 includes: a carcass 7 engaged with the pair of bead cores 5 and extending in a toroid shape as a whole; a belt 8 and reinforcement belt 9 provided between the tread 4 and outer circumference of the carcass 7; and an inner liner 10 provided at the inner surface side of the carcass 7 for air pressure retention.
A case is shown of the carcass 7, being configured by at least one carcass ply, for example, in
The belt 8 is fixedly arranged between the tread 4 and outer circumference of the carcass 7 to reinforce the carcass 7. The belt 8 is configured from at least two belt plies fixedly arranged by laminating so that belt cords of steel, organic fiber of the like become an oblique arrangement, and from the two belt plies 8a and 8b in the present embodiment. The belt plies 8a and 8b are desirably fixedly arranged by laminating in a positional relationship such that the belt cords are arranged with slopes at different orientations from each other relative to the tire-circumferential direction C. With the tire of the present embodiment, the belt cords of the belt plies 8a, 8b are preferably obliquely arranged at angles of 10 to 45 degrees relative to the tire-circumferential direction C.
In addition, with the tire of the present embodiment, the reinforcement belt 9 arranged so as to cover part or the entirety of the outer surface of the belt 8 is fixedly arranged. The reinforcement belt 9 is a ply with cord rubber arranging cords substantially in parallel (0 to 5 degrees) relative to the tire-circumferential direction. Although the tire of the present embodiment shows a case in which the reinforcement belt 9 is configured by the two layers of double-width reinforcing plies 9a, 9b fixedly arranged so as to cover the entirety of the outer surface of the belt 8, it may be configured by one layer or three or more layers of double-width reinforcing plies. In addition, the reinforcing belt 9 may be configured by a pair of narrow-width reinforcement plies (not illustrated) covering only both end parts of the belt, and further, can be configured by combining both the double-width reinforcing ply and pair of narrow-width reinforcing plies.
The tread 4 includes a pair of shoulder regions 12, 12 formed by dividing by a pair of tread ends Te, Te and a pair of shoulder main grooves 11, 11, as shown in
In addition, in each shoulder region 12, a plurality of shoulder transverse grooves 13, 13, . . . extending from the shoulder main groove 11 towards the outer side in the tire-width direction W to the tread end Te is fixedly arranged, and includes a shoulder block row 15 configured by aligning in the tire-circumferential direction C the plurality of shoulder blocks 14, 14, . . . demarcated by the tread end Te, shoulder main groove 11 and plurality of shoulder transverse grooves 13, 13. Herein, the tire 1 of the embodiment shown in
In the present invention, viewing the shoulder transverse groove 13 in a tire-circumferential direction cross section (cross-sectional view along line I-I shown in
In the tire 1 of the present embodiment, if establishing the shoulder transverse groove 13 in which the angles θ1, θ2 of the groove walls 13a, 13b are both in the range of 10 to 20 degrees, in other words, even in a case of traveling on a road surface which is off-road by establishing the angle formed by the road surface of the shoulder block 14 and both side walls (same parts as groove walls 13a, 13b) as 100 to 110 degrees, it is possible to effectively raise the land portion rigidity of the shoulder blocks 14 positioned in the shoulder region 12 of the tread 4, particularly the end parts of (both the treading side and kick-out side during tire ground contact of) the shoulder blocks 14. If the angles θ1, θ2 of the groove walls 13a, 13b are less than 10 degrees, it is not possible to sufficiently raise the land portion rigidity of the shoulder block 14. In addition, if the angles θ1, θ2 of the groove walls 13a, 13b are greater than 20 degrees, although it is possible to raise the land portion rigidity of the shoulder block 14, since the reduction ratio of the groove volume of the shoulder transverse groove 13 increases, on a road surface which is off-road such as sandy soil or muddy soil, the force paddling water, soil, sand, mud, etc. by the shoulder transverse groove 13 weakens, a result of which sufficient traction performance (surmountability) is no longer obtained.
In addition, the shoulder transverse groove 13 can secure the groove volume of the shoulder transverse groove 13 of an extent which can exhibit traction performance by paddling water, soil, sand, mud, etc., by the groove corner parts 13d1, 13d2 being formed in a concaved surface shape with radius of curvature R1, R2 of at least 6 mm and no more than 15 mm, for example. In addition, the groove corner parts 13d1, 13d2 which are junctions between the groove walls 13a, 13b of the shoulder transverse groove 13 and groove bottom 13c of the shoulder transverse grooves 13, 13 are formed in a smooth concaved surface shape without being squared to become rounded; therefore, the occurrence and/or progression of rubber cracking due to stress concentration at the groove corner parts 13d1, 13d2 hardly arises, a result of which cut-chip in the shoulder block 14 hardly occurs. If the radius of curvature R1, R2 of the groove corner parts 13d1, 13d2 is smaller than 6 mm, it is no longer possible to sufficiently suppress the occurrence of rubber cracking at the groove corner parts 13d1, 13d2, etc. In addition, if the radius of curvature R1, R2 of the groove corner parts 13d1, 13d2 is greater than 15 mm, the area of the flat groove bottom 13c of the shoulder transverse groove 13 can no longer be sufficiently secured, and if the area ratio of the flat groove bottom 13c is small, stress tends to concentrate, a result of which cracks tend to occur.
For this reason, with the tire 1 of the present embodiment, the shoulder transverse groove 13 has the groove corner parts 13d1, 13d2 having the angle θ1, θ2 of the groove walls 13a, 13b relative to the vertical lines P1, P2 drawn from the groove opening end positions 20a, 20b to the tread surfaces 21a, 21b of the shoulder blocks 14a, 14b in a range of 10 to 20 degrees, and linking the groove walls 13a, 13b and groove bottom 13c, and even in a case of traveling on a road surface which is off-road, for example, by the groove corner parts 13d1, 13d2 being formed in a concaved surface shape with a radius of curvature R1, R2 of at least 6 mm and no more than 15 mm, it is possible to effectively suppress cut chip which tends to occur particularly at the end parts of the shoulder block 14, and possible to maintain favorable traction performance over a long period.
In addition, in the tire of the present embodiment, the circumferential direction dimensions a1, a2 at the tread surfaces 21a, 21b of the shoulder blocks 14a, 14b are preferably at least 2.2 times and no more than 3.8 times the groove depth d of the shoulder transverse groove 13. It is thereby possible to raise the land portion rigidity of the end part of the should blocks 14a, 14b with good balance, while securing the groove volume of the shoulder transverse groove 13. The tread surface shapes of the shoulder blocks 14a, 14b can be exemplified as various shapes such as rectangular or parallel quadrilateral; however, there is no particular limitation. In addition, the circumferential direction dimensions a1, a2 of the shoulder blocks 14a, 14b are measured at the position moved from the outer end position located at the tread end Te side of the shoulder block 14 to the tire equatorial plane EL side by 3 mm in the tire-width direction W.
Furthermore, in the tire of the present embodiment, the shoulder transverse groove 13 preferably has a groove width w1 at the opening position 20a of at least 15 mm and no more than 30 mm, and a groove width w2 at the groove bottom position 13c of at least 5 mm and no more than 15 mm. Furthermore, in the tire of the present embodiment, the shoulder transverse groove 13 preferably has a groove depth d of at least 11 mm. By adopting these configurations, since it is possible to effectively secure the groove volume of the shoulder transverse groove 13, it is possible to more reliably realize the effectiveness of favorable traction performance. It should be noted that the groove width of the shoulder transverse groove 13 is measured using a normal ruler, at both the opening position 20a and groove bottom position 13c.
Additionally, in the tire 1 of the present embodiment, the shoulder transverse groove 13 preferably has a bump 22 partly projecting towards the groove opening 20a, 20b side at the groove bottom 13c. It is thereby possible to much better maintain favorable traction performance over a long period, by preventing foreign materials such as mud and stones from clogging up the shoulder transverse grooves 13. The bump 22 is sufficient so long as provided so as to extend continuously or discontinuously (
In addition, the groove cross-sectional shape of the bump 22 is shown by
In addition, in the tire 1 of the present embodiment, the tread 4 includes a center region 16 formed by dividing by the pair of shoulder main grooves 11, 11. Then, a case is shown of fixedly arranging the center main groove 17 extending along the tire-circumferential direction C in the center region 16, and configuring so as to include, on both sides of the tire equatorial plane EL, two center block rows 19a, 19b configured by aligning in the tire-circumferential direction C each of a plurality of center blocks 18a, 18a, . . . , and a plurality of center blocks 18b, 18b, . . . , divided by establishing the center main groove 17 and pair of shoulder main grooves 11, 11 in a substantially zig-zag shape connecting with each other.
Additionally, the tire 1 of the present embodiment has a tread pattern forming the shoulder blocks 14, 14 respectively positioned in different shoulder block rows 15, 15, and the center blocks 18a, 18b respectively positioned in different center block rows 19a, 19b so as to make a point-symmetric pattern.
The tire having such a tread pattern is a favorable tire to be used without limiting the wheel (left/right wheel) mounting the tire relative to the vehicle; however, it may be a tread pattern which is line symmetrical relative to the tire equatorial plane as in the tire in the case of limiting the wheel mounting the tire relative to the vehicle, or alternatively, it is possible to form in a pattern differentiating the tread pattern positioned at both sides of the tire equatorial plane EL without being symmetrical, and is not particularly limited.
It should be noted that the tire of the present embodiment is not limited to only such a configuration for the center blocks 18a, 18b positioned in the center region 16, and is sufficient so long as having a shape which can exhibit stability and controllability including traction performance on a road surface which is off-road.
Furthermore, the tire of the present embodiment preferably includes the side block row 25 configured by a plurality of side blocks 24, 24, . . . protruding from the outer surface of the sidewall 3 outwards along the tire-circumferential direction C on the outer surface of the sidewall 3, as shown in
In addition, the side blocks 24 are preferably fixedly arranged side-by-side in the tire-circumferential direction C in a positional relationship corresponding to each circumferential-direction range 23 in which two shoulder transverse grooves 13, 13 dividing one shoulder block 14 (14-1) and one shoulder block 14 (14-1) exist, in at least one shoulder region among the pair of shoulder regions, and in the outer surface of the sidewall 3 positioned on the side of both shoulder regions 12, 12 in
By adopting this configuration, in the case of traveling on a soft road surface, since the tire sinks in according to the weight of the vehicle, the side block rows 25 positioned at the sidewalls of the tire also come to pseudo-ground contact. For this reason, it is possible to improve sufficient traction performance (surmountability) particularly on a road surface which is off-road, as a result of the force paddling water, soil, sand, mud, etc. improving by the recess groove 26 positioned between the side blocks 24, 24, . . . . In addition, by adopting the above-mentioned configuration, obstructions such as the pointed parts of rocks having the possibility of colliding or contacting with the outer surface of the tire from the tire side tend to contact with the side blocks 24, and thus collision and contact with the end part of the shoulder block 14 (14-1) hardly occurs. As a result thereof, it is possible to much more suppress cut chip which tends to occur at the end part of the shoulder block 14.
It should be noted that
By adopting this configuration, the two shoulder transverse grooves 13, 13 dividing (both end parts of) the one shoulder block 14-1 hardly receive damage by the pointed parts of rocks and rocks having a jagged shape scattered on the road surface from the side face of the tire; therefore, it is possible to much more suppress cut chip. In this case, the side block 24 more favorably has the circumferential-direction overlapping dimension of the two shoulder blocks 14-2, 14-3 in the range of at least 5% and no more than 20% relative to the circumferential direction dimension a1 of the shoulder blocks 14-2, 14-3.
The side block 24 protruding towards the outer side in the tire-width direction preferably has a maximum height dimension h in the range of at least 4 mm and no more than 15 mm. By adopting this configuration, it is possible to effectively improve the cut chip property, while utmost suppressing the weight increase of the tire.
It should be noted that the maximum height dimension h of the side block 24 is the maximum value of the dimension when measuring the vertical dimension from the outer surface 3a of the sidewall 3 along the profile line of the tire T until the outer surface 24a of the side block.
In addition, with the tire 1 of the present embodiment, by such a plurality of side blocks 24, 24, . . . being provided, it is possible to improve the rough road running ability by exhibiting traction effects from the shearing resistance of the side blocks 24, in the setting of traveling on a bad road of muddy ground or a rocky area. In addition, by the side blocks 24 being provided, it exhibits a protection effect of keeping external injury factors such as the jagged portions of bare rocks from the outer surface 3a of the sidewall 3, and the external wound resistance to the side face of the tire 1 can also be improved.
Each of the aforementioned dimension values is measured in an unloaded normal state mounting the tire to a standard rim and filling with standard internal pressure. Regular rim is a rim for which the standard is decided for every tire, in a specification system including the standard on which the tire is based, and indicates a “standard rim” if JATMA, “Design Rim” if TRA, and “Measuring Rim” if ETRTO. In addition, regular internal pressure is the air pressure decided by each standard for every tire in the specification system including the standard on which the tire is based, and indicates “maximum air pressure” if JATMA, the maximum value described in “TIRE LOAD LIMITS AT VARIOUS COLD INFLATION PRESSURES” if TRA, and “INFLATION PRESSURE” if ETRTO.
The tire according to the present invention can be configured identically to a normal pneumatic tire, other than configuring the shoulder region 12 of the tread 4 in the aforementioned way. Therefore, conventionally known materials, shapes, structures, manufacturing methods, etc. all can be applied to the tire of the present invention.
Although an embodiment of the present invention has been explained above, the present invention is not to be limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, the present invention encompasses all aspects included in the gist of the present disclosure and the claims without being limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and can be modified in various ways within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, for the reason of a reduction in pattern noise, etc., the tire 1 shown in
Next, in order to further clarify the effects of the present invention, Examples and Comparative Examples will be explained; however, the present invention is not to be limited to these examples.
The tires of Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Examples 1 to 5 were prototyped based on the specifications in Table 1 with the size of LT285/70R17, without conducting pitch variation in either shoulder region, and having the same tread pattern as the tread pattern shown in
Traction performance was evaluated at the travel initial stage and after traveling 50 km, according to the feeling from a professional driver by driving a vehicle to which each sample tires were mounted under the conditions listed below, around at an average speed of 60 km/h until the travel distance reached 50 km, on a test course created to simulate a road surface of a harsh desert race such as a desert area abundant in undulations or mountainous area crossing over a rocky area, more specifically a test course of dry dirty in which a road surface with rugged rocks, road surface with ups and downs, road surface causing travel conditions such as sudden braking and sudden turning, etc. exist. The evaluation results are shown in Table 1, defining a case of the feeling being good as “◯” with the traction performance being superior, and defining a case of the feeling being poor as “X” with the traction performance deteriorating. Rim size: 17×7.5
Tire internal pressure: 200 kPa
Vehicle: Toyota Landcruiser with 4608 cc engine displacement
Tire-mounting wheel(s): all wheels
The tire after performing testing of the above-mentioned traction performance was observed by visually inspecting the state of the tire outer surface including the tread, and it was determined whether damage such as chipping in the end part of the shoulder block occurred. The evaluation results thereof are shown in Table 1, defining a case of no occurrence of damage such as chipping as “◯” with the anti-cut chip being superior, defining a case of damage such as chipping as “Δ” with the anti-cut chip performance being somewhat deteriorating, and defining a case of damage such as chipping remarkably occurring as “X” with the anti-cut chip performance being very deteriorated.
From the evaluation results of Table 1, the tires of Examples 1 to 3 in which the angles θ1, θ2 of the shoulder groove wall and the radius of curvatures R1, R2 of the groove corners were within the suitable ranges of the present invention were found to have both superior traction performance and anti-cut chip performance. On the other hands, the tires of Comparative Examples 1 to 5 in which the angles θ1, θ2 of the shoulder groove wall and the radius of curvatures R1, R2 of the groove corners were outside the suitable ranges of the present invention were found to have both inferior traction performance and anti-cut chip performance.
In addition,
Based on
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-172994 | Oct 2021 | JP | national |
