A tire includes a projection disposed between a tread end and a maximum width position on a side surface. The projection includes a groove that extends through an outer side surface in a circumferential direction. The tire is preferably produced by using a mold which has a first part and a second part and in which a dividing line between the first and the second parts extends in the circumferential direction and comes into contact with the side surface, and the groove preferably overlaps an imaginary line, on the side surface, corresponding to the dividing line. A width of the groove is preferably not less than 1.5 mm and preferably not greater than 3.0 mm.

A tire vulcanization mold 10 of an embodiment includes an annular side mold 14 having a side molding surface 18 for molding a side wall portion T2. In a side mold body 15 of the side mold 14, an annular recess 20 is provided in the side molding surface 18 and a side ring 22 is fitted into the annular recess. The side ring 22 is mounted in the annular recess 20 such that a vent gap 30 for discharging air is formed between the side ring and the annular recess, on an opening portion side of the annular recess 20, and such that the side ring 22 is centered with respect to the side mold body 15 by a close contact fitting portion 28 in which the side ring and the annular recess are fitted without a gap therebetween, on a bottom portion side of the annular recess 20.

A tire vulcanizing mold is disclosed capable of accurately providing a clearance, from which air existing between a green tire and a side mold is released, on a side shaping surface and thereby preventing shaping defect. The tire vulcanizing mold includes an upper and lower pair of side molds having side shaping surfaces, each of which shapes a sidewall of a tire. Each of the side molds includes a side mold main body, plural pieces, and a clearance provided between the side mold main body and each of the pieces. The side mold main body includes plural recesses, each of which is closed in a tire circumferential direction and a tire radial direction and is opened to a side shaping surface, at spaced intervals in the tire circumferential direction. Each of the pieces is fitted into the recess and forms the side shaping surface with the side mold main body.

A tire vulcanization mold 10 of an embodiment includes a side mold 14 having a side molding surface 20 for molding a side wall portion. The side mold 14 includes: a side mold body 24 having a plurality of recesses 30 provided at intervals in a tire circumferential direction; a plurality of side pieces 26 fitted into the recesses 30 and forming an annular side molding surface 20 together with the side mold body 24; and a plurality of vent gaps 28 provided between side surfaces 26A on both sides in the tire circumferential direction of the side pieces 26 and wall surfaces 30A of the recesses 30. An inner end 26E in a tire radial direction of the side piece 26 is positioned inwardly in the tire radial direction from an inner end 20E in the tire radial direction of the side molding surface 20.

A tire vulcanization mold 10 of an embodiment includes a side mold 14 having a side molding surface 20 for molding a side wall portion. The side mold 14 includes: a side mold body 24 having recesses 30 provided in the side molding surface 20; a side piece 26 fitted into the recess 30 to form a vent gap 28 with a wall surface of the recess; and a replacement piece 44 for displaying information closely fitted into a mounting hole 42 provided in the side molding surface 20 without a gap therebetween. The replacement piece 44 is provided in the side piece 26 or in the side mold body 24 so as not to span the side piece 26 and the side mold body 24.

A tire vulcanizing mold includes an upper and lower pair of side molds having side shaping surfaces. Each of the side molds includes: a side mold main body including plural recesses, each being opened to corresponding one of the side shaping surfaces at spaced intervals; plural pieces, each of which is fitted into the recess; and clearances provided between the side mold main body and each of the pieces. Each of the recesses includes: an outer-side inner wall surface defining an outer side in a tire radial direction; an inner-side inner wall surface defining an inner side; a pair of radial inner wall surfaces that are located between the outer-side inner wall surface and the inner-side inner wall surface and define one side and the other side in the tire circumferential direction; and a curved surface that connects the outer-side inner wall surface and the radial inner wall surface.

A tire vulcanizing mold is disclosed capable of accurately providing a clearance, from which air existing between a green tire and a side mold is released, on a side shaping surface and thereby preventing shaping defect. The tire vulcanizing mold includes an upper and lower pair of side molds having side shaping surfaces. Each of the side molds includes a side mold main body, plural pieces, and a clearance provided between the side mold main body and each of the pieces. The side mold main body includes plural recesses, each of which is opened to the side shaping surface and an outer surface, at spaced intervals. Each of the pieces is fitted into the recess and forms the side shaping surface with the side mold main body. The clearance is opened to the side shaping surface and extends from an inner side to an outer side.

A self-locking mold (100) includes sectors (108) circumferentially distributed around a shell (102) to resist internal pressure and remain in the closed position without the aid of additional components during curing. The mold (100) includes shoulder spacers (120) that, in the closed position of the mold, are arranged between the shell (102) and the sectors (108). An elastic means (130) is employed so as to avoid friction between them.

A mechanism releases a plate from a recess in a tire mold part. The mechanism includes a bolt insertable into a hole in the tire mold part and extending from a first end at an outer surface of the tire mold part to a second end at a recess for a pocket plate in the tire mold part. The first end of the bolt has an axially extending projection allowing manipulation of the bolt about an axis within the hole. The projection is defined by two diametrically opposite curved surfaces interconnected by two diametrically opposite planar surfaces.

A segmented tire mold includes a device for controlling the expansion of the mold segments during the vulcanization of a tire. The expansion control device may be a cable or a ring that is wrapped around the outer circumference of the segmented tire mold and placed into tension in order to retain the mold segments in the proper position while the tire is vulcanized.