Numata, Kazuki; Ochiai, Kiyoshi;

Snow tire

A snow tire which has tread blocks provided with slits extending between the side edges of the block, and the slit comprises: the first part extending axially of the tire from one side edge toward the other side edge of the block; the second part extending axially of the tire from the said other side edge toward said one side edge of the block; and the third part extending obliquely with respect to the tire axial direction to connect the first part with the second part, wherein the depth of the slit is varied in the tire axial direction to form a shallow portion and a deep portion, the axial length of the first part is more than 0.25 times and less than 0.48 times the total axial length of the slit, the axial length of the second part is more than 0.25 times and less than 0.48 times the total axial length of the slit, the ratio between the axial length of the first part to the axial length of the second part is more than 0.8 and less than 1.2, the axial length of the third part is more than 0.04 times and less than 0.5 times the total axial length of the slit, the circumferential length of the third part is more than 0.04 times and less than 0.5 times the total axial length of the slit, the ratio of the depth of the deep portion of the slit to the depth of a circumferential groove which extends circumferentially of the tire to define said blocks is not less than 0.6 and not more than 0.8, the ratio the depth of the shallow portion of the slit to said depth of the circumferential groove is not less than 0.3 and not more than 0.55, and the ratio of the axial length of the shallow portion of the slit to the total axial length of the slit is not less than 0.25 and not more than 0.4, whereby uneven wear of the blocks is lessened without deteriorating the on-the-snow performance.

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We claim:

1. A tire having a tread comprising at least a first plurality of blocks and a second plurality of blocks, each block of the first plurality of blocks and of the second plurality of blocks having a side wall formed in a stepped configuration so as to provide a projection portion on the side edge thereof,

each block of the first plurality of blocks having at least one slit having a width of more than 0.2 and less than 0.8 mm,

the slit extending between the side edges of the block, and comprising a first part, a second part and a third part,

the first part extending axially of the tire from one side edge toward the other side edge of the block,

the second part extending axially of the tires from the said other side edge toward said one side edge of the block,

the third part extending obliquely with respect to the tire axial direction to connect the first part with the second part,

the depth of the slit varied in the tire axial direction to form a shallow portion and a deep portion,

the axial length of the first part being more than 0.25 times and less than 0.48 times the total axial length of the slit,

the axial length of the second part being more than 0.25 times and less than 0.48 times the total axial length of the slit,

the ratio between the axial length of the first part to the axial length of the second part being more than 0.8 and less than 1.2,

the axial length of the third part being more than 0.04 times and less than 0.5 times the total axial length of the slit,

the circumferential length of the third part being more than 0.04 times and less than 0.5 times the total axial length of the slit,

the ratio of the depth of the deep portion of the slit to the depth of a circumferential groove which extends circumferentially of the tire to define the blocks of the first plurality of blocks, being not less than 0.6 and not more than 0.8,

the ratio of the depth of the shallow portion of the slit to said depth of the circumferential groove being not less than 0.3 and not more than 0.55,

the ratio of the axial length of the shallow portion of the slit to the total axial length of the slit being not less that 0.25 and not more than 0.4, and

each block of the first plurality of blocks having an axially extending straight wide groove which is shallower than the circumferential groove to subdivide each block into a major part and a minor part.

2. The tire according to claim 1, wherein said tread comprises at least two circumferential rows of blocks of the first plurality of blocks and at least two circumferential rows of blocks of the second plurality of blocks, at least one row of blocks of the first plurality of blocks being located in the tread center region, and the number of the blocks contained in each of the rows is more than 25 and less than 60.

3. The tire according to claim 1, wherein the ends of each slit of each block of the first plurality of blocks are located at corners of the stepped walls to open thereat.

4. The tire according to claim 1, wherein at least one block of the second plurality of blocks is provided with two zigzag slits disposed one on each side of an axial straight line therebetween symmetrically with respect to this axial straight line.

5. The tire according to claim 1, wherein at least one block of the second plurality of blocks are provided with two zigzag slits and an axially extending straight slit disposed therebetween, and said two zigzag slits are symmetric with respect to the straight slit.

6. The tire according to claim 1, wherein each block of the second plurality of blocks has at least one slit having a width of more than 0.2 mm and less than 0.8 mm,

the depth of the slit varied in the tire axial direction to form a shallow portion and a deep portion,

the ratio of the depth of the deep portion of the slit to the depth of a circumferential groove which extends circumferentially of the tire to define the blocks of the second plurality of blocks, being more than 0.6 and less than 0.8,

the ratio of the depth of the shallow portion of the slit to said depth of the circumferential groove being more than 0.3 and less than 0.55, and

the ratio of the axial length of the shallow portion of the slit to the total axial length of the slit being more than 0.25 and less than 0.4.