Abstract: A method for curing a tyre includes the steps of closing the tyre in a mould, heating at least one lower hot table, at least one upper hot table, and at least one annular hot table to transmit heat to the tyre. The at least one lower hot table, the at least one upper hot table, and the at least one annular hot table are associated with the mould. The at least one annular hot table is thermally-connected to a circumferential development of the mould. A quantity of heat provided to the at least one lower hot table is different from a quantity of heat provided to the at least one upper hot table. An associated apparatus includes a mould; at least one lower, upper, and annular tables; and devices for supplying one or more heating fluids to the at least one lower, upper, and annular tables.

Abstract: A tire for a vehicle wheel, includes a torus-shaped carcass, a tread located on a periphery of the carcass, and a pair of axially-facing side walls ending with beads reinforced with bead wires and respective bead-filling elements for mounting the tire on a corresponding rim. The tire includes rubberized fabrics reinforced with metal reinforcing cords. At least one of the metal reinforcing cords comprises at least two wires helicoidally double-twisted around a longitudinal axis of the metal cord. Further, at least one of the wires is permanently deformed by a substantially-sinusoidal deformation lying in a plane.

Abstract: A system for checking at least one status parameter of a tire for a motor vehicle includes at least one wheel, including a tire mounted on a rim, an inner tube inserted into a cavity defined between the tire and the rim, a first device for measuring the at least one status parameter associated with the at least one wheel, a second device for transmitting a signal indicating a value measured by the first device, a third device for receiving the signal, and a fourth device for sensing movement of the at least one wheel and for enabling energization of the second device when the at least one wheel is moving, wherein the first, second, and fourth devices are housed in a container inserted into a wall of the inner tube in a radially-inner position of the inner tube respect to the at least one wheel.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process for improving the processability, storage stability and/or cure rate of an uncured silica reinforced rubber composition where silica comprises the major filler in the reinforced rubber composition, which comprises combining a mixture comprising, rubber, silica and at least one organic compound having a low molecular weight and a functional group wherein said functional group is at least an epoxy group, such as an epoxy/ether, epoxy/hydroxyl, epoxy/ester, epoxy/amine, ether/amine, episulfide, episulfide/ether, episulfide/hydroxyl, episulfide/ester functional group located in a terminal or sterically unhindered position in the molecule of said organic compound where the molecular weight of said organic compound having a low molecular weight is less than 7,000, or the organic compound comprises an abietyl, styrenated resorcinol formaldehyde, or ester hydroxyl organic compound having a hydroxyl, ester, and optionally, an ether group, such as an ester diol.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire for vehicle wheels includes a radial carcass, a tread band, sidewalls and beads, and a belt structure. The tread band is provided with grooves on its surface for coming into contact with the ground and situated on a radial outer surface of the carcass. The sidewalls and beads anchor the tire on a wheel rim. The belt structure is disposed between the tread band and the carcass. Additionally, a fiber-reinforced elastomeric intermediate layer is placed between the belt structure and the tread band. Methods for manufacturing the pneumatic tire are also disclosed.

Abstract: A self-supporting tire for vehicle wheels includes a carcass structure having at least one carcass ply, a belt structure, a tread band, at least one pair of sidewalls, and at least one pair of resilient stiffening inserts incorporated into the carcass structure. The at least one carcass ply includes axially-inner strip lengths and axially-outer strip lengths, and may also include axially-intermediate strip lengths. Each of the strip lengths extend in a U-shaped configuration around a cross-section outline of the carcass structure to define two side portions spaced apart from each other in an axial direction and a crown portion extending at a radially-outer position between the side portions. The resilient stiffening inserts are axially interposed between the side portions of the axially-inner strip lengths and the side portions of the axially-outer strip lengths.

Abstract: A vulcanizable rubber composition is described comprising:

Abstract: The invention relates to the processing, in a closed mixer (1), of polymer-based mixtures and compounds for the manufacture of tyres or components thereof.

Abstract: A high performance tire includes a carcass provided with at least one carcass ply, a belt including two or more layers of reinforcing cords parallel to each other in a layer and crossed with respect to those of an adjacent layer, applied circumferentially on the carcass, a radially-external layer of circumferentially-oriented reinforcing cords applied on the belt, and a tread band comprising an underlayer and an external layer. The underlayer may have a hardness which is substantially constant over a temperature range between 23° C. and 100° C. The underlayer may also have an elastic modulus which is substantially constant over a temperature range between 70° C. and 100° C. Additionally, the underlayer may be made from an elastomer compound comprising reinforcing fibers and hardening resins. Further, the underlayer may have a hardness and an elastic modulus which remain substantially constant between 70° C. and 100° C. A method for making the tire is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a belt structure of a vehicle tire includes the steps of preparing a belt assembly, cutting the belt assembly to obtain first and second substantially-continuous belt strips, supplying the first and second belt strips to at least one assembly drum, and superposing on the at least one assembly drum portions of the first and second belt strips to obtain a belt structure comprising radially-superposed portions of the first and second belt strips.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tire for a vehicle wheel includes making a carcass structure, applying a belt structure to the carcass structure, applying a tread band to the belt structure, and applying at least one pair of sidewalls to the carcass structure. Making the carcass structure includes applying at least one first part of the at least one carcass ply on a toroidal support, applying at least one circumferentially-inextensible annular anchoring insert, and applying at least one stiffening element. The at least one annular anchoring insert includes a cross-sectional profile of flattened conformation, extending away from an equatorial plane of the tire. The at least one stiffening element includes at least one main portion with a cross-sectional profile tapering away from a rotation axis of the tire. The at least one main portion is located substantially at an axially-inner position relative to the at least one annular anchoring insert.

Abstract: A system for monitoring deformations of a tire fitted on a rim associated with a vehicle includes a reflecting element positioned on an inner surface of the tire and a moving station located in a predetermined position on the rim. The reflecting element reflects an optical beam and includes a region having at least one area of high light reflection and at least one area of low light reflection. The moving station sends the optical beam toward the inner surface, receives one or more reflections of the optical beam from the inner surface or the reflecting element, and emits a signal proportional to the deformations of the tire in a longitudinal direction, in a transverse direction, and in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a tire includes the steps of preparing strip sections, laying down a first series of the strip sections on a toroidal support, applying at least primary portions of annular reinforcing structures against end flaps of the strip sections of the first series at axially-opposite positions relative to an equatorial plane of the toroidal support, and laying down on the toroidal support at least one second series of the strip sections. Each strip section extends in a substantially U-shaped configuration around a cross-sectional outline of the toroidal support. First series strip sections are circumferentially distributed according to a pitch corresponding to a multiple of their width. Second series strip sections extend between consecutive first series strip sections and include end flaps overlapping respective primary portions of the annular reinforcing structures at an axially-opposite position relative to end flaps of the first series strip sections.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tire for a vehicle wheel includes forming a carcass sleeve, transferring the carcass sleeve onto a shaping drum, shaping the carcass sleeve to apply a belt structure and a tread band, and applying a pair of sidewalls against side surfaces of the carcass sleeve. Each of the sidewalls extends between an annular reinforcing structure and a side edge of the tread band. Before transferring the carcass sleeve onto the shaping drum, the sidewalls are positioned on an intermediate drum, the carcass sleeve is transferred onto the intermediate drum, and inner end flaps of each sidewall are engaged against the carcass sleeve at the annular reinforcing structures. A related apparatus for manufacturing tires for vehicle wheels includes a building drum, a shaping drum, one or more transfer devices for moving the carcass sleeve from the building drum to the shaping drum, an intermediate drum, and an auxiliary unit.

Abstract: A tire for vehicle wheels includes a tread band having a tread pattern defined between two shoulder ends of the tire. The tread pattern includes two lateral rows of grooves and at least one third row of grooves arranged between the lateral rows. All of the grooves are separate from one another so as to produce a pattern with no intercommunicating paths between the grooves. End portions of the grooves of the at least one third row extend outside a footprint of the tire. A dimension of each of the grooves of the at least one third row relative to a length of the tire footprint causes water drainage from underneath the tire footprint. A tire including the ability for acoustically signalling low air pressure, a method for checking tire air pressure using an acoustic signal, and an acoustic signalling device for vehicle wheels are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tire for vehicle wheels includes a carcass, a tread strip, and a belt structure. The carcass has a central crown portion and two axially opposite sidewalls terminating in a pair of beads. Each bead includes at least one circumferentially unextendable annular reinforcing core having a series of spirals of metal wire radially superimposed and axially arranged alongside each other. The carcass has a reinforcing structure including at least one ply of rubberized fabric reinforced with metal cords lying in radial planes containing an axis of rotation of the tire. The reinforcing structure includes ends secured to the annular reinforcing cores and a neutral profile, lying in a radial cross-sectional plane, axially extending from bead to bead. The neutral profile intersects a cross section of a zone enclosing the annular reinforcing cores and has a continuous curvature devoid of inflection points along an extension between the beads.

Abstract: A carcass structure for a two-wheeled vehicle tire includes at least one carcass ply and a pair of annular reinforcing structures. The at least one carcass ply includes a first series and at least one second series of strip sections circumferentially distributed in a mutually-alternated sequence around a geometric rotation axis of the tire. Each strip section includes longitudinal and parallel thread elements at least partly coated with at least one layer of elastomer material and extends in a substantially U-shaped configuration to define two side portions and a crown portion. The annular reinforcing structures are applied against end flaps of the first series of strip sections and are overlapped by end flaps of the at least one second series of strip sections. Each of the annular reinforcing structures includes an annular anchoring insert, including one or more elongated elements extending in radially-concentric coils, and at least one filling body.

Abstract: A method for monitoring and/or controlling the behavior of a vehicle including at least one wheel includes determining one or more values of deformation of a tire of the at least one wheel by measuring the one or more values using a first signal emitted between a rim of the at least one wheel and a casing of the tire, providing a database comprising predetermined values of deformation of the tire that correspond to a behavior of the at least one wheel, comparing the measured one or more values of deformation with one or more of the predetermined values of deformation, and emitting a second signal dependent on at least one result of the comparison for monitoring and/or controlling the behavior of the vehicle. The one or more values of deformation are determined in vertical, transverse, and longitudinal directions or along the axes of a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system.