The present invention includes an improved tire tread having recessed lateral grooves, and a tire having the same. Particular embodiments of the tread include a tread thickness bounded depthwise by a top side configured to engage a ground surface during tire operation and a bottom side configured to attach to a tire carcass, the thickness extending laterally between a first side edge and a second side edge and longitudinally in a lengthwise direction of the tread. The tread further includes a longitudinal groove in fluid communication with the top side or the bottom side of the tread thickness and a lateral groove in fluid communication with the bottom side of the tread thickness extending from the first side edge intersecting the longitudinal groove forming a vent passageway extending from the longitudinal groove and to the first side edge. The invention includes methods of forming such treads and molds there for.

The present invention includes an improved tire tread having recessed lateral grooves, and a tire having the same. Particular embodiments of the tread include a tread thickness bounded depthwise by a top side configured to engage a ground surface during tire operation and a bottom side configured to attach to a tire carcass, the thickness extending laterally between a first side edge and a second side edge and longitudinally in a lengthwise direction of the tread. The tread further includes a longitudinal groove in fluid communication with the top side or the bottom side of the tread thickness and a lateral groove in fluid communication with the bottom side of the tread thickness extending from the first side edge intersecting the longitudinal groove forming a vent passageway extending from the longitudinal groove and to the first side edge. The invention includes methods of forming such treads and molds there for.

A tire that can attach and detach and that can prevent splash when running a wet road and cool discharging a heat is provided. The tire having a tread and a shoulder portion connected to the tread includes a protector portion provided in a circumferential direction at a side surface of the shoulder portion and in which a plurality of penetration portions are formed at a predetermined gap in a length direction; a plurality of protruding portions provided in the protector portion and formed at a predetermined gap in a length direction of the protector portion; and a plurality of installation grooves formed at a side surface of the shoulder portion such that the protruding portion attaches or detaches when the protruding portion enters or discharges.

A tire that can attach and detach and that can prevent splash when running a wet road and cool discharging a heat is provided. The tire having a tread and a shoulder portion connected to the tread includes a protector portion provided in a circumferential direction at a side surface of the shoulder portion and in which a plurality of penetration portions are formed at a predetermined gap in a length direction; a plurality of protruding portions provided in the protector portion and formed at a predetermined gap in a length direction of the protector portion; and a plurality of installation grooves formed at a side surface of the shoulder portion such that the protruding portion attaches or detaches when the protruding portion enters or discharges.

Embodiments of the invention include a method of forming a pneumatic tire having a heat insulating layer and a pneumatic tire having a heat insulating layer, for reducing the thermal cooling of a tread of a pneumatic tire. A flexible heat insulating layer is applied to the tire at a location radially inward from the tire tread and opposite the tire tread relative the tire thickness. The heat insulating layer is characterized as having thermally insulating properties configured to maintain at least a portion of the tire tread at or above a desired elevated temperature greater than a glass transition temperature for any such portion of the tire tread under normal tire operating conditions. The heat insulating layer is also characterized as having a low thermal conductivity.

Embodiments of the invention include a method of forming a pneumatic tire having a heat insulating layer and a pneumatic tire having a heat insulating layer, for reducing the thermal cooling of a tread of a pneumatic tire. A flexible heat insulating layer is applied to the tire at a location radially inward from the tire tread and opposite the tire tread relative the tire thickness. The heat insulating layer is characterized as having thermally insulating properties configured to maintain at least a portion of the tire tread at or above a desired elevated temperature greater than a glass transition temperature for any such portion of the tire tread under normal tire operating conditions. The heat insulating layer is also characterized as having a low thermal conductivity.

A pneumatic tire includes a recess formed on a groove wall surface of a circumferential groove opposite to a widthwise groove. A wall surface defined by the recess includes an inclined surface inclined towards the widthwise groove from a tire radial direction outer side towards a tire radial direction inner side and a curved surface connecting a tire radial direction inner end of the inclined surface to a bottom defined by the recess, the curved surface having a center of curvature on the side of the widthwise groove. As a connection point between the inclined surface and the curved surface is at a position in the tire circumferential direction at which a width W of the recess in the tire width direction is smaller, the connection point is located further inward in the tire radial direction.

A pneumatic tire includes a recess formed on a groove wall surface of a circumferential groove opposite to a widthwise groove. A wall surface defined by the recess includes an inclined surface inclined towards the widthwise groove from a tire radial direction outer side towards a tire radial direction inner side and a curved surface connecting a tire radial direction inner end of the inclined surface to a bottom defined by the recess, the curved surface having a center of curvature on the side of the widthwise groove. As a connection point between the inclined surface and the curved surface is at a position in the tire circumferential direction at which a width W of the recess in the tire width direction is smaller, the connection point is located further inward in the tire radial direction.

Systems and methods disclosed herein may be useful for use in a wheel assembly which includes a heat shield. In this regard heat shield for a wheel may include a first member; a second member positioned radially of the first member defining an annular cavity between the first member and the second member; an opening in at least one of the first member and the second member configured to provide fluidic communication between the annular cavity and an outside of the annular cavity; and a mounting feature in operable communication with the first member and the second member configured to attach the heat shield to the wheel.

Systems and methods disclosed herein may be useful for use in a wheel assembly which includes a heat shield. In this regard heat shield for a wheel may include a first member; a second member positioned radially of the first member defining an annular cavity between the first member and the second member; an opening in at least one of the first member and the second member configured to provide fluidic communication between the annular cavity and an outside of the annular cavity; and a mounting feature in operable communication with the first member and the second member configured to attach the heat shield to the wheel.