Abstract: The present invention relates to new and novel tire construction and method of making same wherein the uncured elastomeric material that is laid upon the tire building drum during building of the tire preform will not experience substantially meridional stretch which would otherwise cause a decrease in the uniformity of ply thickness during expansion of the preform in the vulcanizing mold.

Abstract: A system for monitoring at least one tire condition value in each of a plurality of pneumatic tires of a moving vehicle, wherein each of the tires has associated therewith a passive electronic tire tag for sensing the at least one tire condition value and is responsive to an interrogation signal transmitted thereto to transmit a data modulated signal representative of the at least one tire condition value. The monitoring system includes portable ramp apparatus for supporting the moving vehicle, portable vehicle sensing apparatus for sensing the presence of the moving vehicle and tire pressure sensing apparatus embedded in the ramp apparatus for detecting the presence thereon of a vehicle tire on the ramp apparatus. In addition, the monitoring system includes transmitter antenna structure and receiver antenna structure respectively embedded in the ramp apparatus.

Abstract: An extensional rheometer comprises a drive shaft connected to an armature, wherein the armature is further connected to a torque shaft, and two rotatable drums are mounted in the armature. One end of a sample is connected to each drum, and the drums are rotated, stretching the sample until the sample breaks. The torque in the apparatus caused by the stretching of the sample is measured. Environmental control may be provided for testing samples under different conditions.