TIRE WITH CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ZONED TREAD INCLUDING STRATIFIED LATERAL ZONES AND PERIPHERAL SIDEWALL EXTENSION ZONES

A tire is disclosed having a circumferential rubber tread having a cap/base configuration comprising a radially outer tread cap rubber layer (3) with a lug and groove configuration with the radially outer portions of the tread lugs providing the running surface of the tread (2), and a tread base rubber layer (4) underlying the tread cap rubber layer (3). The tread cap rubber layer (3) is composed of or comprises at least three circumferential load bearing zones (5A, 6, 5B) comprising an intermediate tread zone rubber layer (6) positioned between and extending beneath two lateral tread zone rubber layers (5A, 5B) and underlying the lateral tread zone rubber layers (5A, 5B) and overlying the tread base rubber layer (4) to therefore stratify the lateral tread zone rubber layers (5A, 5B) as being separated from each other and from the tread base rubber layer (3). Outer tread lug surfaces of the intermediate tread zone rubber layer (6) and the lateral tread zone rubber layers (5A, 5B) comprise the running surface of the tread. A peripheral rubber layer (9) of the tread (2) is provided which comprises a radial extension of a tire sidewall rubber layer containing at least 40 phr of carbon black, wherein said radial extension extends radially outward from the tire sidewall and extends to and includes a portion of the running surface of the tread (2).