Abstract: The present invention is directed to a tire having a tread comprising two shoulder portions and a center portion axially between the two shoulder portions, wherein at least one of the shoulder portions comprises a first rubber composition and the center portion comprises a second rubber composition different from said first rubber composition. The first rubber composition has a shear storage modulus which is at least 10% lower than the shear storage modulus of the second rubber composition, and the second rubber composition has a glass transition temperature which is at least 5% higher than the glass transition temperature of the first rubber composition.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to methods for characterizing a multi-layered tire tread. In one example, a method comprises providing a first rubber composition having a first refractive index and providing a second rubber composition having a second refractive index. The method further comprises determining a difference between the first refractive index and the second refractive index and comparing the difference to a threshold refractive index. In addition, the method comprises adding a refractive index modifier to the first rubber composition and/or second rubber composition in case the comparison provides that the difference is lower than the threshold refractive index, so that the difference is greater than, or equal to, the threshold refractive index.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to a tire tread production line and a method for manufacturing a tire tread. The production line comprises a coextruder, a THz sensor and a controller operatively connected to the coextruder and to the THz sensor. The THz sensor is configured to irradiate the multi-layer tire tread extrudate with THz electromagnetic radiation, and receive a response of the multi-layer tire tread extrudate to the THz electromagnetic radiation. The controller is configured to operate the coextruder based on the response of the multi-layer tire tread extrudate to the THz electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a tire comprising a belt portion and a tread portion radially outward of the belt portion, wherein the tread portion comprises a radially outer tread layer for contacting the road when driving and a radially inner tread layer arranged between the radially outer tread layer and the belt portion, wherein the radially outer tread layer comprises a first rubber composition having a first shear storage modulus G?1 and the radially inner tread layer comprises a second rubber composition having a second shear storage modulus G?2, wherein the second shear storage modulus G?2 is between 3 MPa and 9 MPa higher than the first shear storage modulus G?1, and wherein the first shear storage modulus G?1 ranges from 1 MPa to 3 MPa and the second shear storage modulus G?2 ranges from 4 MPa to 12 MPa.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to methods for characterizing a multi-layered tire tread. In one example, a method comprises providing a first rubber composition having a first refractive index and providing a second rubber composition having a second refractive index. The method further comprises determining a difference between the first refractive index and the second refractive index and comparing the difference to a threshold refractive index. In addition, the method comprises adding a refractive index modifier to the first rubber composition and/or second rubber composition in case the comparison provides that the difference is lower than the threshold refractive index, so that the difference is greater than, or equal to, the threshold refractive index.

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: In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a rubber composition comprising, based on 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), 70 phr to 95 phr of diene based elastomer, wherein said diene based elastomer comprises 25 phr to 60 phr of a first diene based elastomer having a glass transition temperature within a range of ?49° C. to ?15° C., and 10 phr to 45 phr of a second diene based elastomer having a glass transition temperature within a range of ?50° C. to ?110° C., 5 phr to 30 phr of one or more of natural rubber and synthetic polyisoprene rubber, 40 phr to 70 phr of silica, and 10 phr to 40 phr of at least one terpene resin having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of at least 900 g/mol. In another aspect, the present invention is directed to tire comprising a tire tread with aforementioned rubber composition.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and an apparatus for measuring a thickness of each layer of a tire tread or a tire component, wherein the tire tread or tire component has conductive and non-conductive layers. One or more sensors are used, which emit radiation beams or pulses that travel through one or more of the layers. The radiation beams or pulses are reflected from the surfaces and interfaces of the layers and received by a receiving device of the one or more sensors. The reflected radiation beams or pulses are used to determine a thickness of each tread layer.

Abstract: In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a rubber composition comprising, based on 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), 70 phr to 95 phr of diene based elastomer, wherein said diene based elastomer comprises 25 phr to 60 phr of a first diene based elastomer having a glass transition temperature within a range of ?49° C. to ?15° C., and 10 phr to 45 phr of a second diene based elastomer having a glass transition temperature within a range of ?50° C. to ?110° C., 5 phr to 30 phr of one or more of natural rubber and synthetic polyisoprene rubber, 40 phr to 70 phr of silica, and 10 phr to 40 phr of at least one terpene resin having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of at least 900 g/mol. In another aspect, the present invention is directed to tire comprising a tire tread with aforementioned rubber composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tire tread comprising a tread cap comprising at least one tread cap rubber compound, at least three circumferential grooves, wherein at least portions of the sidewalls and the bottom of each of said grooves are formed by a circumferential groove reinforcement, and wherein a first groove reinforcement of a groove laterally next to the equatorial plane of the tire comprises a first reinforcement rubber compound which has a higher hardness than the tread cap rubber compound, and wherein a second groove reinforcement of a groove with a larger lateral distance to the equatorial plane of the tire than the first groove, comprises a second reinforcement rubber compound which has a higher hardness than the tread cap rubber compound and a lower hardness than the second reinforcement rubber compound.

Abstract: In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a tire comprising a belt portion and a tread portion radially outward of the belt portion, wherein the tread portion comprises a radially outer tread layer for contacting the road when driving and a radially inner tread layer arranged between the radially outer tread layer and the belt portion, wherein the radially outer tread layer comprises a first rubber composition having a first shear storage modulus G?1 and the radially inner tread layer comprises a second rubber composition having a second shear storage modulus G?2, wherein the second shear storage modulus G?2 is between 3 MPa and 9 MPa higher than the first shear storage modulus G?1, and wherein the first shear storage modulus G?1 ranges from 1 MPa to 3 MPa and the second shear storage modulus G?2 ranges from 4 MPa to 12 MPa.

Abstract: In a first aspect of the present invention, a tire tread is provided, the tread comprising a tread cap comprising a first rubber compound for contacting the road when driving, at least one circumferential groove reinforcement forming at least one of the grooves in the tread cap, the groove reinforcement comprising a second rubber compound for reinforcing an area adjacent the grooves formed by the groove reinforcement, wherein the groove reinforcement comprises for at least one of the grooves formed by the groove reinforcement two groove sidewall layers, each sidewall layer extending from the outer radial surface of the unworn tread down into the direction of the bottom of the groove formed by the groove reinforcement and wherein each sidewall layer has an essentially uniform thickness along its length, and wherein the groove reinforcement comprises a groove support portion forming a bottom portion of the groove and having a radially inner base side as well as a radially outer top side, wherein the groove supp

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: The present invention relates to a tire tread comprising a tread cap comprising at least one tread cap rubber compound, at least three circumferential grooves, wherein at least portions of the sidewalls and the bottom of each of said grooves are formed by a circumferential groove reinforcement, and wherein a first groove reinforcement of a groove laterally next to the equatorial plane of the tire comprises a first reinforcement rubber compound which has a higher hardness than the tread cap rubber compound, and wherein a second groove reinforcement of a groove with a larger lateral distance to the equatorial plane of the tire than the first groove, comprises a second reinforcement rubber compound which has a higher hardness than the tread cap rubber compound and a lower hardness than the second reinforcement rubber compound.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic tire comprising a carcass and a tread located radially outward of the carcass and extending between the tire sidewalls; the tread providing a radially outermost tread running surface; the tread comprising a first tread layer comprising a first rubber compound and a second tread layer comprising a second rubber compound; wherein the second tread layer is located radially adjacent to the first tread layer; wherein the first rubber compound is compositionally distinct from the second rubber compound; wherein the second tread layer comprises one or more integrally formed extensions of the second tread layer extending radially outwardly toward the tread running surface; wherein each of the integrally formed extensions of the second tread layer comprises a circumferentially continuous groove and a reinforcement zone disposed on a side of the groove; wherein the first rubber compound comprises 100 parts by weight of at least one diene based elastomer, and from 1 to 150 phr of sil

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire having a pair of spaced apart bead components, a connecting carcass between the bead components, a pair of sidewalls overlying the carcass, and a rubber chafer portion adjacent to each of the sidewalls and positioned around at least a portion of each of the bead components and intended for contacting a rigid rim of a wheel, the rubber chafer portion comprising a radially innermost toe guard and a chafer adjacent to a radially outer end of the toe guard; wherein the ratio of a modulus of the toe guard to a modulus of the chafer is in the range of 3 to 10.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire having a pair of spaced apart bead components, a connecting carcass between the bead components, a pair of sidewalls overlying the carcass, and a rubber chafer portion adjacent to each of the sidewalls and positioned around at least a portion of each of the bead components and intended for contacting a rigid rim of a wheel, the rubber chafer portion comprising a radially innermost toe guard and a chafer adjacent to a radially outer end of the toe guard; wherein the ratio of a modulus of the toe guard to a modulus of the chafer is in the range of 3 to 10.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire having a pair of spaced apart bead components, a connecting carcass between the bead components, a pair of sidewalls overlying the carcass, and a rubber chafer portion adjacent to each of the sidewalls and positioned around at least a portion of each of the bead components and intended for contacting a rigid rim of a wheel, the rubber chafer portion comprising a radially innermost toe guard and a chafer adjacent to a radially outer end of the toe guard; wherein the ratio of a modulus of the toe guard to a modulus of the chafer is in the range of 3 to 10.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic tire comprising a carcass and a tread located radially outward of the carcass and extending between the tire sidewalls; the tread providing a radially outermost tread running surface; the tread comprising a first tread layer comprising a first rubber compound and a second tread layer comprising a second rubber compound; wherein the second tread layer is located radially adjacent to the first tread layer; wherein the first rubber compound is compositionally distinct from the second rubber compound; wherein the second tread layer comprises one or more integrally formed extensions of the second tread layer extending radially outwardly toward the tread running surface; wherein each of the integrally formed extensions of the second tread layer comprises a circumferentially continuous groove and a reinforcement zone disposed on a side of the groove; wherein the first rubber compound comprises 100 parts by weight of at least one diene based elastomer, and from 1 to 150 phr of sil

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a tire comprising a tread comprising: a plurality of circumferential grooves separating circumferential ribs, each groove comprising a bottom and two sidewalls; one or more groove reinforcements, each groove reinforcement laterally spaced from any other of said one or more groove reinforcements; wherein each groove reinforcement is arranged adjacent one circumferential groove; wherein at least one circumferential groove has no groove reinforcement adjacent to it; and wherein each groove reinforcement extends from the radially inner surface of the tread in a radially outward direction at least to the bottom of the adjacent circumferential groove to form at least part of the bottom of that groove.