A tire vulcanization mold disclosed herein includes sectors 13 divided in a tire circumferential direction and molding a tread portion 1 of a tire, and a pair of upper and lower side plates 11 and 12 molding a sidewall portion 2 of the tire. Mold parting lines 16a and 17a formed by the sectors 13 and a pair of the upper and lower side plates 11 and 12 are located in the tread portion 1 and a distance from a tire equator CL to the mold parting lines 16a and 17a changes periodically in the tire circumferential direction.

A method for producing a mold segment component of a vulcanizing mold for a pneumatic vehicle tire for forming at least one profile block or a region structured in a block-like manner of an altogether curved tread, with a tread outer surface, which mold segment component is built up by means of an additive process, such as selective laser melting, by layer-by-layer planar application and melting of a metal powder on a planar building plate (10) together with a bottom part (7b) and mold elements, such as lamellae (4) and/or microlamellae (11) and/or ribs and/or regions of ribs, wherein mold elements delimit or run around mutually adjacent mold area elements (12) of the bottom part (7b) which have outer surfaces (12a) forming a region of the tread outer surface.

In the additive build-up operation, the mold area elements (12) are each additively built up with a unitary planar outer surface (12a) or with two to three planar outer surfaces (12a) running in a stepped manner in relation to one another, wherein all of the outer surfaces (12a) of the mold area elements (12) run parallel to one another and, with respect to the building plate (10), are surfaces at different levels such that the mutual arrangement of the outer surfaces (12a) of the mold area elements (12) largely approximates to the curvature of the region to be formed of the tread outer surface.

The present invention includes tire treads having a sipe (18) and a void feature (22) in fluid communication with the sipe. Particular embodiments of the present invention also include methods for forming the same. In various embodiments, the sipe has a length, a height, and a thickness that is variable across the length and height of the sipe. The thickness of the sipe includes a thick portion (24) and a thin portion (26), the thick portion at least partially extending around a perimeter of the thin portion. In particular embodiments, the void feature (22) which is in fluid communication with the sipe extends primarily in a direction of the sipe length and has a width extending in the direction of the sipe thickness equal to or greater than substantially 1 millimeter.

A mold segment for forming a tire is provided that has a first sipe element (12) with a narrow section (14) and a teardrop section. The first sipe element has a female connector (18). A second sipe element (20) is present that has a narrow section (22) and a teardrop section. The second sipe element has a male connector (26). A mold segment base is present that receives the first sipe element and the second sipe element, and the female connector of the first sipe element receives the male connector of the second sipe element.

A set of molding elements suitable for being inserted into a mold for molding a tire comprises a main strip (1) and at least one secondary strip (2), the secondary strip (2) comprising a first secondary strip portion (3) and a second secondary strip portion (4), the second secondary strip portion (4) extending the first secondary strip portion and the first (3) and second (4) secondary strip portions extending on either side of the main strip (1) and the set of molding elements comprising members to assemble the secondary strip (2) with the main strip (1).

A tire vulcanizing mold includes a groove-shaped saw cut and a vent hole which are formed in a forming surface for forming a tire surface, the vent hole being opened in the forming surface so as to communicate with the saw cut, and a vent plug being fitted in the vent hole. The vent plug includes a circular-cylindrical housing interiorly including an air discharging path, a stem being inserted in the housing, and a valve body for opening and closing the air discharging path in an end portion closer to the forming surface. The housing has a top surface positioned closer to the forming surface such that the top surface is positioned closer to the forming surface than a groove bottom of the saw cut. The top surface is provided with a cutout by which the air discharging path and the saw cut are communicated with each other.

Disclosed herein are automated systems and methods utilizing a plurality of specialized RFID tags incorporated within various tire manufacturing components (e.g., mold segments, mold container, bladder plates, tire presses, and extrusion dies) that are able to readily track tire manufacture and identify defect source(s) while concurrently being configured to the harsh processes and temperatures of tire manufacture.

A combination of first and second plugs for a tire mold includes associated first and second receivers/jackets. Fasteners secure the receiver to an associated tire mold. A securing member extends from the receiver into the cavity of the first receiver to retain the first plug therein. The first plug is contoured and dimensioned for mating receipt in the first receiver cavity. The second plug is likewise contoured and dimensioned for mating receipt in the associated second receiver cavity, but will not be accepted in the first receiver. A tool is provided to facilitate insertion and removal of the first and second plugs, and limit the potential for damage to the associated tire mold.

A venting valve (1) for removing air from a vulcanising mould of a vehicle tyre, which comprises a valve body (2) having a venting channel (12), a movable valve insert (3) arranged in the venting channel (12), which valve insert (3) comprises a valve stem (4), one end of which is provided with a valve member (5) for opening and closing the venting channel (12), and a stroke limiter (6) for limiting an opening stroke of the valve insert (3), and a spring member (7) for pressing the valve insert (3) towards an open position, in which air flow through the venting channel (12) is allowed. The stroke limiter (6) comprises a hole (8) provided with an internal thread (9), and the other end of the valve stem (4) is provided with an externally threaded portion (10), which is fastened to the internal thread (9) of the stroke limiter (6).

A pneumatic tyre including a tread portion, wherein the tread portion has a groove which is oriented at an angle between +45 and −45 degrees with respect to the rolling direction of the tyre, the groove having a depth extending in the radial dimension, wherein the groove includes a plurality of protrusions extending along the direction of the groove, wherein each protrusion has a length in the direction of the groove, a width perpendicular to its length and a height. Each protrusion has a length of at least 75% of the circumferential length of the tyre tread.