Abstract: This invention is based upon the unexpected finding that the reaction product of polyisobutylene and a silane can be incorporated into tire sealant formulations to greatly reduce the level of hysteresis exhibited by such sealant formulations which decreases the rolling resistance of the tire to improve fuel economy. This is made possible by the further unexpected fining that silanes will react with polyisobutylene by a reaction which is initiated with a peroxide. This invention more specifically discloses a sealant composition which is particularly useful in manufacturing self-sealing tires and which is comprised of (a) the reaction product of polyisobutylene and a silane; and (b) a reinforcing filler. The sealant compositions also contain a peroxide to facilitate partial degradation of the polyisobutylene rubber during the curing of the tire.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rubber composition comprising 100 phr of one or more diene-based elastomers, 30 phr to 200 phr of a filler, and a benzoxazine which is the reaction of (i) a diphenol comprising two phenol groups and a bridge covalently connecting the two phenol groups, (ii) an aldehyde derivative, and (iii) an amine, wherein the bridge is connected to at least one of the phenol groups at a meta position of said at least one phenol group. The present invention is also directed to a rubber product comprising such a rubber composition and the use of such rubber products in tire components.

Abstract: In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a rubber composition comprising 70 phr to 90 phr of styrene butadiene rubber, wherein said styrene butadiene rubber comprises a first styrene butadiene rubber having a glass transition temperature within a range of ?49° C. to ?15° C. and a second styrene butadiene rubber having a glass transition temperature within a range of ?50° C. to ?89° C. Furthermore, the rubber composition comprises from 10 phr to 30 phr of one or more of natural rubber and synthetic polyisoprene rubber, 100 phr to 200 phr of silica, and at least 25 phr of at least one terpene resin having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of at most 1000 g/mol. Moreover, the invention is directed to a tire comprising such a rubber composition, in particular in the tread of the tire.

Abstract: A nonpneumatic tire has at least one spoke loop structure connected to a shear band, wherein the spoke loop structure has a plurality of loops extending inward from the shear band, and wherein each loop is connected to a wheel. A method for forming the nonpneumatic tire includes the step of forming a base and loop subassembly by providing a base having a plurality of grooves, inserting a layer of elastomer strip into each groove and forming a loop between each of the grooves; and inserting the base and loop subassembly which has a plurality of flexible loops extending inward from a shearband so that the base is positioned adjacent the shear band; curing the base and loop subassembly formed from a strip of elastomeric material into the shearband; providing a wheel, and then connecting each loop to the wheel.

Abstract: The subject invention reveals a tire tread having a circumferential tread cap with circumferential grooves, wherein the tread cap rubber compound has a Shore A hardness from 45 to 75. Moreover, the tread comprises at least one circumferential groove reinforcement reinforcing at least a bottom portion of at least one of the grooves and comprising a groove reinforcement rubber compound, wherein the groove reinforcement rubber compound has a Shore A hardness from 70 to 100. The tread also comprises a circumferential tread base layer arranged radially inwards of the tread cap and comprising a tread base layer compound, wherein the tread base layer compound has a Shore A hardness from 15 to 60, and wherein the Shore A hardness of the tread cap compound is higher than the Shore A hardness of the tread base layer compound.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a carcass and a belt reinforcing structure, the belt reinforcing structure comprising: a zigzag belt reinforcing structure formed of a strip of reinforcement cords, the strip of reinforcement cords being inclined at 5 to 30 degrees relative to the centerplane of the tire extending in alternation to turnaround points at each lateral edge, wherein the strip of cords is formed from two different cords made of different materials.

Abstract: A method for estimating a grip of a tire supporting a vehicle includes generating a first set of data from a tire-mounted sensor unit, generating a second set of data from the tire-mounted sensor unit and from data obtained from the vehicle, and generating a third set of data from data obtained from the vehicle and from the Internet. A grip estimation module is provided. The first, second and third sets of data are received in the grip estimation module. A friction probability distribution is calculated with the grip estimation module using the first, second and third sets of data, and the friction probability distribution is input into at least one vehicle system.