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 curing mold (10) for a tire comprises: a plurality of circumferentially distributed sectors (18) that are intended to mold the tread of the tire, at least one sipe blade (40) intended to mold a void in the tread, the sipe blade extending over two adjacent sectors (18) such that the sipe blade comprises a part (40a, 40b) in each of the two sectors, the two parts of the sipe blade being separated, in the closed position of the mold, by a space (26) that creates flash during the curing of a tire, the parts of the sipe blade comprising cutting means (38) that are able to cut off the flash during the opening of the mold.

A lining element (16) of a curing mold (10) for a tire forms a molding surface (14), the molding surface comprising recessed and protruding patterns, a first protruding pattern (30) delimiting a first recessed pattern (50), and a second protruding pattern (36) forming an intersection (48) with the first protruding pattern, the intersection partially delimiting at least one second recessed pattern, the second recessed pattern protruding with respect to the first recessed pattern (50), the lining element having a molding element (52) designed to fill the second recessed pattern.

A gas flow can be provided together with a liquid jet guided laser beam to remove accumulated liquid on the processing surface. The gas flow can be configured to have minimum interference with the liquid jet guided laser beam, while functions to blow away liquid generated by the liquid jet. Keeping the surface free from accumulated liquid can improve the efficiency of the liquid jet guided laser processing.

An insert (36) is designed to be incorporated in the composition of a fitting element (24) and to form part of the molding surface (40) of the fitting element, the molding surface comprising at least one intersection (32) of at least a first (42) and a second (44) projecting pattern. The insert comprises a junction (46) which is designed to be joined with a molding element (38) integral with the body (34) of the fitting element, the junction (46) dividing the second pattern (44) into a first (48) and a second (50) part, the insert (36) forming the first pattern (42) and the first part (48) of the second pattern (44), and the molding element (38) forming the second part (50) of the second pattern (44), the junction (46) going away from the intersection (32).

A pneumatic tyre includes a tread portion being provided with a land portion divided by a main groove extending continuously in a tyre circumferential direction. The land portion is provided with two or more sipes having a width less than 1.5 mm on a ground contacting surface of the land portion and two or more groove elements having a width equal to or more than 1.5 mm on the ground contacting surface. Lengths in a tyre axial direction of the groove elements are equal to or less than 15% of a maximum width in the tyre axial direction of the ground contacting surface of the land portion, and at least one of the sipes is in communication with one of the groove elements.

A pneumatic tire includes sipes disposed in a land portion formed in a tread portion, and pin holes for stud pins disposed in the land portion. The sipes are disposed at positions where a distance Ds from the pin hole and a diameter Dp of the pin hole satisfy (Ds/Dp)≥4.0. A sipe in which the distance Ds from the pin hole and the diameter Dp of the pin hole satisfy (Ds/Dp)≤5.0 is defined as a pin hole neighboring sipe. A sipe of which the distance Ds from the pin hole is the smallest, among the sipes in which the distance Ds from the pin hole and the diameter Dp of the pin hole satisfy (Ds/Dp)>5.0, is defined as a normal sipe. The pin hole neighboring sipe is formed in a high rigidity shape having higher rigidity than the normal sipe.

The projection portion includes a straight portion extended linearly in a predetermined direction, a first inclined portion inclined to spread toward an outer side in the predetermined direction from one end of the straight portion, and a second inclined portion inclined to spread toward an outer side in the predetermined direction from another end of the straight portion. A period defined by a length of the projection portion in the predetermined direction is 0.8 times to 2.0 times as large as a sipe depth defined by a length of the sipe between the wheel tread of a block and a bottom of the sipe.