JP3471503B2 - Pneumatic tire - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire particularly suitable for a studless tire, in which the occurrence of chunking at the shoulder portion of a block provided with sipes is prevented while maintaining good on-ice performance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A pneumatic tire used as a studless tire is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-159108. As shown in FIG. 3, this pneumatic tire includes a block 14 divided into a main groove 12 in the tire circumferential direction T and a lateral groove 13 in the tire width direction provided on a tread surface 11 and having a plurality of corrugated kerfs in the tire width direction. 15 are formed, and the amplitudes of these kerfs 15 are sequentially increased from the tread central portion toward the block 14 located on the shoulder side to improve the cornering turning performance while maintaining braking / driving performance on an ice and snow road. I am trying to improve. However, the pneumatic tire described above,
Since the kerf having a larger amplitude than that of the central portion of the tread is arranged in the shoulder side block, the rigidity of the shoulder side block is unnecessarily lowered, which causes chunking of the rubber of the block.

Therefore, as a solution to the above problem, it is conceivable to reduce the amplitude of the kerf or reduce the number of kerfs formed in one block to increase the rigidity of the block on the shoulder side. By doing so, it becomes difficult to secure a sufficient cut length of the kerf, and the performance on ice is deteriorated.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a pneumatic tire capable of suppressing the occurrence of chunking in the shoulder portion of a block provided with sipes while maintaining good on-ice performance. To provide.

[0005]

According to the present invention to achieve the above object, a plurality of main grooves extending in the tire circumferential direction are provided on a tread surface, and lateral grooves in the tire width direction communicating with these main grooves are arranged. In the pneumatic tire in which a large number of blocks partitioned by the main groove and the lateral groove are formed from the tread central portion of the tread surface to both shoulder portions, and the blocks are each provided with a corrugated sipe extending in the tire width direction, The amplitude of the sipe of the block provided on the shoulder portion is made substantially the same as that of the sipe provided on the block on the tread center side, and the length of one cycle is shorter than the length of one cycle of the sipe on the tread center side. It is characterized by

Since the shoulder portion and the tread central portion have the same amplitude as described above, the length of one cycle is shorter on the shoulder portion side than on the block sipe provided on the tread central portion side. Since the sipe of the block of the part can be made dense in the tire width direction, it is possible to secure the total depth of cut of the sipe more than before, and because the amplitude is suppressed compared to the past, the tire circumferential direction The block rigidity with respect to can be improved. Even when a force is applied in the tire width direction, since the sipe wall surfaces of the blocks separated by the dense sipe restrain each other, the block rigidity in the lateral direction can be secured. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of chunking while maintaining good on-ice performance without reducing the number and length of sipes that affect the on-ice performance.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The configuration of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of a block pattern of the pneumatic tire of the present invention. On the tread surface 1, a plurality of main grooves 2 extending along the tire circumferential direction T and lateral grooves 3 in the tire width direction communicating with the main grooves 2.
A plurality of blocks B are provided, and a large number of blocks B defined by the main grooves 2 and the lateral grooves 3 are formed from the tread central portion 1A of the tread surface 1 to both shoulder portions 1B, and the blocks B extend along the tire width direction. A plurality of zigzag-shaped corrugated sipes 5 extending in parallel with each other are provided.

The main groove 2 has a groove width significantly narrower than the straight main groove 2A arranged on the tire center line CL and the center main groove 2A arranged on both sides of the straight main groove 2A in the tread central portion 1A. It has straight-shaped main grooves 2B and 2C, and zigzag-shaped main grooves 2D and 2E, which are thicker than the main groove 2A, are provided outside the main grooves 2B and 2C on the tire side. This zigzag-shaped main groove 2D, 2E
The tread surface area outside the tire than the shoulder portion 1B
And E is the grounding end of the tread surface 1.

One of the corrugated sipes 5 is arranged so as to communicate with the main groove 2, and the tread central portion 1A between the main grooves 2B and 2C, the main groove 2B and the main groove 2D, and the main groove 2C and the main groove 2E. Each of the blocks B of the intermediate tread portion 1C is provided with four sipes 5 whose communication sides are alternately changed.
The sipe 5 communicating with the main grooves 2D, 2E and the sipe 5 extending to the tire ground contact end E side have their corrugated portions facing each other in the block B of the shoulder portion 1B outside the main grooves 2D, 2E. Four are arranged. The tire circumferential direction interval between the sipes 5 formed in each block B is equal to or greater than the amplitude a of the corrugated sipes 5.

In the pneumatic tire having the block B provided with the sipes 5 as described above, each of the tread central portion 1A, the shoulder portion 1B, and the tread intermediate portion 1C has a concept as shown in FIG. The amplitude a of the sipe 5 (interval in the tire circumferential direction) is set to have substantially the same width, and
The length L of one cycle of the sipe 5 is sequentially shortened from the tread central portion 1A toward the block B located on the shoulder portion 1B side.

The length L of one cycle of the sipe 5 in the block B provided on the shoulder portion 1B is minimized, and then the length L of one cycle of the sipe 5 arranged in the block B of the tread intermediate portion 1C is shortened. The length L of one cycle of the sipe 5 of the block B provided in the tread central portion 1A is set to be the longest. In this way, the amplitude a of the sipe 5 in the block B provided on the shoulder portion 1B is set to be substantially the same as that on the tread center side, and the length L of one cycle is set shorter than that of the sipe 5 on the tread center side. Due to
Waveform sipe 5 in block B of shoulder 1B
Since the wavy portion can be densely configured in the tire width direction, it is possible to secure the total cutting length of the sipes 5 equal to or more than the conventional one. Further, since the amplitude is suppressed to be smaller than in the conventional case, it is possible to improve the block rigidity in the tire circumferential direction T, and further, even when a force acts in the tire width direction, the sipe 5 having a dense waveform is used.
Since the sipe wall surfaces of the block B, which are separated by, can restrain each other, it is possible to secure the block rigidity in the tire width direction, and therefore, without reducing the number and length of the sipe effective for ice performance, It is possible to prevent the occurrence of chunking while maintaining good on-ice performance.

Further, even in a tread pattern in which a block having a short block length is formed due to the pitch length, the block rigidity of the shoulder portion 1B is ensured without reducing the number of sipes and the effective length which affect the performance on ice. Then
It is possible to effectively suppress the occurrence of chunking. In addition, since many sipes can be provided even for blocks having a short block length, a pattern of multiple pitches and multiple sipes is possible, and a studless tire having excellent on-ice performance and excellent corner link performance can be obtained. .

The length L of one cycle of the sipe 5 provided in each block B in the tread central portion 1A, the toledo intermediate portion 1C, and the shoulder portion 1B is the amplitude a of the sipe.
To 0.18a ≦ L ≦ 1.40a, and 0.1W ≦ L ≦ 0.5W with respect to the width W of the block in which the sipes 5 are arranged in the tire width direction. Preferably. If the length L of one cycle of the sipe 5 is out of the above range, the effect of suppressing the occurrence of chunking without impairing the on-ice performance is reduced, and rubber flow failure is likely to occur during vulcanization.

The inclination angle θ of the zigzag corrugated sipe 5 with respect to the tire width direction is preferably set in the range of 20 to 70 ° for the same reason as above. In the present invention, the shape of the sipe 5 having a wavy shape in a plan view is zigzag in the above-described embodiment.
You may make it a curved waveform shape. In that case,
The tilt angle θ refers to the average of the angles in the tangential direction at two points that divide the amplitude a of the sipe into three equal parts.

Further, the sipe 5 may be a sipe which communicates with the main grooves on both sides, instead of communicating with the one main groove 2, and without communicating with the main grooves on both sides. The present invention can be preferably used even for a closed type sipe arranged in a block.

[0016]

EXAMPLE The tire of the present invention having the structure shown in FIG. 1 and the conventional tire shown in FIG. 3 were manufactured with the same tire size of 155R136PR. In the tire of the present invention, the sipes have a common amplitude of 5 mm, the length of one cycle of the sipe in the center of the tread is 5 mm, the length of one cycle of the sipe in the middle of the tread is 3.75 mm, and one of the sipes in the shoulder portion. The cycle length is 2.5 mm. In addition, conventional tires are sipes 1
The cycle length is 5 mm in common, the amplitude of the sipe at the center of the tread is 5 mm, the middle of the tread is 7.5 mm, and the shoulder is 10 mm.

A rim size of 13 × 4 was obtained for each of these test tires.
Attached to 1 / 2J rim, 1500 with air pressure 240kP
When mounted on a cc passenger car, and under the following measurement conditions, an evaluation test of on-ice performance, dry road steering stability, chunking resistance, and rubber flow failure was conducted, and the results shown in Table 1 were obtained.

Performance on ice 1. Braking property on ice On an ice road test course with an ice temperature of -5 ° C to -8 ° C and an air temperature of -3 ° C to -5 ° C, the braking distance when braking from a speed of 40 km / h was measured, and the results were compared with conventional tires. Evaluation was made with an index value of 100. The larger this index value, the better the braking performance on ice. 2. Braking property on snow On a snow road test course with a snow temperature of -3 ° C to -6 ° C and an air temperature of -2 ° C to -5 ° C, the braking distance when braking from a speed of 40 km / h was measured, and the results were compared with conventional tires. Evaluation was made with an index value of 100. The larger this index value, the better the braking performance on snow.

3. Climbing on snow After accelerating to 30km / h on a flat road with a snow temperature of -3 ℃ to -6 ℃ and an air temperature of -3 ℃ to -5 ℃, climb a slope road with a slope of 15 ° and measure the distance traveled. The result is 100 for a conventional tire.
Was evaluated by the index. The larger this value, the better the plate climbing property. 4. Steering stability on ice Ice temperature -5 ℃ to -8 ℃, temperature -3 ℃ to -5 ℃ Snow road test course, 3 panelists (test driver)
The feeling test during cornering was repeated 3 times each, and the result was evaluated by an index value with the conventional tire as 100. The larger this index value, the better the steering stability on ice. 5. Steering stability on snow Snow panel test course with snow temperature of -3 ℃ to -6 ℃ and temperature of ℃ 2 to -5 ℃
The feeling test during cornering was repeated 3 times each, and the result was evaluated by an index value with the conventional tire as 100. The larger this index value, the better the snow steering stability.

Steering stability on dry roads On a dry circuit road surface, a feeling test during cornering was repeated three times by three panelists (test drivers), and the results were compared with conventional tires.
It evaluated by the index value set to 00. The larger this index value, the better the steering stability on dry roads. If this value is 95 or more, there is practically no problem.

Chunking resistance The state of occurrence of chunking was measured when running on a dry circuit road surface at a speed of 140 km / h for a certain distance, and evaluated by an index value with the conventional tire as 100. The larger the index value, the better the chunking resistance. If this value is 95 or more, there is practically no problem. Rubber flow failure Evaluation was made based on whether rubber flow occurred in the shoulder block of each test tire after vulcanization molding. "Yes" means that rubber flow occurred, and "no" means that rubber flow did not occur.

[0022]

[Table 1]

As is clear from Table 1, the tire of the present invention can improve the chunking resistance in the shoulder portion of the block provided with the sipes while maintaining the good performance on ice. Further, the tire of the present invention has good steering stability on dry roads and does not cause rubber flow failure.
Further, the tire size is the same as above, and in the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the length L of one cycle of the sipe in the tread central portion, the tread intermediate portion, and the shoulder portion is as shown in Table 2 with respect to the amplitude a of the sipe. Test tires 1 to 3 and test tires 4 to 8 in which the length L of one cycle of the sipe is changed with respect to the width W of the block in which the sipes are arranged as shown in Table 3 (central portion of tread, tread Test tires 9 to 11 were manufactured in which the inclination angle θ of the sipe with respect to the tire width direction in the tread central portion, the tread intermediate portion, and the shoulder portion was changed as shown in Table 4, respectively.

Under the same conditions as above, each of these test tires was subjected to evaluation tests for ice performance, dry road handling stability, chucking resistance, and rubber flow failure, and the results shown in Tables 2 to 4 were obtained. Obtained.

[0025]

[Table 2]

[0026]

[Table 3]

[0027]

[Table 4]

From Tables 2 to 4, the length L of one cycle of the sipe is 0.18a≤L≤1.40a with respect to the amplitude a of the sipe,
0.1W ≦ with respect to the width W of the block in which the sipes are arranged
It is understood that it is preferable to set the range of L ≦ 0.5W. In addition, the inclination angle θ of the waveform sipe with respect to the tire width direction is set to 2
It is understood that the angle should be 0 to 70 °.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of main grooves extending in the tire circumferential direction are provided on the tread surface, and lateral grooves in the tire width direction that communicate with these main grooves are arranged to form the main grooves. A large number of blocks defined by lateral grooves were formed from the tread central portion of the tread surface over both shoulder portions, and in the pneumatic tire in which corrugated sipes extending in the tire width direction were provided on these blocks, the blocks were provided at the shoulder portions. Since the amplitude of the sipe of the block was made substantially the same as that of the sipe provided on the block on the tread center side, and the length of one cycle was made shorter than the length of one cycle of the sipe on the tread center side, the performance on ice was improved. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of chunking at the shoulder portion of the block provided with the sipes while maintaining the good condition.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a development view of essential parts showing an example of a tread surface used for a pneumatic tire of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the concept of sipes provided in each block of a tread central portion, a tread intermediate portion, and a shoulder portion in the pneumatic tire of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a development view of essential parts showing a tread surface of a conventional pneumatic tire.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Tread Surface 1A Tret Center 1B Shoulder 1C Tread Middle 2 Main Groove 3 Lateral Groove 5 Sipe B Block T Tire Circumferential Direction

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Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of main grooves extending in the tire circumferential direction are provided on a tread surface, lateral grooves in the tire width direction communicating with these main grooves are arranged, and a plurality of main grooves and lateral grooves are defined. In a pneumatic tire in which blocks are formed from the tread center portion of the tread surface to both shoulder portions, and each of these blocks is provided with a corrugated sipe extending in the tire width direction, the amplitude of the block sipe provided in the shoulder portion is set to the tread center. A pneumatic tire in which the length of one cycle is substantially the same as that of the sipe provided in the block on the side of the section, and the length of one cycle is shorter than the length of the one cycle of the sipe on the central side of the tread. 2. The sipe 1 is sequentially arranged from the central portion of the tread toward the block located at the shoulder portion.
The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein the cycle length is shortened. 3. The length L of one cycle of each sipe is set within a range of 0.18a ≦ L ≦ 1.40a with respect to the amplitude a of the sipe, and the width W of the block in which the sipe is arranged. 1 or 2 with respect to 0.1W ≦ L ≦ 0.5W
Pneumatic tire described in. 4. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein an inclination angle of the corrugated sipe with respect to a tire width direction is 20 to 70 °.