A pneumatic tire including a tread portion, side wall portions, and bead portions, wherein the tread portion includes a plurality of circumferential grooves having a groove width of not less than 3.0 mm and which extend in a tire circumferential direction while meandering, and a plurality of lateral grooves having a groove width of not less than 3.0 mm and which communicate between a pair of circumferential grooves adjacent in a tire width direction. The circumferential grooves and the lateral grooves partition two rows of polygonal blocks formed by arranging a plurality of polygonal blocks, having a polygonal shape with not less than five corners, in a staggered manner along the tire circumferential direction. A polygonal rib extending in the tire circumferential direction is disposed between the two rows of polygonal blocks. The polygonal rib is adjacent to the two rows of polygonal blocks.

Particular embodiments of the invention include a tire tread having a plurality of tread elements including one or more shoulder elements arranged along a first lateral side edge of the tread. The one or more shoulder elements include a recessed terminal side spaced apart from the first lateral side edge, where the recessed terminal side is offset in a direction of the tread width towards the second lateral side edge from a pair of adjacent terminal sides of the one or more shoulder elements. A sipe is arranged in connection with a submerged void within the tread thickness, where the sipe and submerged void extend in a direction of the tread width towards a second lateral side edge from the recessed terminal side such that the sipe and submerged void are recessed from the pair of adjacent terminal sides.

A wind-diverting apparatus for minimally shielding only the faster-moving drag-sensitive uppermost wheel surfaces from headwinds reduces overall vehicle drag. The apparatus includes various upper wheel fairings of FIGS. 1-6. Each fairing shields a primary vehicle-drag-inducing upper wheel surface from headwinds otherwise impinging directly thereon.

Provided is a tire capable of efficiently discharging water, which is additionally absorbed through a plurality of flow tubes, through the flow tubes and a drain tube, thereby improving wet grip performance. The tire with enhanced wet grip includes a kerf formed on a block to discharge water introduced thereinto to a groove, a drain tube formed in the kerf in its longitudinal direction and connected to the groove to discharge the water to the groove, and a flow tube formed in the kerf toward the drain tube from an inlet of the kerf, into which the water is introduced, and connected to the groove or the drain tube.

A streamlined tailfin pivotably attached to a shaft-shaped member disposed on a vehicle provides for reduced drag in winds varying in direction impinging thereon.

An aerodynamically optimized drag-reduction means and method for optimal minimization of the drag-induced resistive forces upon a terrestrial vehicle wheel, where the drag-induced resistive moments on wheel surfaces pivoting about the point of ground contact are reduced, and the vehicle propulsive forces needed to countervail the resistive forces on the wheel are reduced. The drag reduction means includes: a streamlined wheel cover positioned on a vehicle to shield the faster moving upper wheel surfaces from headwinds; a streamlined wind-deflecting fairing positioned on a vehicle to shield the faster moving upper wheel surfaces from headwinds; an engine exhaust pipe disposed on a vehicle whereby exhaust gases deflect headwinds to shield the faster moving upper wheel surfaces of an automotive wheel; an automotive spoked wheel having streamlined oval-shaped wheel spokes arranged in one or more rows for greater axial strength; a streamlined tailfin rotatably attached to a wheel spoke, which thereby may pivot about the spoke in response to varying crosswinds; and a tire having streamlined tread blocks arranged in an aerodynamic pattern.

Pneumatic tires include a tire body having a pair of tire sidewalls, a tread wall extending between the tire sidewalls and a tread portion on the tread wall. The tread portion may include alternating first and second tread patterns around the circumference of the tread wall. Each of the first and second tread patterns may have a main land protruding from the tread wall on a first side of a tread equator dividing the tread portion into equal first and second halves. A main land sidewall portion may extend from the main land and protruding from a first one of the pair of tire sidewalls. A stepped land may protrude from the tread wall on a second side of the tread equator. A stepped land sidewall portion may extend from the stepped land and protruding from a second one of the pair of tire sidewalls.

The present invention relates to new vulcanisable elastomeric compositions for components of tyres, comprising modified silicate fibres as fillers. The silicate fibres are modified according to the process with controlled pH of the invention. In addition, the invention regards components of tyres, comprising elastomeric materials obtainable by vulcanisation of said compositions, and tyres for vehicles comprising one or more of said components. The vulcanised elastomeric materials according to the invention are characterised by good static and dynamic mechanical properties, in particular by particularly low hysteresis. Advantageously the tyres of the invention comprising one or more of said components have a limited rolling resistance.

An aerodynamically optimized drag-reduction appartus and method for optimal minimization of the drag-induced resistive forces upon a terrestrial vehicle, where the drag-induced resistive moments on wheel surfaces pivoting about the stationary point of ground contact are reduced, and the vehicle propulsive forces needed to countervail the resistive forces on the wheel are reduced. The drag reduction apparatus includes: a streamlined fairing or wind deflector positioned on a vehicle to shield the faster moving upper wheel surfaces from headwinds; an engine exhaust pipe disposed on a vehicle whereby exhaust gases deflect headwinds to shield the faster moving upper wheel surfaces of an automotive wheel; an automotive spoked wheel having streamlined oval-shaped wheel spokes; a wheel assembly with a streamlined tailfin rotatably attached to a wheel spoke; a wheel with a tapered spoke having a thin aerodynamic profile near the rim and tapering to a round profile toward the central hub; and a tire having streamlined tread blocks arranged in an aerodynamic pattern.

A longitudinally tapered wheel spoke having a thin aerodynamic cross-sectional profile proximate to the wheel rim and tapering to a round profile toward the central hub, with the tapered section optimized to minimize drag against a combined headwind and crosswind impinging upon the primary vehicle-drag-inducing uppermost region of the wheel assembly.