Sipe geometry for improved buffing of tread band

Abstract

A mold for a tread layer having tread-forming side and sole-forming side, the sole-forming side having a plurality of mold elements extending there from toward the tread-forming side. Either the mold elements or the sole-forming side of the mold is configured to create a tread layer having a recessed tread element such as an incision, lateral groove, longitudinal groove or other void on the sole side of the tread layer that enables the edges of the recessed tread element to obtain full coverage when subjected to an abrasion process.

1 . A tread layer for a retreaded tire, the tread layer comprising:
 a tread layer body having a thickness defined by an outer surface and an inner surface of the tread layer body, the outer surface arranged on a tread side of the tread layer and the inner surface arranged along a sole side of the tread layer and forming an outer bonding surface of the tread layer body for bonding the tread layer body to a tire carcass, the tread side having a width that is narrower than a width of the sole side;   a recessed tread element comprising a void formed into the sole side of the tread layer;   a protrusion extending outwardly from the inner surface of the tread layer body and away from the tread side, wherein the protrusion is arranged along the sole side to abut the recessed tread element.   
     
     
         2 . The tread layer of  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the tread layer is a texturized inner surface, the protrusion extending outwardly from the texturized inner surface. 
     
     
         3 . The tread layer of  claim 2 , wherein the first protrusion extends outwardly from the inner surface by a distance forming a height, the height of first protrusion being at least 0.2 mm to about 5 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The tread layer of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion has a rounded cross-sectional form. 
     
     
         5 . The tread layer of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is a first protrusion and wherein a second protrusion is arranged on the sold side of the tread layer body and in abutment with the recessed tread element, the second protrusion extending outwardly from the inner surface of the tread layer body and away from the tread side, the first protrusion and the second protrusion being arranged on opposing sides of the recessed tread element. 
     
     
         6 . The tread layer of  claim 5 , wherein each of the first and second protrusions extend outwardly from the inner surface by a distance forming a height, the height of first protrusion being different than the height of the second protrusion. 
     
     
         7 . The tread layer of  claim 5 , wherein the first protrusion extends outwardly from the inner surface by a distance forming a height, the height of first protrusion being at least 0.2 mm to about 5 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The tread layer of  claim 5 , wherein each of the first and second protrusions has a rounded cross-sectional form. 
     
     
         9 . The tread layer of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions are formed having a height greater than 0.5 mm above the sole side of the tread body. 
     
     
         10 . The tread layer of  claim 1 , wherein the recessed tread element is a sipe or incision. 
     
     
         11 . The tread layer of  claim 1  further comprising: a tire carcass, wherein the sole side of the tread layer is bonded to the tire carcass. 
     
     
         12 . The tread layer of  claim 1 , wherein the recessed tread element is a sipe or an incision. 
     
     
         13 . A method of providing a tread layer for retreading a tire comprising the steps of:
 providing a tread layer for a tire, the tread layer including:
 a tread layer body having a thickness defined by an outer surface and an inner surface of the tread layer body, the outer surface arranged on a tread side of the tread layer and the inner surface arranged along a sole side of the tread layer and forming an outer bonding surface of the tread layer body for bonding the tread layer body to a tire carcass, the tread side having a width that is narrower than a width of the sole side; 
 a recessed tread element comprising a void formed into the sole side of the tread layer; and, 
 a protrusion extending outwardly from the inner surface of the tread layer body and away from the tread side, wherein the protrusion is arranged along the sole side to abut the recessed tread element. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the inner surface of the tread layer is a texturized inner surface, the protrusion extending outwardly from the texturized inner surface. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the protrusion has a rounded cross-sectional form. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the protrusion is a first protrusion and wherein a second protrusion is arranged on the sold side of the tread layer body and in abutment with the recessed tread element, the second protrusion extending outwardly from the inner surface of the tread layer body and away from the tread side, the first protrusion and the second protrusion being arranged on opposing sides of the recessed tread element. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each of the first and second protrusions extend outwardly from the inner surface by a distance forming a height, the height of first protrusion being different than the height of the second protrusion. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each of the first and second protrusions has a rounded cross-sectional form. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of:
 bonding the tread layer to a tire carcass to form a retreaded tire. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , where the tread layer provided in the step of providing a tread layer is formed by a molding process.