This invention improves the precision and reliability with which rolling resistance can be measured. This rolling-resistance testing method includes a rolling-resistance measurement stage and a determination stage. In the rolling-resistance measurement stage, a component force meter is used to measure the tangential axial force that occurs in a tire axle when the tire is rotated under load. In the determination stage, the axial force is measured in a no-load stopped state in which the tire has been separated from a drum, said axial force is compared to a threshold, and if the axial force is greater than said threshold, a determination that an anomaly has occurred in the test is made.

A system and method for selectively removing tire material from the bead portions of a cured tire to reduce one or more harmonics of at least one uniformity parameter are disclosed. According to aspects of the present disclosure, tire material is selectively removed using a plurality of direct address commands. The direct address commands specify ablation parameters for discrete ablation segments at specific angular locations around the bead of the tire. The direct address commands are generated by analyzing the desired ablation pattern for the bead of the tire. The ablation device can then be controlled to selectively remove tire material in discrete ablation segments at identified addresses pursuant to the direct address commands to achieve the desired ablation pattern on one or more tracks along the bead portion of the tire using a single pass of the ablation device.

A system and method for selectively removing tire material from the bead portions of a cured tire to reduce one or more harmonics of at least one uniformity parameter are disclosed. According to aspects of the present disclosure, tire material is selectively removed using a plurality of direct address commands. The direct address commands specify ablation parameters for discrete ablation segments at specific angular locations around the bead of the tire. The direct address commands are generated by analyzing the desired ablation pattern for the bead of the tire. The ablation device can then be controlled to selectively remove tire material in discrete ablation segments at identified addresses pursuant to the direct address commands to achieve the desired ablation pattern on one or more tracks along the bead portion of the tire using a single pass of the ablation device.

A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion that is provided with two block rows formed of three circumferential grooves and a plurality of first transverse grooves. A block that configures the block rows has a hexagonal shape, and has a diagonal extension line passing through a pair of vertices positioned in the central portion in the tire-circumferential direction, the diagonal extension line overlapping, in the tire-circumferential direction, the first transverse groove of the adjacent block rows. The block has a first sipe that is terminated within a block extending in the tire-width direction. The first sipe is provided at a position shifted from the diagonal extension line in the tire-circumferential direction and in a region interposed between planes that are formed by extending, in a direction in which the first transverse groove extends, from a pair of groove wall surfaces of the first transverse groove of the adjacent block rows.

A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion that is provided with two block rows formed of three circumferential grooves and a plurality of first transverse grooves. A block that configures the block rows has a hexagonal shape, and has a diagonal extension line passing through a pair of vertices positioned in the central portion in the tire-circumferential direction, the diagonal extension line overlapping, in the tire-circumferential direction, the first transverse groove of the adjacent block rows. The block has a first sipe that is terminated within a block extending in the tire-width direction. The first sipe is provided at a position shifted from the diagonal extension line in the tire-circumferential direction and in a region interposed between planes that are formed by extending, in a direction in which the first transverse groove extends, from a pair of groove wall surfaces of the first transverse groove of the adjacent block rows.

A hand-held device for obtaining a three-dimensional topological surface profile of a tire, the device comprising: a base comprising an aperture; a light source arranged in use to generate an elongate pattern of light, and to project said pattern through the aperture onto a rolling surface of the tire; a detector arranged to image a region of the rolling surface of the tire; a plurality of pairs of guide wheels mounted on respective axles mounted on the base, wherein the guide wheels on adjacent axles are linked by gears; and a rotary encoder arranged to generate a signal corresponding to rotation of an axle.

A hand-held device for obtaining a three-dimensional topological surface profile of a tire, the device comprising: a base comprising an aperture; a light source arranged in use to generate an elongate pattern of light, and to project said pattern through the aperture onto a rolling surface of the tire; a detector arranged to image a region of the rolling surface of the tire; a plurality of pairs of guide wheels mounted on respective axles mounted on the base, wherein the guide wheels on adjacent axles are linked by gears; and a rotary encoder arranged to generate a signal corresponding to rotation of an axle.

A tyre T for adaptively adjusting to the tyre's rolling conditions, the tyre T comprising first and second side walls (1, 2) with a contact wall (3) extending therebetween and a heater 7 for heating one or more of the first side wall (1), second side wall (2) and contact wall (3), wherein plural chambers (4, 5, 6) are defined within the tyre T, at least one of the plural chambers (4, 6) being selectively inflatable for altering the external shape of the first side wall (1), second side wall (2) and/or contact wall (3).

The present embodiments provide a wheel assembly having a dynamic structure to influence an unloaded profile of a tire. In one embodiment the unloaded profile is also influenced by a centrifugal force on the wheel assembly and an inflation pressure of the tire. In one embodiment, a loaded profile of the tire is influenced by a weight of the wheel assembly, the inflation pressure of the tire, and the centrifugal force on the wheel assembly.

The present embodiments provide a wheel assembly having a dynamic structure to influence an unloaded profile of a tire. In one embodiment the unloaded profile is also influenced by a centrifugal force on the wheel assembly and an inflation pressure of the tire. In one embodiment, a loaded profile of the tire is influenced by a weight of the wheel assembly, the inflation pressure of the tire, and the centrifugal force on the wheel assembly.