US 12,202,221 B2
Composite tread with targeted stiffness gradient and method of making
Hongbing Chen, Broadview Heights, OH (US); Christopher David Dyrlund, Canton, OH (US); Adam Mark Baldan, Akron, OH (US); and Elizabeth Amelia Rogenski, Atwater, OH (US)
Assigned to THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, Akron, OH (US)
Filed by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, OH (US)
Filed on Apr. 20, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/660,005.
Application 17/660,005 is a division of application No. 16/595,928, filed on Oct. 8, 2019, granted, now 11,541,691.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/781,807, filed on Dec. 19, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0242077 A1, Aug. 4, 2022
Int. Cl. B29D 30/60 (2006.01); B29D 30/16 (2006.01); B29D 30/62 (2006.01); B60C 11/00 (2006.01)
CPC B29D 30/60 (2013.01) [B29D 30/1621 (2013.01); B29D 30/62 (2013.01); B60C 11/0041 (2013.01); B60C 11/0066 (2013.01); B60C 2011/0091 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for forming a composite tread on a tire building drum, the method comprising the steps of:
forming a coextruded strip of a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer is formed from a first compound, and the second layer is formed from a second compound, wherein the first and second compounds are different, wherein the tread is formed from winding the coextruded strip onto the tire building drum while varying a ratio of the first compound to the second compound, wherein a first lateral edge of the tread to a first tread block is formed from 90-100% of the first compound and 0-10% of the second compound, and a second lateral edge of the tread to a second tread block is formed from 50% of the first compound and 50% of the second compound, and
forming at least one of a plurality of tread blocks while continuously varying the ratio of the first compound to the second compound.