Tire with bi-directional performance

Abstract

A tire includes first and second sides defining first and second rotation directions. The first rotation direction is in a counterclockwise direction when the tire is viewed from the first side, and the second rotation direction is in a clockwise direction when the tire is viewed from the first side. The tire further includes a carcass ply extending from a first bead portion to a second bead portion, and a circumferential tread disposed above a belt. At least one of the circumferential tread and the carcass ply causes the tire to exhibit a first tire performance when the tire is rotated in the first rotation direction, and a second tire performance that is different from the first tire performance when the tire is rotated in the second rotation direction. The tire performance is selected from the group consisting of braking, dry driving traction, wear performance, and snow traction performance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A tire having an equatorial plane, the tire comprising:
 a first side and a second side defining a first rotation direction and a second rotation direction of the tire,
 wherein the first rotation direction of the tire is a rotation of the tire in a counterclockwise direction when the tire is viewed from the first side, and 
 wherein the second rotation direction of the tire is a rotation of the tire in a clockwise direction when the tire is viewed from the first side; 
   a carcass ply extending from a first bead portion to a second bead portion; and   a circumferential tread disposed above a belt,
 wherein at least one of the circumferential tread and the carcass ply causes the tire to exhibit a first tire performance when the tire is rotated in the first rotation direction, and a second tire performance that is different from the first tire performance when the tire is rotated in the second rotation direction, wherein the tire performance is selected from the group consisting of braking, dry driving traction, noise, wear performance, and snow traction performance. 
   
     
     
         17 . The tire of  claim 16 , wherein the circumferential tread includes a plurality of tread elements, and wherein at least one of the plurality of tread elements includes a rounded chamfer disposed between a wall and a top surface of the tread element. 
     
     
         18 . The tire of  claim 16 , wherein the circumferential tread includes a plurality of tread elements, and wherein at least one of the plurality of tread elements includes at least one angled sipe. 
     
     
         19 . The tire of  claim 16 , wherein the circumferential tread includes a plurality of tread elements, and wherein at least one of the plurality of tread elements includes at least one ratchet-shaped sipe. 
     
     
         20 . The tire of  claim 16 , further comprising first indicia disposed on the first side and second indicia disposed on the second side, wherein the first indicia includes an indicator designating the first rotation direction as a front tire rotation direction and the second rotation direction as a rear tire rotation direction, and wherein the second indicia includes an indicator designating the first rotation direction as a front tire rotation direction and the second rotation direction as a rear tire rotation direction. 
     
     
         21 . The tire of  claim 16 , further comprising first indicia disposed on the first side and second indicia disposed on the second side, wherein the first indicia includes an indicator designating the first rotation direction as a summer rotation direction and the second rotation direction as a winter rotation direction, and wherein the second indicia includes an indicator designating the first rotation direction as a summer rotation direction and the second rotation direction as a winter rotation direction. 
     
     
         22 . The tire of  claim 16 , wherein the circumferential tread includes a plurality of tread elements with each tread element having a top surface, and wherein at least one of the plurality of tread elements includes a plurality of sipes having a greater sipe density on a first half of the top surface. 
     
     
         23 . A tire having an equatorial plane, the tire comprising:
 a first bead portion and a second bead portion;   a first side and a second side defining a first mounting position and a second mounting position of the tire,
 where in the first mounting position, the first side faces away from a longitudinal axis of a vehicle, and 
 where in the second mounting position, the second side faces away from a longitudinal axis of the vehicle; 
   at least one carcass ply extending from the first bead portion to the second bead portion;   a circumferential belt disposed above the at least one carcass ply;   a circumferential tread having a plurality of tread elements disposed above the circumferential belt, wherein at least one of the at least one carcass ply and the plurality of tread elements causes the tire to exhibit a first on-vehicle lateral performance when in the first mounting position on a front axle of the vehicle and the second mounting position on a rear axle of the vehicle, and a second on-vehicle lateral performance when in the first mounting position on the rear axle of the vehicle and the second mounting position on the front axle of the vehicle.   
     
     
         24 . The tire of  claim 23 , further comprising a first indicia disposed on the first side, the first indicia indicating that the first side is to be outwardly facing on a front axle of a vehicle. 
     
     
         25 . The tire of  claim 24 , further comprising a second indicia disposed on the second side, the second indicia indicating that the second side is to be outwardly facing on a rear axle of a vehicle. 
     
     
         26 . The tire of  claim 23 , wherein at least one of the plurality of tread elements includes a rounded chamfer disposed between a wall and a top surface of the tread element. 
     
     
         27 . The tire of  claim 23 , wherein at least one of the plurality of tread elements includes at least one angled sipe. 
     
     
         28 . The tire of  claim 23 , wherein at least one of the plurality of tread elements includes at least one ratchet-shaped sipe. 
     
     
         29 . The tire of  claim 23 , wherein each of the plurality of tread elements has a top surface, and wherein at least one of the plurality of tread elements includes a plurality of sipes having a greater sipe density on a first half of the top surface. 
     
     
         30 . A method of mounting a plurality of tires on a vehicle having a front axle and a rear axle, the method comprising:
 providing four tires, including a first tire, a second tire, a third tire, and a fourth tire,   wherein each of the four tires has a first bead portion and a second bead portion, a first side, a second side, at least one carcass ply extending from the first bead portion to the second bead portion, a circumferential belt disposed above the at least one carcass ply, and a circumferential tread disposed above the circumferential belt,
 wherein the first side of each of the four tires is substantially the same, 
 wherein the second side of each of the four tires is substantially the same, 
 wherein the circumferential tread of each of the four tires is substantially the same; 
   mounting the first tire on a first wheel;   mounting the second tire on a second wheel;   mounting the third tire on a third wheel;   mounting the fourth tire on a fourth wheel;   mounting the first wheel on a left end of a front axle of a vehicle, such that the first side of the first tire faces away from a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and such that the first tire exhibits a first performance;   mounting the second wheel on a right end of the front axle of the vehicle, such that the second side of the second tire faces away from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and such that the second tire exhibits the first performance;   mounting the third wheel on a left end of a rear axle of the vehicle, such that the second side of the third tire faces away from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and such that the third tire exhibits a second performance that is lower than the first performance; and   mounting the fourth wheel on a right end of the rear axle of the vehicle, such that the first side of the fourth tire faces away from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and such that the fourth tire exhibits the second performance.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein each of the four tires includes a first indicia disposed on the first side and a second indicia disposed on the second side, the first indicia including an indicator designating a counterclockwise direction as a front tire rotation direction and a clockwise direction as a rear tire rotation direction, and the second indicia including an indicator designating a clockwise direction as a front tire rotation direction and a counterclockwise direction as a rear tire rotation direction. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the circumferential tread of each of the four tires has a tread pattern with discrete rotational asymmetry of the second order. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 removing the first wheel and first tire from the front axle of the vehicle;   removing the second wheel and second tire from the front axle of the vehicle;   removing the third wheel and third tire from the rear axle of the vehicle;   removing the fourth wheel and fourth tire from the rear axle of the vehicle;   mounting the first wheel and first tire on the right end of the rear axle of the vehicle, such that the first side of the first tire faces away from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle;   mounting the second wheel on the left end of the rear axle of the vehicle, such that the second side of the second tire faces away from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle;   mounting the third wheel on the right end of the front axle of the vehicle, such that the second side of the third tire faces away from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; and   mounting the fourth wheel and fourth tire on the left end of the front axle of the vehicle, such that the first side of the fourth tire faces away from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.   
     
     
         34 . A method of mounting a plurality of tires on a vehicle having a front axle and a rear axle, the method comprising:
 providing four tires, including a first tire, a second tire, a third tire, and a fourth tire,   wherein each of the four tires has a first bead portion and a second bead portion, a first side, a second side, a carcass ply extending from the first bead portion to the second bead portion, a belt disposed above the carcass ply, and a circumferential tread disposed above the belt, wherein at least one of the circumferential tread and the carcass ply causes the tire to be reflectively asymmetric about an equatorial plane,
 wherein the first side of each of the four tires is substantially the same, 
 wherein the second side of each of the four tires is substantially the same, 
 wherein the circumferential tread of each of the four tires is substantially the same; 
   mounting the first tire on a first wheel;   mounting the second tire on a second wheel;   mounting the third tire on a third wheel;   mounting the fourth tire on a fourth wheel;   mounting the first wheel on a left end of a front axle of a vehicle, such that the first side of the first tire faces away from a longitudinal axis of the vehicle;   mounting the second wheel on a right end of the front axle of the vehicle, such that the first side of the second tire faces away from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle;   mounting the third wheel on a left end of a rear axle of the vehicle, such that the second side of the third tire faces away from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; and   mounting the fourth wheel on a right end of the rear axle of the vehicle, such that the second side of the fourth tire faces away from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein each of the four tires includes a first indicia disposed on the first side and a second indicia disposed on the second side, the first indicia including an indicator designating the first side, and the second indicia including an indicator designating the second side. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 removing the first wheel and first tire from the front axle of the vehicle;   removing the second wheel and second tire from the front axle of the vehicle;   removing the third wheel and third tire from the rear axle of the vehicle;   removing the fourth wheel and fourth tire from the rear axle of the vehicle;   mounting the first wheel and first tire on the right end of the front axle of the vehicle, such that the first side of the first tire faces away from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; and   mounting the second wheel on the left end of the front axle of the vehicle, such that the first side of the second tire faces away from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle;   mounting the third wheel on the right end of the rear axle of the vehicle, such that the second side of the third tire faces away from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; and   mounting the fourth wheel and fourth tire on the left end of the rear axle of the vehicle, such that the first side of the fourth tire faces away from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.   
     
     
         37 . A method of mounting a plurality of tires on a vehicle having a front axle and a rear axle, the method comprising:
 providing four tires, including a first tire, a second tire, a third tire, and a fourth tire,   wherein each of the four tires has a first bead portion and a second bead portion, a first side, a second side, at least one carcass ply extending from the first bead portion to the second bead portion, a circumferential belt disposed above the at least one carcass ply, and a circumferential tread disposed above the circumferential belt,   where each of the four tires has a circumferential tire design with one of a tread pattern and a carcass ply with discrete rotational asymmetry of the second order,
 wherein the first side of each of the four tires is substantially the same, 
 wherein the second side of each of the four tires is substantially the same, and 
 wherein the circumferential tread of each of the four tires is substantially the same; 
   mounting the first tire on a first wheel;   mounting the second tire on a second wheel;   mounting the third tire on a third wheel;   mounting the fourth tire on a fourth wheel;   mounting the first wheel on a left end of a front axle of a vehicle, such that the first side of the first tire faces away from a longitudinal axis of the vehicle;   mounting the second wheel on a right end of the front axle of the vehicle, such that the second side of the second tire faces away from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle;   mounting the third wheel on a left end of a rear axle of the vehicle, such that the first side of the third tire faces away from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; and   mounting the fourth wheel on a right end of the rear axle of the vehicle, such that the second side of the fourth tire faces away from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle,   thereby providing a first rotational direction on all tires that has a first performance on all tires.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising:
 removing the first wheel and first tire from the front axle of the vehicle;   removing the second wheel and second tire from the front axle of the vehicle;   removing the third wheel and third tire from the rear axle of the vehicle;   removing the fourth wheel and fourth tire from the rear axle of the vehicle;   mounting the first wheel and first tire on the right end of the rear axle of the vehicle, such that the first side of the first tire faces away from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle;   mounting the second wheel on the left end of the rear axle of the vehicle, such that the second side of the second tire faces away from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle;   mounting the third wheel on the right end of the front axle of the vehicle, such that the second side of the third tire faces away from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; and   mounting the fourth wheel and fourth tire on the left end of the front axle of the vehicle, such that the second side of the fourth tire faces away from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle,   thereby providing a second rotational direction on all tires that gives a second performance on all tires.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein each of the four tires includes at least one indicia disposed on each side including an indicator designating a counterclockwise direction as a first tire rotation direction and a clockwise direction as a second tire rotation direction. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein each of the four tires includes at least one indicia disposed on each side including an indicator designating a counterclockwise direction as a summer tire rotation direction and a clockwise direction as a winter tire rotation direction.