PNEUMATIC VEHICLE TIRES

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a pneumatic vehicle tire with a tread with shoulder-side profile block rows with shoulder-side profile blocks and with oblique grooves extending to the profile depth with shoulder-side groove sections separating the shoulder-side profile blocks from one another and extending at an angle of 0° to 15° to the axial direction in plan view, wherein the shoulder-side profile blocks are each provided with a number of first cuts extending at an angle of 0° to 15° to the axial direction in plan view and parallel to one another, in particular also parallel to the shoulder-side groove sections, and having a constant width of 0.4 mm to 1.2 mm, wherein shoulder-side profile blocks are provided which are each provided with a single further cut formed between two first cuts and extending parallel to these in plan view,wherein the first cuts and the further cut each have cut walls and a maximum depth which corresponds at least to the profile depth reduced by 2.5 mm.,

[0002] Such a pneumatic vehicle tire is known, for example, from DE 10 2015 224 291 A1. The pneumatic vehicle tire has a directional tread with diagonal grooves running in a V-shape relative to one another across the tread width, wherein the diagonal grooves are each composed of a groove section on the inside of the tread running at an angle of at least 30° to the axial direction and a shoulder-side groove section running at an angle of 5° to 25° to the axial direction. The shoulder-side groove sections run between the shoulder-side tread blocks belonging to the shoulder-side tread block rows. Each shoulder-side tread block is provided with a number of first cuts running parallel to the shoulder-side groove sections in plan view, with a width of 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm, and a further cut running parallel to these.The further cut ends on the inside of the tread within the shoulder tread block, extends beyond the ground contact area and is wider than the first cuts. The tread is made up of pitches with three different circumferential lengths, with two first cuts running in the shoulder tread blocks belonging to a pitch with the smallest circumferential length, two first cuts each with a further cut running or running between these in the shoulder tread blocks belonging to a pitch with the middle circumferential length, and three first cuts each with a further cut running or running between two of these cuts. The greater the circumferential length of the corresponding pitch, the greater the width of the further cut.The measures taken are beneficial for dry handling and snow grip properties, while also maintaining good water drainage properties.

[0003] US 2020 / 0180362 A1 discloses a pneumatic vehicle tire with a tread with shoulder-side tread block rows and two central tread block rows, each of which has tread blocks separated from each other by transverse grooves. The tread blocks are each provided with incisions extending axially in plan view, which are locally widened by intersecting channels. Channels originating from the outer surface of the block and emerging from the lateral block flanks adjacent to the circumferential grooves are provided. The tire is said to have good drainage properties.

[0004] In pneumatic vehicle tires of the type mentioned above, the oblique grooves running almost circumferentially in the central tread area have proven advantageous for water drainage of the tread. As a result of this design, the shoulder-side tread blocks in the tread have relatively large circumferential lengths, which – due to their high block stiffness – are favorable for dry handling characteristics. At the same time, the drainage performance of these shoulder-side tread blocks requires improvement.

[0005] The invention is therefore based on the object of improving the drainage performance in the area of ​​the shoulder-side tread blocks in a pneumatic vehicle tire of the type mentioned at the outset while maintaining the highest possible block stiffness.

[0006] The stated object is achieved according to the invention in that the further cut traverses the shoulder-side profile block within the ground contact area and is provided with at least one cut pocket starting from the tread periphery and extending in the radial direction at least to its maximum depth, which is formed by a depression located on one cut wall and a depression located on the other cut wall and wherein the further cut outside the cut pocket(s) has a constant width of 0.4 mm to 1.2 mm.

[0007] Because the additional cuts, equipped with cut pockets, traverse the shoulder tread blocks, they expand more when passing through the ground contact patch than cuts that do not extend from the shoulder tread blocks on the inside of the tread. This allows the provided cut pockets to effectively absorb water—melt or rainwater—when driving on wet roads, significantly improving the drainage capacity of the shoulder tread blocks. The high block stiffness of the shoulder tread blocks, which is advantageous for dry handling, is maintained because the cuts outside the cut pockets are designed accordingly narrow.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment, the further cut is one of the two middle cuts when there is an even number of cuts, and the middle cut when there is an odd number of cuts. These designs are advantageous for optimal block rigidity. In particular, the advantageous bending behavior of the block edge areas, which are critical in this respect and directly adjacent to the shoulder-side groove sections of the oblique grooves, is maintained.

[0009] A particularly advantageous and balanced compromise between high block stiffness and drainage performance is achieved when the incision pocket(s), viewed in plan view, occupies or occupies 40% to 70%, in particular 45% to 60%, of the length of the further incision projected in the axial direction, determined within the ground contact area.

[0010] According to a further preferred embodiment, the incision pocket(s), viewed in plan view, has / have a plane of symmetry aligned in the longitudinal extent of the further incision and extending in the radial direction. The incision pocket(s), viewed in cross-section perpendicular to the plane of symmetry, has / have a width of 1.5 mm to 4.0 mm, in particular of up to 3.5 mm, at the tread periphery. This configuration further improves the water absorption properties of the incision pockets.

[0011] In the following, particularly advantageous and combinable designs with advantageous effects on the water absorption capacity of the incision pocket(s) are described.

[0012] According to a first preferred embodiment, the width of the incision pocket(s) is 200% to 600%, in particular up to 500%, of the width of the further incision.

[0013] According to a second preferred embodiment, the incision pocket(s) is / are delimited in the radial direction by one or more pocket bases which, viewed in the plane of symmetry, extend at a constant depth determined in the radial direction and are located at the level of the maximum depth, at the level of the profile depth or between these levels.

[0014] The second preferred embodiment is further characterized in particular in that the pocket base - determined in the plane of symmetry - has a distance of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm determined in the radial direction from the level of the maximum depth and / or a distance of 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm, in particular of 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm, particularly preferably of 1.5 mm, from the level of the profile depth.

[0015] According to a third preferred embodiment, it is provided that the further cut is provided with exactly two cut pockets which, viewed in plan view and relative to the plane of symmetry, have a first distance from each other projected in the axial direction, wherein the cut pocket further on the outside of the tread has a second distance projected in the axial direction from the lateral edge of the ground contact area and the cut pocket further on the inside of the tread has a third distance projected in the axial direction up to the end of the cut on the inside of the tread, and wherein the first distance, the second distance and the third distance are each at least 3.0 mm.

[0016] A fourth preferred embodiment is characterized in that the incision pocket(s) in plan view have(s) the shape of a rectangle elongated in the direction of extension of the plane of symmetry and that the depressions, when viewed onto the respective incision wall, are designed in the shape of a trapezoid or a rectangle.

[0017] According to a further preferred embodiment, the further incision, viewed in plan view, is composed of a main incision section reaching the maximum depth and two incision edge sections which are shallower than this, wherein the main incision section has a length projected in the axial direction of 60% to 90% of the length of the further incision projected in the axial direction as determined within the ground contact area.

[0018] Furthermore, according to a further preferred embodiment, it is provided that the tread is designed to be directional and has oblique grooves which run in a V-shape relative to one another and open into one another over the tread width, wherein in each tread half, between oblique grooves which are adjacent in the circumferential direction, grooves which, in plan view, are inclined in the opposite direction to the oblique grooves and which also delimit the shoulder-side profile blocks run.

[0019] In the latter embodiment, it is advantageous if the grooves are straight in plan view and have an incoming groove end which first enters the ground when the tire rolls forward and a outgoing groove end, wherein the groove center line of a groove which extends beyond the outgoing groove end forms opposite apex angles of 80° to 120°, in particular 90° to 110°, with the groove center line of the corresponding oblique groove in the axial direction.

[0020] The grooves mentioned extend to the circumferential direction in particular at an angle of 15° to 55°, preferably of 25° to 45°.

[0021] In the above-mentioned design with a directional tread, the shoulder-side profile blocks each have an incoming block edge and a outgoing block edge, whereby it is advantageous for the block stiffness if shoulder-side profile blocks are provided with an even number of cuts, in which the further cut is the middle cut which is closer to the outgoing block edge.

[0022] According to a further preferred embodiment, the shoulder-side tread blocks are each provided with five to nine, in particular six to eight, incisions. This is particularly beneficial for the drainage performance of shoulder-side tread blocks, which have relatively large circumferential lengths due to the oblique grooves.

[0023] Further features, advantages and details of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawing, which schematically shows an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 1 a plan view of a partial development of a tread of a pneumatic vehicle tire with an embodiment variant of the invention, Fig. 2 an enlarged top view of the detail Z 2 of the Fig. 1 , Fig. 3 a further enlarged plan view of the detail Z 3 of the Fig. 2 , Fig. 4 a section along line IV-IV of the Fig. 2 , Fig. 5 a section along the line VV of the Fig. 2 and Fig. 6 a section along the line VI-VI of the Fig. 2 .

[0024] Pneumatic vehicle tires designed according to the invention are tires for multi-track motor vehicles and preferably tires of radial design for passenger cars, vans or light trucks (light trucks with a GVW ≤ 7.5 t).

[0025] Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a partial development of a tread belonging to a pneumatic vehicle tire with a directional tread pattern. The pneumatic vehicle tire must be mounted on the vehicle in such a way that it has the rolling direction indicated by arrow R when driving forward. The lateral edges of the ground contact patch (corresponding to the statically determined footprint at a load of 70% of the maximum load capacity at an internal pressure of 85%, determined according to ETRTO standards) are indicated by lines l, with the ground contact patch having a width B in the axial direction. Furthermore, the tire equatorial plane is marked by line AA.

[0026] The tread is noise-optimized using a pitch-length variation process and consists of consecutive pitches (similarly designed profile sections) in the circumferential direction. In the illustrated embodiment, pitches S, M, and L are provided with three different circumferential lengths. Pitch L has the largest circumferential length, pitch M has a medium circumferential length, and pitch S has the smallest circumferential length. Pitches S, M, and L are arranged around the tread circumference within a so-called pitch sequence, which is usually calculated.

[0027] The tread has two shoulder-side profile block rows 1 with shoulder-side profile blocks 2 and a central tread area Z with middle profile blocks 3, wherein the shoulder-side profile blocks 2 and the middle profile blocks 3 are separated from each other by oblique grooves 4 and slots 5.

[0028] The oblique grooves 4 run in a V-shape across the tread width, merge into one another in the area of ​​the tire equatorial plane (line AA), extend beyond the lateral edges (lines l) of the ground contact patch, form the main grooves of the tread and are radially tapered to the respective intended tread depth TP ( Fig. 4 ) of typically 6.0 mm to 13.0 mm, in particular of up to 10.0 mm, wherein the oblique grooves 4, each extending beyond the same lateral edge (line l) of the ground contact surface, viewed in plan view, run parallel to one another. The oblique grooves 4 extending beyond one lateral edge (line l) of the ground contact surface are offset in a barely perceptible manner in the circumferential direction from the oblique grooves 4 extending beyond the other lateral edge (line l) of the ground contact surface.

[0029] Each oblique groove 4 has a groove center line m SR and, viewed in plan view, is composed of a slightly curved, tread-side groove section 4a and a straight, shoulder-side groove section 4b that is more inclined to the circumferential direction. The tread-side groove section 4a has - relative to the groove center line m SR - a length l a1 projected in the axial direction of 25% to 35% of the width B of the ground contact area and - also relative to the groove center line m SR - runs at an angle α of 30° to 55° to the axial direction, wherein the angle α is relative to a tangent t 1 ( Fig. 2 ). The shoulder-side groove section 4b extends - relative to the groove center line m SR - to the axial direction at an angle β of 0° to 15°, in particular of up to 10°.

[0030] In each tread half, three of the aforementioned grooves 5 are formed between circumferentially adjacent oblique grooves 4. According to Fig. 2 the grooves 5 - based on their groove center lines m N following the groove course - run straight in plan view, parallel to each other in each tread half ( Fig. 1 ) and to the circumferential direction at an angle γ of 15° to 55°, in particular of 25° to 45°, and are inclined in the circumferential direction in the opposite direction to the oblique grooves 4. Each groove 5 has a maximum depth of 75% to 100%, in particular of 80% to 90%, of the profile depth TP ( Fig. 4 ), on the tread periphery a width b N of 2.0 mm to 6.0 mm, in particular of 3.0 mm to 5.0 mm, determined perpendicular to the groove center line m N , as well as an incoming groove end 5a and a outgoing groove end 5b which first enters the ground when the tire rolls forwards (arrow R). In the grooves 5 formed furthest outside the tread in each tread half, the incoming groove ends 5a lie at the mutual connection area of ​​the groove section 4a on the inside of the tread to the shoulder-side groove section 4b of the corresponding oblique groove 4, and the outgoing groove ends 5b lie at the groove section 4a on the inside of the tread of the corresponding oblique groove 4.

[0031] How Fig. 3 shows, the groove center line m N extended beyond the tapered groove end 5b has an intersection point S 1 with the groove center line m SR, wherein the groove center line m N forms with the groove center line m SR opposite apex angles δ in the axial direction and opposite apex angles δ' in the circumferential direction. The apex angles δ, δ' are each determined between the extended groove center line m N and a tangent t S which is attached to the Fig. 3 a barely perceptibly curved groove center line m SR is applied and runs through the intersection point S 1. Due to the strong magnification, the tangent t S is very close to the groove center line m SR , so that they appear to coincide. The mentioned angle α ( Fig. 2 ) and the angle γ ( Fig. 2 ) are matched to one another in such a way that the opposite apex angles δ in the axial direction are 80° to 120°, in particular 90° to 110°.

[0032] How Fig. 1 As shown in Figure 1, the central profile blocks 3 - corresponding to the described profiling - have a substantially parallelogram-shaped configuration in plan view, being arranged circumferentially on the "tips" of the parallelograms. Furthermore, the central profile blocks 3 are preferably provided with incisions, which Fig. 1 are not shown and can be implemented in a known manner.

[0033] The further design of the shoulder-side profile blocks 2 is explained below using a single shoulder-side profile block 2.

[0034] According to Fig. 2 the shoulder-side tread block 2 - in accordance with the described profiling - is elongated in the axial direction and comprises, on the inside of the tread, a triangular block region 2a which is bordered by the adjacent groove 5 and is indicated by a dashed line forming the base of the underlying triangle. The shoulder-side tread block 2 has an outer block surface 2b located in the tread periphery, which is bordered by block edges 6, 7, 8. The block edges 6, 7 are formed on the adjacent oblique grooves 4 and extend as far as the groove 5, whereby when the tire rolls during forward travel (arrow R), the block edge 6 enters the ground before the block edge 7, so that the block edge 6 is referred to below as the incoming block edge 6 and the block edge 7 as the outgoing block edge 7. The incoming block edge 6 runs over the corresponding groove section 4b on the outside of the tread.The tapered block edge 7 has a kink and is composed of an edge section 7b extending over a corresponding groove section 4b on the outside of the tread and an edge section 7a formed on the triangular block region 2a. The block edge 8 is formed along the groove 5.

[0035] The shoulder-side profile block 2 is provided with a number of cuts 9 distributed substantially uniformly over its circumferential length and a single cut 10, wherein the cuts 9, 10, viewed in plan view, run straight, parallel to one another and to the axial direction at an angle ε of 0° to 15°, in particular of up to 10°, extend beyond the lateral edge (line l) of the ground contact area and open into the groove 5 or via the edge section 7a into the groove section 4a on the inside of the tread. Preferably, the angle ε of the incisions 9, 10 deviates from the angle β of the groove section 4b on the outside of the tread by at most 2°, wherein in the embodiment shown, the angle ε corresponds to the angle β, so that the incisions 9, 10, viewed in plan view, run parallel to the groove sections 4b on the outside of the tread of the oblique grooves 4. According to Fig. 1 each shoulder-side profile block 2 located in a pitch S has five cuts 9, each shoulder-side profile block 2 located in a pitch M has six cuts 9 and each shoulder-side profile block 2 located in a pitch L has seven cuts 9.

[0036] How Fig. 2 further shows, the incisions 9 have a constant width b E1 of 0.4 mm to 1.2 mm, in particular of up to 0.8 mm, and in the radial direction a maximum depth which corresponds at least to the profile depth TP reduced by 2.5 mm ( Fig. 4 ) and at most 100% of the profile depth TP , preferably at most the profile depth TP reduced by 1.0 mm.

[0037] The incision 10 is formed between two incisions 9, whereby with an odd number of incisions 9, 10 in the respective shoulder-side profile block 2 (see Fig. 1 , Pitch M) the middle cut and with an even number of cuts 9, 10 in the respective shoulder-side profile block 2 (see in particular Fig. 2 for Pitch S and Fig. 1 for pitch L) is one of the two middle cuts. With an even number of cuts 9, 10, cut 10 is preferably the one of the two middle cuts that is closer to the outgoing block edge 7 ( Fig. 2 ).

[0038] The incision 10 has a plane of symmetry E 1 oriented in the radial direction and running at the mentioned angle ε in plan view, a length l E determined within the ground contact area and related to the plane of symmetry E 1 and projected in the axial direction, two opposing incision walls 11 running in the radial direction and a incision base 12 ( Fig. 4 ). The incision 10, viewed in plan view, consists of a main incision section 10a located within the ground contact area (cf. Fig. 4 ) and two incision edge sections 10b. The incision main section 10a has, viewed in plan view, a length l a2 projected in the axial direction relative to the plane of symmetry E 1 of 60% to 90%, in particular of 65% to 85%, of the length l E of the incision 10 and is provided with two incision pockets 13 which locally deepen and locally widen the incision main section 10a. The incision 10 has a constant width b E2 in the area outside the incision pockets 13 (cf. Fig. 5 ) of 0.4 mm to 1.2 mm, in particular up to 0.8 mm. According to Fig. 4 the main incision section 10a has a maximum depth t E in the radial direction in the area outside the incision pockets 13, which is at least the profile depth TP reduced by 2.5 mm and at most the profile depth TP reduced by 0.5 mm, preferably at most the profile depth TP reduced by 1.0 mm, wherein the incision base 12 in the main incision section 10a runs parallel to the block outer surface 2b.

[0039] How Fig. 2 and Fig. 6 in combination, the cut pockets 13 - corresponding to the symmetrical design of the cut 10 - are also symmetrical with respect to the mentioned symmetry plane E 1 , each have a radially oriented, in

[0040] Top view perpendicular to the symmetry plane E 1, symmetry plane E 2 ( Fig. 2 , Fig. 4 ) and originate from the outer surface of the block 2b (cf. Fig. 4 ) and are in plan view ( Fig. 2 ) each in the form of an elongated rectangle with rounded corners in the direction of extension of the symmetry plane E 1 and, viewed in cross-section perpendicular to the symmetry plane E 1, U-shaped ( Fig. 6 ). Each incision pocket 13 is formed by a recess 14 (cf. Fig. 4 ) and a recess 14 opposite this, formed on the other incision wall 11, wherein the incision pocket 13, and therefore also the recesses 14, end or end radially within the incision base 12 (=level of the maximum depth t E ) and radially outside the level of the profile depth TP ( Fig. 4 ). According to Fig. 4 Each recess 14, when viewed on the respective incision wall 11, is trapezoidal in the embodiment shown, alternatively rectangular, and has a bottom 14a (cf. Fig. 6 ) and flank surfaces 14b located on the different sides of the plane of symmetry E 2, extending between the base 14a and the recess wall 11, forming the trapezoidal legs in the exemplary embodiment. The base 14a extends, viewed in cross-section perpendicular to the plane of symmetry E 1, in the radial direction ( Fig. 6 ) or at an angle of at most 2° to the latter. The flank surfaces 14b extend, when viewed onto the respective incision wall 11, at an angle θ of 0° to 6° to the radial direction, wherein, at an angle θ deviating from 0°, the trapezoidal shape of the recess 14 is such that it widens continuously in the direction of the block outer surface 2b, determined between its flank surfaces 14b.

[0041] According to Fig. 6 is each incision pocket 13, viewed in cross-section perpendicular to the symmetry plane E 1 (cf. position of section line VI-VI in Fig. 2 ), through the bottoms 14a of the opposite recesses 14 ( Fig. 2 , Fig. 4 ), which form the U-legs of the mentioned U-shape of the cut pocket 13, and a circular arc-shaped pocket base 13a extending between the bases 14a. As Fig. 4 shows, the pocket base 13a runs within the symmetry plane E 1 (cf. position of the section line IV-IV in Fig. 2 ) at a constant depth determined in the radial direction. The pocket base 13a can be located - viewed in section along the plane of symmetry E 1 - at the level of the depth t E , at the level of the profile depth TP or, as in the exemplary embodiment, between these levels. If the pocket base 13a is located between these levels, it is preferred if it has a distance a 1 from the level of the depth t E determined in the radial direction of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm and / or a distance a 2 from the level of the profile depth TP determined in the radial direction of 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm, in particular from 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm, particularly preferably from 1.5 mm.

[0042] The incision pocket 13 has between the bottoms 14a of its recesses 14 a perpendicular to the plane of symmetry E 1 (see Fig. 2 ) and width b T measured at the tread periphery ( Fig. 3 ) of 1.5 mm to 4.0 mm, in particular of up to 3.5 mm. Preferably, the width b E2 ( Fig. 2, Fig. 3 ) of the incision 10 is matched to the width b T of the incision pocket 13 in such a way that the width b T is 200% to 600%, in particular up to 500%, of the width b E2. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the width b T of the incision pocket 13 is furthermore greater the greater the length of the associated pitch S, M, L, wherein the width b T of the incision pocket 13 in the pitch S is in particular 1.8 mm to 2.2 mm, in the pitch M in particular 2.3 mm to 2.7 mm and in the pitch L in particular 2.8 mm to 3.2 mm.

[0043] The two incision pockets 13, viewed in plan view, together take up 40% to 70%, in particular 45% to 60%, of the mentioned length l E projected in the axial direction ( Fig. 2 ) of the incision 10. According to Fig. 2 the incision pockets 13, viewed in plan view and relative to the plane of symmetry E 1 , have a first distance a 3 from one another, projected in the axial direction. Furthermore, the incision pocket 13 further outside the tread has a second distance a 3 determined in an analogous manner from the lateral edge of the ground contact patch (line 1). The incision pocket 13 further inside the tread has a third distance a 3 determined in an analogous manner from the end of the incision 10 on the inside of the tread. The distances a 3 can be the same or different from one another, with each distance a 3 being at least 3.0 mm.

[0044] The invention is not limited to the described embodiment.

[0045] The incisions 9, 10 can also be curved overall in plan view, with the angle ε for such incisions 9, 10 being related to a straight line connecting the ends of the incision center line in plan view. Furthermore, the incisions 9, 10 can be wave-shaped in sections, in particular in the form of a zigzag wave, a sawtooth wave, or a "rounded" wave, for example a sine wave. The incisions 10 have at least one incision pocket 13 and can in particular have up to three incision pockets 13, whereby the shape of the incision pocket(s) 13 can deviate from the described shape.

[0046] The oblique grooves can be straight or continuously curved in plan view, whereby in the case of straight oblique grooves the apex angles δ, δ' and the angle α are each related to the center line m SR.

[0047] The grooves running between the oblique grooves, in particular those grooves which are adjacent to the shoulder-side profile blocks, can run at an angle of 0° to 55° to the circumferential direction.

[0048] The tread can also be designed to be non-directional (not directional), with oblique grooves running in each tread half in particular and with the oblique grooves running in one tread half being inclined in the same direction with respect to the circumferential direction to the oblique grooves running in the other tread half, so that the tread has an S-shaped curved profile. Bezugsziffernliste

[0049] 1 Shoulder-side tread block row 2 Shoulder-side tread block 2a Block area 2b Block outer surface 3 Middle tread block 4 Bevel groove 4a Tread inside groove section 4b Shoulder-side groove section 5 Groove 5a Incoming groove end 5b Outgoing groove end 6 Incoming block edge 7 Outgoing block edge 7a, 7b Edge section 8 Block edge 9 Cut 10 Cut 10a Main cut section 10b Cut edge section 11 Cut wall 12 Cut base 13 Cut pocket 13a Pocket base 14 Recess 14a Bottom 14b Side surfaces a 1 , a 2 , a 3 Distance A-A Line (tire equatorial plane) B, b E1 , b E2 , b N , b T Width E 1 , E 2 Plane of symmetry l Line (lateral edge of the ground contact area) l a1 , l a2 , l E Length LPitch m N Groove center line m SR Groove center line MPitch RPill (rolling direction) SPitch S 1 Intersection point t 1 Tangent t E Maximum depth t S Tangent t V1 Depth TP Profile depth Z Central tread area Z 2 , Z 3 Detail α, β, γ, ε, θ Angle δ, δ' Apex angle

Claims

1. Pneumatic vehicle tyre comprising a tread with shoulder-side rows of profile blocks (1) having shoulder-side profile blocks (2) and with oblique grooves (4) which are formed to a profile depth (TP) and have shoulder-side groove portions (4b) that separate the shoulder-side profile blocks (2) from one another and in plan view run at an angle (β) of 0° to 15° with respect to the axial direction, wherein the shoulder-side profile blocks (2) are each provided with a number of first sipes (9) which in plan view run at an angle (ε) of 0° to 15° with respect to the axial direction and parallel to one another, in particular also parallel to the shoulder-side groove portions (4b), and have a constant width (bE1) of 0.4 mm to 1.2 mm, wherein shoulder-side profile blocks (2) are provided, each of which is provided with a single further sipe (10) that is formed between two first sipes (9) and in plan view runs parallel to them, wherein the first sipes (9) and the further sipe (10) each have sipe walls (11) and a maximum depth (tE) which corresponds at least to the profile depth (TP) reduced by 2.5 mm, characterized in that the further sipe (10) passes through the shoulder-side profile block (2) within the ground contact area and is provided with at least one sipe pocket (13) which extends from the tread periphery and reaches at least its maximum depth (tE) in the radial direction and is formed by a depression (14) located on one sipe wall (11) and a depression (14) located on the other sipe wall (11) and wherein the further sipe (10) has outside the sipe pocket(s) (13) a constant width (bE2) of 0.4 mm to 1.2 mm.

2. Pneumatic vehicle tyre according to Claim 1, characterized in that the further sipe (10) in an even number of sipes (9, 10) is one of the two middle sipes (10) and in an uneven number of sipes (9, 10) is the middle sipe (10).

3. Pneumatic vehicle tyre according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sipe pocket(s) (13), considered in plan view, takes up or take up 40% to 70%, in particular 45% to 60%, of the length (IE) of the further sipe (10), projected in the axial direction, determined within the ground contact area.

4. Pneumatic vehicle tyre according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sipe pocket(s) (13), when considered in plan view, has or have a plane of symmetry (E1) aligned in the longitudinal extent of the further sipe (10) and running in the radial direction, wherein the sipe pocket(s) (13), when considered in cross section perpendicular to the plane of symmetry (E1), has or have at the tread periphery a width (bT) of 1.5 mm to 4.0 mm, in particular of up to 3.5 mm.

5. Pneumatic vehicle tyre according to Claim 4, characterized in that the width (bT) of the sipe pocket(s) (13) is 200% to 600%, in particular up to 500%, of the width (bE2) of the further sipe (10).

6. Pneumatic vehicle tyre according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the sipe pocket(s) (13) is or are delimited in the radial direction by a or a respective pocket base (13a) which, when considered in the plane of symmetry (E1), runs at a constant depth, determined in the radial direction, and is at the level of the maximum depth (tE), at the level of the profile depth (TP) or between these levels.

7. Pneumatic vehicle tyre according to Claim 6, characterized in that the pocket base (13a) - determined in the plane of symmetry (E1) - is at a distance (a1), determined in the radial direction, from the level of the maximum depth (tE) of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm and / or at a distance (a2), determined in the radial direction, from the level of the profile depth (TP) of 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm, in particular of 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm, particularly preferably of 1.5 mm.

8. Pneumatic vehicle tyre according to one of Claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the further sipe (10) is provided with precisely two sipe pockets (13), which, when considered in plan view and with respect to the plane of symmetry (E1), are at a first distance (a3), projected in the axial direction, from one another, wherein the sipe pocket (13) further towards the outer side of the tread is at a second distance (a3), projected in the axial direction, from the lateral periphery of the ground contact area (line l) and the sipe pocket (13) further towards the inner side of the tread is at a third distance (a3), projected in the axial direction, from the end of the sipe (10) on the inner side of the tread and wherein the first distance (a3), the second distance (a3) and the third distance (a3) are each at least 3.0 mm.

9. Pneumatic vehicle tyre according to one of Claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the sipe pocket(s) (13) has or have in plan view the form of a rectangle elongated in the direction of extent of the plane of symmetry (E1) and in that the depressions (14), when considered looking at the respective sipe wall (11), are configured in the form of a trapezium or a rectangle.

10. Pneumatic vehicle tyre according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the further sipe (10), when considered in plan view, is made up of a main sipe portion (10a), reaching to the maximum depth (tE), and two peripheral sipe portions (10b), made shallower than the main sipe portion, wherein the main sipe portion (10a) has a length (la2), projected in the axial direction, of 60% to 90% of the length (lE), projected in the axial direction, of the further sipe (10), determined within the ground contact area.

11. Pneumatic vehicle tyre according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the tread is of a directional design and has oblique grooves (4), which run over the tread width in a V-shaped manner in relation to one another and merge into one another, wherein in each half of the tread there run between circumferentially adjacent oblique grooves (4) channels (5) which in plan view are inclined in the opposite direction in relation to the oblique grooves (4) and are also involved in delimiting the shoulder-side profile blocks (2).

12. Pneumatic vehicle tyre according to Claim 11, characterized in that the channels (5) in plan view run straight and have a leading channel end (5a), arriving first at ground level when the tyre is rolling during forward travel (arrow R), and a trailing channel end (5b), wherein the channel centreline (mN), extended beyond the trailing channel end (5b), of a channel (5) includes with the groove centreline (mSR) of the corresponding oblique groove (4) vertex angles (δ), opposite one another in the axial direction, of 80° to 120°, in particular 90° to 110°.

13. Pneumatic vehicle tyre according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the channels (5) run in relation to the circumferential direction at an angle (γ) of 15° to 55°, in particular of 25° to 45°.

14. Pneumatic vehicle tyre according to one of Claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the shoulder-side profile blocks (2) each have a leading block edge (6) and a trailing block edge (7), wherein shoulder-side profile blocks (2) with an even number of sipes (9, 10) are provided, among which the further sipe (10) is that middle sipe (9, 10) which is closer to the trailing block edge (7).

15. Pneumatic vehicle tyre according to one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the shoulder-side profile blocks (2) are each provided with five to nine, in particular six to eight, sipes (9, 10).