Abstract: A pneumatic radial ply tire includes a pair of beads, a single carcass ply, a tread, and a pair of sidewalls. The pair of beads each has an associated chaffer. The single carcass ply is folded about each bead so as to define a main body portion and a turnup portion associated with each bead. The tread is disposed radially outward from the single carcass ply. The tread has shoulder portions disposed at axial outer edges of the tread. The pair of sidewalls extends radially outward from each chaffer to a location adjacent each shoulder portion. Each sidewall is disposed axially outward of the single carcass ply. Each sidewall includes a first outer layer extending from the chaffer to the shoulder portion and a second inner layer extending from the chaffer to the shoulder portion. The second inner layer is disposed entirely between the single carcass ply and first outer layer. The second inner layer comprises a foamed structure of a rubber composition having a density ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 g/cm3.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a pair of axially spaced apart annular bead cores, a carcass ply extending around both bead cores, a tread for engaging a contact surface and a belt structure. The tread has at least one circumferential groove extending radially inward from a radially outer surface of the tread. The belt structure includes at least one belt layer and an overlay comprising at least one overlay layer. The overlay layer is disposed under the circumferential groove and has an axial width between 70% and 200% of an axial width of the circumferential groove. The overlay layer is a reinforced ply layer or a layer comprising a fabric.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire having a pair of spaced apart bead components, a connecting carcass between said bead components, and a rubber chafer positioned around at least a portion of each of said bead components and intended for contacting a rigid rim of a wheel, wherein said chafer comprises an outer skin layer intended for contacting the rigid rim and an inner core layer disposed radially inward of the skin layer.

Abstract: An expandable bladder for shaping a pneumatic tire is provided. The bladder in an unmounted, relaxed state has a shaped body having a pair of opposed annular beads, said body further comprising a central portion, sidewall portions, and shoulder portions interposed between the central portion and the sidewall portions, wherein the body is defined by an outer contour surface and an inner contour surface, wherein the central portion has gauge which increases to a maximum value axially inward of the shoulder portion, and wherein the bladder gauge in the shoulder is less than the maximum value, and wherein the bladder gauge increases from the shoulder to the bead.

Abstract: A tread cap composition, in accordance with the principles of the invention, may be a composition resulting from a combination of components including: a conjugated diene-based elastomer; a reinforcing filler; an oil softener; a silane coupling agent; and an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (“UHMWPE”).

Abstract: This invention relates to an expandable curing bladder for use in curing rubber products; the bladder comprising an inner layer and an outer layer bonded to the first layer; the inner layer comprising a rubber composition comprised of, based on parts weight per 100 parts by weight rubber (phr): an isobutylene copolymer rubber selected from butyl rubber and/or halobutyl rubber, wherein said butyl rubber comprises a copolymer of isobutylene and isoprene which contains from about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent units derived from isoprene; wherein said halobutyl rubber is a halogenated butyl rubber comprises a chlorinated or brominated copolymer of isobutylene and isoprene which contains from about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent units derived from isoprene; and the outer layer comprising a rubber composition comprising a silicon rubber.

Abstract: A pneumatic runflat tire including at least one sidewall insert, the at least one sidewall insert including a heterogenous rubber compound comprising first rubber and second rubber composition phases, wherein the second rubber phase is further vulcanizable.

Abstract: A tire has an axis of rotation. The tire includes two sidewalls extending radially outward and a tread disposed radially outward of the two sidewalls and interconnecting the two sidewalls. The tread includes a main portion comprising a first compound and a reinforcing structure comprising a second compound having reinforcing short fibers oriented between ?20 degrees to +20 degrees to a circumferential direction of the tread. The main portion of the tread includes at least one circumferential groove separating circumferential ribs. Each circumferential groove has two sides and a base therebetween. The reinforcing structure includes a layer of the second compound secured to the sides of each circumferential groove.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire having a pair of spaced apart bead components, a connecting carcass between said bead components, and a rubber chafer positioned around at least a portion of each of said bead components and intended for contacting a rigid rim of a wheel, wherein said chafer comprises an outer skin layer intended for contacting the rigid rim and an inner core layer disposed radially inward of the skin layer.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a single carcass ply, at least one belt ply disposed radially outward of the carcass ply in a crown portion of the tire, and at least one insert located adjacent the carcass ply in a sidewall portion, the insert providing support for the tire load to enable the tire to operate in underinflated conditions. The carcass ply is comprised of at least one composite cord. The composite cord is formed of at least two first yarns twisted helically about at least one second yarn. The first yarns and the second yarn having different modulus of elasticity, the first yarns having a modulus greater than the modulus of the second yarn.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire including a circumferential tread, two spaced apart beads, and sidewalls connecting said beads and tread, wherein said tire sidewall contains at least one internal annular sidewall insert including at least two annular segments, the at least two annular segments including first and second adjacent annular segments; wherein said first and second annular segments are disposed with an interface therebetween; wherein each of the at least two annular segments includes a rubber composition comprising at least one diene based rubber and at least one vulcanization modifier selected from the group consisting of ?,?-bis(N,N?-dihydrocarbylthiocarbamamoyldithio)alkanes, bismaleimides, and biscitraconimides; and wherein the concentration of vulcanization modifier in the first annular segment is less than the concentration of vulcanization modifier in the second annular segment.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial ply tire includes a pair of beads, a single carcass ply, a tread, and a pair of sidewalls. The pair of beads each has an associated chaffer. The single carcass ply is folded about each bead so as to define a main body portion and a turnup portion associated with each bead. The tread is disposed radially outward from the single carcass ply. The tread has shoulder portions disposed at axial outer edges of the tread. The pair of sidewalls extends radially outward from each chaffer to a location adjacent each shoulder portion. Each sidewall is disposed axially outward of the single carcass ply. Each sidewall includes a first outer layer extending from the chaffer to the shoulder portion and a second inner layer extending from the chaffer to the shoulder portion. The second inner layer is disposed entirely between the single carcass ply and first outer layer. The second inner layer comprises a foamed structure of a rubber composition having a density ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 g/cm3.

Abstract: A tire having a tire tread, the tread having a groove void radially inward of a wearable tread portion; and a degradable tread filler disposed in and substantially filling the groove void, the void being exposed upon wear of the wearable tread portion and dislocation of the degradable tread filler.

Abstract: An expandable bladder for shaping a pneumatic tire is provided. The bladder in an unmounted, relaxed state has a shaped body having a pair of opposed annular beads, said body further comprising a central portion, sidewall portions, and shoulder portions interposed between the central portion and the sidewall portions, wherein the body is defined by an outer contour surface and an inner contour surface, wherein the central portion has gauge which increases to a maximum value axially inward of the shoulder portion, and wherein the bladder gauge in the shoulder is less than the maximum value, and wherein the bladder gauge increases from the shoulder to the bead.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having at least one component, the at least component including a rubber composition, the rubber composition including a diene based elastomer and 10 to 100 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer, of a nanozeolite having a particle size of less than 1000 nm and a negative coefficient of thermal expansion over at least part of the temperature range of 0° C. to 200° C.

Abstract: A self-supporting pneumatic tire, capable of continued operation during under-inflation conditions, has at least one insert located in each tire sidewall. Forming the interior surface of the self-supporting tire is a stiffening layer of material having characteristics similar to that of the insert. In the tread region of the tire, and radially inward of the innermost carcass layer, and possibly in the interior bead region of the tire, is a partial inner liner layer of the bromobutyl rubber.

Abstract: A pneumatic runflat tire including at least one sidewall insert, the at least one sidewall insert including a heterogenous rubber compound comprising first rubber and second rubber composition phases, wherein the second rubber phase is further vulcanizable.

Abstract: A pneumatic run-flat tire, the tire comprising at least one carcass reinforcing ply, at least one pair of sidewall wedge inserts, and a belt reinforcing structure, the belt reinforcing structure comprising at least a pair of cross cord belt reinforcing plies, the tire being characterized by at least one pair of elastomeric layers each located radially inward of the at least one carcass reinforcing ply and radially outward of each of the sidewall wedge inserts; the elastomeric layers extending from axially inward of an edge of the belt reinforcing structure to at least a midpoint of a sidewall, the elastomeric layers comprising a rubber composition comprising: 100 parts by weight of natural rubber; from 20 to 30 phr of silica and exclusive of carbon black; and from 0 to 20 phr of polyoctenamer.

Abstract: This invention relates to an expandable curing bladder for use in curing rubber products; the bladder comprising an inner layer and an outer layer bonded to the first layer; the inner layer comprising a rubber composition comprised of, based on parts weight per 100 parts by weight rubber (phr): an isobutylene copolymer rubber selected from butyl rubber and/or halobutyl rubber, wherein said butyl rubber comprises a copolymer of isobutylene and isoprene which contains from about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent units derived from isoprene; wherein said halobutyl rubber is a halogenated butyl rubber comprises a chlorinated or brominated copolymer of isobutylene and isoprene which contains from about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent units derived from isoprene; and the outer layer comprising a rubber composition comprising a silicon rubber.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire including a circumferential tread, two spaced apart beads, and sidewalls connecting said beads and tread, wherein said tire sidewall contains at least one internal annular sidewall insert including at least two annular segments, the at least two annular segments including first and second adjacent annular segments; wherein said first and second annular segments are disposed with an interface therebetween; wherein each of the at least two annular segments includes a rubber composition comprising at least one diene based rubber and at least one vulcanization modifier selected from the group consisting of ?,?-bis(N,N?-dihydrocarbylthiocarbamamoyldithio)alkanes, bismaleimides, and biscitraconimides; and wherein the concentration of vulcanization modifier in the first annular segment is less than the concentration of vulcanization modifier in the second annular segment.