Tread pattern with circumferentially extending central block arrays and method for designing such tread pattern

摘要

A tread (20) has an equatorial centerplane and a plurality of tread elements (40, 42, 44) oriented into a first shoulder row (22), a second shoulder row (24) and a central array (30). The central array (30) forms a repeating pattern of tread elements (40) wherein each array (30) has at least five tread elements (40) distinct in size, shape or orientation relative to adjacent tread elements (40) within the array. The array (30) extends circumferentially adjacent the first or second shoulder row (22, 24) and has a centerline L inclined less than 45° relative to the equatorial centerplane. Each array (30) forms a large distinctive mosaic pattern repeating around the tread circumference, the array (30) having at least two rows of tread elements (40) oriented with at least one tread element (40) being on each side of the centerline (L) at the equatorial centerplane (CP) of the tread (20).