JP2013023193A - Tire - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tire capable of establishing high-dimensional compatibility between performance on a wet road and performance on a snowy and icy road.SOLUTION: In the pneumatic tire 10, an inclined groove 100 is inclined to get closer to a tread width direction Dtoward the outside of the tread width direction D; and a connection groove 200, which communicates with an end, on the inside of the tread width direction D, of the inclined groove 100 and which communicates with an intermediate portion of the inclined groove 100 formed on the reverse side in reference to a tire equator line CL, is formed. The connection groove 200 is elongated along a circumferential direction Dof the tire, and the groove width of the connection groove 200 is smaller than that of the inclined groove 100.

Description

  The present invention relates to a tire in which circumferential grooves extending in the tire circumferential direction are formed and a plurality of inclined grooves that are inclined with respect to the tire circumferential direction are formed.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various tread patterns are used in pneumatic tires (hereinafter referred to as tires) mounted on passenger cars and the like in order to achieve both performance on wet roads and icy and snowy roads. For example, a tire is known in which a circumferential groove extending in the tire circumferential direction is formed on the outer side in the tread width direction, and a plurality of inclined grooves that are inclined with respect to the tire circumferential direction are formed in the center portion in the tread width direction ( Patent Document 1).

  Further, the inclined groove communicates with the circumferential groove. The combination of such circumferential grooves and inclined grooves improves the traction and braking force on snow while ensuring drainage.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-161057 (FIG. 1)

  However, with the recent improvement in performance of passenger cars, there has been a demand for tires that achieve higher performance on wet roads and icy and snowy roads.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to provide a tire capable of achieving both higher performance on wet roads and icy and snowy roads.

The present invention is characterized in that circumferential grooves (circumferential grooves 20, 30) extending in the tire circumferential direction (tire circumferential direction D _C ) are formed in a region outside the tread width direction (tread width direction D _T ), and the tread. A plurality of inclined grooves (inclined grooves 100) extending from the center in the width direction to the outer side in the tread width direction and inclined with respect to the tire circumferential direction are formed, and the outer ends in the tread width direction of the inclined grooves communicate with the circumferential groove. In the tire, the inclined groove is inclined so as to approach the tread width direction toward the outer side in the tread width direction, and communicates with an end portion of the inclined groove on the inner side in the tread width direction. A connecting groove (connecting groove 200) communicating with an intermediate portion of the inclined groove formed on the opposite side with respect to the equator line CL) is formed, the connecting groove extending along a tire circumferential direction, and the connecting groove The groove width of the The gist is that it is narrower than the groove width of the oblique groove.

  According to the characteristics of the present invention, it is possible to provide a tire capable of achieving both higher performance on wet roads and icy and snowy roads.

1 is a partial plan view of a tread of a pneumatic tire 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a partially enlarged plan view of a tread of a pneumatic tire 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Next, an embodiment of a tire (pneumatic tire) according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and ratios of dimensions and the like are different from actual ones.

  Accordingly, specific dimensions and the like should be determined in consideration of the following description. Moreover, the part from which the relationship and ratio of a mutual dimension differ also in between drawings may be contained.

(1) Schematic Configuration of Pneumatic Tire FIG. 1 is a partial plan development view of a tread of the pneumatic tire 10 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a circumferential groove 20 and a circumferential groove 30 are formed in the pneumatic tire 10.

  The pneumatic tire 10 is a so-called winter tire that can withstand use during snowfall, and has a tread pattern in which the direction of rotation when mounted on an automobile is specified. The winter tire here refers to a tire including a studless tire that places importance on performance on icy and snowy roads, and an all-season tire that ensures a balanced performance on icy and non-snowy roads. The pneumatic tire 10 may be filled with an inert gas such as nitrogen gas instead of air. Moreover, in FIG. 1, the thin line part means the area | region which does not touch a road surface at the time of a regular internal pressure and a regular load.

Circumferential groove 20, 30, in the tread width direction D _T outside the region, extending in the tire circumferential direction D _C. Between the circumferential groove 20 and the circumferential groove 30, a land portion 40 that is in contact with the road surface is provided.

The land portion 40 is provided in the central portion in the tread width direction _DT . The central part in the tread width direction _DT is the tire equator line CL when a normal load is applied to the pneumatic tire 10 set to the normal internal pressure specified by the Japan Automobile Tire Association (JATMA). It means in the region of 60% of the tread width.

A plurality of inclined grooves 100 are formed in the land portion 40. Inclined groove 100 is inclined so as to approach the tread width direction D _T As the outward tread width direction D _T. The outer end of the inclined groove 100 in the tread width direction _DT communicates with the circumferential groove 20 or the circumferential groove 30. Note that the pneumatic tire 10 may be formed with a sipe (not shown).

In the land portion 40, a plurality of connecting grooves 200 and a plurality of branch circumferential grooves 300 are formed. Each branch circumferential groove 300 includes a branch circumferential groove 300 adjacent in the tire circumferential direction D _C, it is formed at different positions in the tread width direction D _T. Specifically, in the tire circumferential direction D _C, a plurality of branch circumferential groove 300 forms a zigzag shape.

(2) Shape of Land Part FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged plan view of the tread of the pneumatic tire 10. In FIG. 2, the inclined groove 100 will be described taking the inclined groove 110 to the inclined groove 140 as an example. Further, the connection groove 200 will be described taking the connection groove 210 to the connection groove 240 as an example. Further, the branch circumferential groove 300 will be described taking the branch circumferential groove 310 and the branch circumferential groove 320 as examples.

As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the groove width of the inclined groove 110 becomes wider toward the outside of the tread width direction _DT . The ends of the inclined grooves 110 to 140 inside the tread width direction _DT are positioned on the tire equator line CL.

Further, the connecting groove 210 communicates with the end of the inclined groove 110 on the inner side in the tread width direction _DT . Further, the connecting groove 210 communicates with an intermediate portion of the inclined groove 120 formed on the opposite side with respect to the tire equator line CL. Similarly, the connecting groove 230 that communicates with the inclined groove 130 communicates with an intermediate portion of the inclined groove 140 that is formed on the opposite side with respect to the tire equator line CL.

  Further, the connecting groove 220 communicating with the inclined groove 120 communicates with an intermediate portion of the inclined groove 130 formed on the opposite side with respect to the tire equator line CL. Similarly, the connecting groove 240 communicating with the inclined groove 140 communicates with an intermediate portion of an inclined groove (not shown) formed on the opposite side with respect to the tire equator line CL.

Connection groove 210 (240) extends along the tire circumferential direction D _C, the groove width of the connection grooves 210 to 240 is narrower than the groove width of the inclined groove 110 (140). Further, for example, the groove width of the inclined groove 110 increases from the inner end of the inclined groove 110 in the tread width direction _DT toward the intermediate portion of the inclined groove 120 formed on the opposite side with respect to the tire equator line CL. Narrow. The inclined grooves 120 to 140 have the same shape. The connecting groove 210 (240) need not be parallel to the tire circumferential direction D _C, the angle formed between the tire circumferential direction D _C may be equal to or less than 30 degrees.

For example, branch circumferential groove 310 is branched from an intermediate portion of the inclined groove 110, while extending along the tire circumferential direction D _C, it is outwardly curved tread width direction D _T. Further, the branch circumferential groove 310 communicates with the inclined groove 130 adjacent to the branch source inclined groove 110 in the tire circumferential direction.

Similarly, branching circumferential groove 320 is branched from an intermediate portion of the inclined groove 120, while extending along the tire circumferential direction D _C, it is outwardly curved tread width direction D _T. In addition, the branch circumferential groove 320 communicates with the inclined groove 140 adjacent to the branch-source inclined groove 120.

Circumferential groove 20 has a bent portion 25 bent from the tread width direction D _T outside the tread width direction D _T inside. The ends of the inclined grooves 120 and 140 on the outer side in the tread width direction communicate with the bent portion 25. Similarly, the circumferential groove 30 has a bent portion 35 bent from the tread width direction D _T outside the tread width direction D _T inside. The ends of the inclined grooves 110 and 130 on the outer side in the tread width direction communicate with the bent portion 35.

(3) Advantageous Effects According to the pneumatic tire 10, for example, inclined grooves 110 is inclined so as to approach the tread width direction D _T As the outward tread width direction D _T. Further, for example, the connecting groove 210 communicates with the inner end of the inclined groove 110 in the tread width direction and also communicates with an intermediate portion of the inclined groove 120 formed on the opposite side with respect to the tire equator line CL. Further, the coupling groove 210, extends along the tire circumferential direction D _C, the groove width of the connection groove 210 is narrower than the groove width of the inclined groove 110.

  For this reason, since the snow which entered into these groove parts formed in the land part 40 is controlled for escape, the snow column shear force increases as a result. Therefore, the traction and braking force on an icy and snowy road are improved. In addition, since the inclined groove 100 communicates with the circumferential grooves 20 and 30, rainwater that has entered the land portion 40 can be efficiently drained.

  That is, according to the pneumatic tire 10, the performance on wet roads and icy and snowy roads can be achieved at high levels.

  In the present embodiment, the branch circumferential groove 300 intersects the inclined groove 100 adjacent to the branch-source inclined groove 100. For this reason, the snow that has entered these grooves formed in the land portion 40 is further restricted in escape at the junction between the branch circumferential groove 300 and the inclined groove 100, and the snow column shear force further increases. In addition, traction and braking force on icy and snowy roads can be further improved. Specifically, since the rotational direction of the pneumatic tire 10 is specified, the snow that has entered the groove portion is dammed up at the tip of the inclined groove 100 or the like during braking, so that the braking force is improved. In addition, at the time of starting acceleration, traction is improved because the bumps collide with each other at the intersection of the inclined groove 100 and the branch circumferential groove 300, and the like.

In the present embodiment, the groove width of the inclined groove 100 becomes wider toward the outside of the tread width direction _DT . That is, the snow that has entered the inclined groove 100 from the outside of the tread width direction _DT gradually narrows and intersects with the other inclined grooves 100, and is further restricted from escape.

Similarly, the groove width of the connecting groove 200 increases from the inner end of the inclined groove 100 in the tread width direction _DT toward the middle portion of the inclined groove 100 formed on the opposite side with respect to the tire equator line CL. Since it becomes narrower, the snow that has entered the connecting groove 200 is further restricted from escape. Therefore, it can contribute to further improvement of traction and braking force on an icy and snowy road.

In the present embodiment, the end of the inclined groove 100 inside the tread width direction _DT is positioned on the tire equator line CL. For this reason, it is possible to effectively improve the snow column shear force in the center region in the tread width direction _DT that greatly contributes to an increase in overall traction and braking force.

In the present embodiment, the outer end of the inclined groove 100 in the tread width direction _DT communicates with the bent portions 25 and 35. Such bent portions 25 and 35 also increase the snow column shear force, which can contribute to further improvement of traction and braking force on icy and snowy roads.

(4) Other Embodiments As described above, the contents of the present invention have been disclosed through the embodiments of the present invention. However, it is understood that the descriptions and drawings constituting a part of this disclosure limit the present invention. Should not. From this disclosure, various alternative embodiments, examples, and operational techniques will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the end of the inclined groove 100 outside the tread width direction _DT communicates with the bent portions 25 and 35, but the bent portions 25 and 35 may not necessarily be formed. Absent.

In the embodiment described above, the end portion of the inclined groove 100 in the tread width direction _DT is located on the tire equator line CL, but the end portion is not necessarily located on the tire equator line CL. It doesn't matter. Further, the groove widths of the inclined groove 100 and the connecting groove 200 may be constant without changing.

  In the embodiment described above, the branch circumferential groove 300 is formed, but the branch circumferential groove 300 may not be formed. Alternatively, the branch circumferential grooves 300 may be formed at regular intervals instead of between all the inclined grooves 100.

In the embodiment described above, the central portion of the tread width direction _DT is the tread including the tire equator line CL in a state where a normal load is applied to the pneumatic tire 10 set to a normal internal pressure defined by JATMA or the like. In the case of a pneumatic tire that is assumed to be mounted on a car with a large camber angle, a normal load is applied to the pneumatic tire set to the normal internal pressure. It may also mean a region of 60% of the “contact width” of the tread with respect to the center in the tread width direction.

  As described above, the present invention naturally includes various embodiments that are not described herein. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is determined only by the invention specifying matters according to the scope of claims reasonable from the above description.

10 ... Pneumatic tire
20 ... Circumferential groove
25, 35… Bend
30 ... Circumferential groove
40 ... Land
100, 110, 120, 130, 140 ... inclined grooves
200, 210, 220, 230, 240 ... Connection groove
300, 310, 320 ... Branch circumferential groove

Claims (6)

A circumferential groove extending in the tire circumferential direction is formed in the outer region in the tread width direction, and a plurality of inclined grooves extending outward from the center portion in the tread width direction and inclined with respect to the tire circumferential direction are formed.
The tread width direction outer end of the inclined groove is a tire communicated with the circumferential groove,
The inclined groove is inclined so as to approach the tread width direction toward the outer side in the tread width direction,
A connecting groove is formed that communicates with the inner end of the inclined groove in the tread width direction and communicates with an intermediate portion of the inclined groove that is formed on the opposite side with respect to the tire equator line,
The connecting groove extends along the tire circumferential direction,
The tire has a narrower groove width than the inclined groove. A branched circumferential groove is formed that branches from the middle portion of the inclined groove and extends along the tire circumferential direction, and curves toward the outer side in the tread width direction.
2. The tire according to claim 1, wherein the branch circumferential groove communicates with an inclined groove adjacent to the branch-source inclined groove.   The tire according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a groove width of the inclined groove becomes wider toward the outer side in the tread width direction.   The groove width of the connecting groove becomes narrower from an end of the inclined groove on the inner side in the tread width direction toward an intermediate portion of the inclined groove formed on the opposite side with respect to the tire equator line. 4. The tire according to any one of 3.   The tire according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an end of the inclined groove on the inner side in the tread width direction is located on a tire equator line.   6. The circumferential groove has a bent portion that bends from the outer side in the tread width direction to the inner side in the tread width direction, and an end portion of the inclined groove on the outer side in the tread width direction communicates with the bent portion. The tire according to claim 1.

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