Tire having tread with colored groove configuration

(19)

(11)

EP 1 331 107 A8

(12)	CORRECTED EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(48)	Corrigendum issued on:
	05.11.2003 Bulletin 2003/45

(43)	Date of publication:
	30.07.2003 Bulletin 2003/31

(21)	Application number: 02100069.0

(22)	Date of filing: 28.01.2002

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁷: B60C 1/00, B60C 11/00, B60C 11/24, B60C 11/18

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR
	Designated Extension States:
	AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30)

Priority:

01.02.2001 US 775381

(71)	Applicant: THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY
	Akron, Ohio 44316-0001 (US)

(72)	Inventors:
	Zanzig, David John Uniontown, OH 44685 (US) Balogh, George Frank North Canton, OH 44720 (US) Sandstrom, Paul Harry Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223 (US)

(74)	Representative: Kutsch, Bernd
	Goodyear S.A. Patent Department 7750 Colmar-Berg 7750 Colmar-Berg (LU)

(54)	Tire having tread with colored groove configuration

(57) The present invention relates to a tire (1) having a rubber tread (2) of a lug and groove configuration and of a co-extruded cap/base construction; wherein the tread cap (6) is of a rubber composition which contains carbon black and is thereby of a black color; wherein a visible surface (14) of at least one groove (15) is of a rubber composition exclusive of carbon black and is of a non- black color and wherein said visible non-black colored rubber composition is a rubber layer (7) which underlies said tread cap. Said visible non-black colored rubber is exclusive of any appreciable portion of, and preferably exclusive of, the surface (16) of said tread lugs (12) intended to be ground-contacting. In one aspect of the invention, said non-black colored rubber composition contains an amorphous precipitated silica reinforcement, preferably a pre-hydrophobated precipitated silica. In another aspect of the invention, said non-black colored rubber composition, and alternately, carbon black containing black colored rubber compositions adjoining said non-black colored rubber composition, is comprised a blend of at least one diene based elastomer and a brominated copolymer of isobutylene and p-methylstyrene together with an organo phosphite.