Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a carcass structure having at least one carcass ply and at least one annular reinforcing structure associated with the carcass ply, a pair of axially opposite side walls on the carcass structure, a belt structure arranged at a radially outer position with respect to the carcass structure and a tread band arranged at a radially outer position with respect to the belt structure, and generally having a first elastomeric material incorporating at least one portion substantially of a second elastomeric material. The tread band has at least one groove defined in the at least one portion substantially of the second elastomeric material wherein the ratio between the modulus of elasticity under compression at 100° C. of the second elastomeric material and the modulus of elasticity under compression at 100° C. of the first elastomeric material is not lower than about 1.30, and wherein the ratio between the IRHD hardness at 100° C.

Abstract: A high-performance tire for a motor vehicle includes a carcass and tread band. The tire may be, for example, of the asymmetrical or directional type. The tread band includes a pattern including a central region, first and second shoulder regions, and first and second circumferential grooves. The first circumferential groove divides the first shoulder region from the central region, while the second circumferential groove divides the central region from the second shoulder region. The shoulder regions include shoulder blocks, separated from each other by transverse grooves, but joined to each other along axially inner ends of the shoulder blocks by respective circumferential portions. The central region includes rows of blocks and first and second annular projections or a central annular projection. The blocks of the central region, the shoulder blocks, the circumferential grooves, the transverse grooves, and the one or more annular projections help define the tread pattern.

Abstract: A tyre includes a carcass, a belt structure, and a tread band. The belt structure includes at least two belt plies and at least one belt layer radially external to the belt plies. The at least one belt layer extends at least for an axial width of the at least two belt plies and includes at least one first elongated element and at least one second elongated element. The elongated elements form turns substantially oriented in a circumferential direction of the tyre. The turns are alternately disposed along an axial development of the at least one belt layer. The at least one first elongated element is a hybrid cord including at least one high-elastic-modulus filament and at least one low-elastic-modulus filament that are twisted together. An elastic modulus of the at least one second elongated element is lower than an elastic modulus of the at least one first elongated element.

Abstract: A safety support for mounting on a rim of a vehicle wheel within a tire includes a substantially toroidal hollow annular body and a filling of elastically deformable expanded material. The annular body includes a convex radially outer surface, two axially opposite side surfaces, and devices for associating the annular body to the rim. The annular body is made of a rigid and substantially non-extensible material and is elastically deformable under load for absorbing stresses imparted to the tire in case of pressure loss by the tire. Each side surface is connected to the radially outer surface by respective first axially opposite connecting portions. A safety system for the vehicle wheel includes a tire and the safety support. The vehicle wheel includes the tire, the safety support, and the rim.

Abstract: A self-supporting tyre for a vehicle wheel includes a carcass structure, a belt structure, a tread band, a pair of sidewalls, and at least one elastic stiffening insert. The carcass structure includes at least one carcass ply provided with end flaps engaged with respective annular reinforcing structures. The annular reinforcing structures are disposed in coaxial relationship with a geometric rotation axis of the tyre at positions axially spaced apart from each other. Each annular reinforcing structure includes at least one first circumferentially inextensible annular anchoring insert. The at least one elastic stiffening insert is incorporated into the carcass structure, at least at one of the sidewalls, and includes a radially internal end portion at least partly disposed in axial side-by-side relationship against the at least one first annular anchoring insert. A method of making the tyre is also disclosed.

Abstract: A rubberized fabric for a tire belt includes an elastomeric material and at least one reinforcing metal strap in the elastomeric material. The at least one reinforcing metal strap is made of a shape-memory material. The at least one reinforcing metal strap is oriented at about 0° to an equatorial plane of the tire. The at least one reinforcing metal strap has a width of no less than about 1 mm. The at least one reinforcing metal strap has a first thickness of no greater than about 0.1 mm. The at least one reinforcing metal strap may have coils disposed side-by-side and axially displaced from one another.

Abstract: A self-supporting tyre for vehicle wheels comprises a carcass structure (2) having at least one carcass ply (3a, 3b) provided with end flaps (19, 21) in engagement with respective annular reinforcing structures (4) disposed in coaxial relationship with a geometric rotation axis of the tyre at positions axially spaced apart from each other and each comprising at least one first circumferentially-inextensible annular anchoring insert (5a); a belt structure (6) applied to the carcass structure (2) at a radially external position thereof, a tread band (9) applied at a radially external position to the belt structure (6) and a pair of sidewalls (10) applied to the carcass structure (2) at laterally opposite positions. The self-supporting tyre further comprises at least at one elastic stiffening insert (11) arranged at least at one of said sidewalls (10) and having a radially internal end portion (15) disposed at least partly in axial side by side relationship against the first annular anchoring insert (5a).

Abstract: A safety support (1) is described intended for being mounted on a rim (2) of a vehicle wheel within a tire (3), for supporting said tire (3) in case of pressure loss, which support comprises a substantially toroidal hollow annular body (5) made of a rigid and substantially non-extensible material including a filling (6) of elastically deformable expanded material. Advantageously, the safety support (1) of the invention is resistant to centrifugation and has an adequate contact surface with the crown portion (33), without however involving an excessive increase in the total weight of the wheel wherein the same is mounted.

Abstract: A rubberized reinforcing fabric for articles made from elastomeric material includes a plurality of textile cords having at least tensile strength, parallel and adjacent to each other in a same direction, and incorporated in an elastomeric material The cords have a count between 420/2 dTex and 840/2 dTex, a diameter between 0.33 mm and 0.47 mm, and are embedded in the fabric. The fabric has a thickness of not more than 0.8 mm and a density between 125 cords/dm and 280 cords/dm. The cords constitute a maximum of 40% of a volume of the fabric. An article made from elastomeric material, including at least one rubberized reinforcing fabric made from elastomeric material, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A rubberized fabric for a tire belt incorporating continuous reinforcing elements made from a shape-memory material and a tire incorporating same. The rubberized fabric forms the zero-degree belt layer of the tire. The fundamental characteristic of the fabric resides in its incorporation of means to stabilize the reinforcing elements in the predetermined position within the fabric. Stabilization of the reinforcing elements is accomplished by shaping the reinforcing elements in the form of side-by-side metal straps. The minimum width of each metal strap is about I mm and the thickness of the rubberized fabric incorporating the metal straps has a maximum value of about 0.4 mm and is preferably about 0.3 mm. Among other things, the rubberized fabric improves the vulcanization process of the tire by constraining the underlying belt layers, lessens the consequences of “flatspotting,” and permits the construction of a lighter weight tire.

Abstract: A high-performance tire (1, 51) for a motor vehicle is provided with a tread (2, 52) comprising two deep circumferential grooves (3, 6, 53, 56) which separate a central region (7, 57) from two lateral shoulder regions (8, 9, 58, 59) provided with shoulder blocks (20, 120, 64, 164); in the tread (2, 52) the sum of the widths of the shoulder regions (8, 9, 58, 59) is equal to or less than 60% of its overall width L, the width of each shoulder region (8, 9, 58, 59) is not less than 20% of the overall width L, in that each of said circumferential grooves (3, 6, 53, 56) is adjacent, on the side further from said central region (7, 57), to a continuous track (22, 122, 66, 166) from which are branched transverse grooves (21, 121, 65, 165) which delimit the shoulder blocks (20, 120, 64, 164).

Abstract: A tire includes a carcass; a tread band on the carcass; a belt, positioned between the tread band and the carcass, including at least one layer of rubberized fabric; and at least one reinforcing metal strap in the at least one layer of rubberized fabric. The at least one reinforcing metal strap is made of a shape-memory material oriented at about 0° to an equatorial plane of the tire. The at least one reinforcing metal strap has a width of no less than about 1 mm. And the at least one reinforcing metal strap has coils disposed side-by-side in a direction substantially perpendicular to a radius of the tire.

Abstract: A tread for motor-vehicle tires has a raised pattern formed of a plurality of shaped blocks 7 distributed in circumferential rows 3, 4, 5, 6 disposed in parallel and in side by side relation. The number of the shaped blocks 7 arranged in each row gradually increases while moving from the equatorial plane X-X to the axial outer side edges 1a of the tread 1. Thus a gradual increase in the longitudinal stiffness of the shaped blocks 7 is achieved on passing from the side edges 1a of the tread 1 to the equatorial plane X-X, which brings about a reduction in the mobility of said blocks on the road contact patch and lower rolling noise.

Abstract: Reinforcing fabric for articles made from elastomeric material, particularly for pneumatic tires, comprising a plurality of filamentary elements having at least tensile strength, parallel and adjacent to each other in a plane, lying in a predetermined direction. The reinforcing elements, preferably cords, are incorporated in an elastomeric material and constitute at most the 40% of the volume of the fabric.

Abstract: A tread for motor-vehicle tires has a raised pattern formed of a plurality of shaped blocks 7 distributed in circumferential rows 3, 4, 5, 6 disposed in parallel and in side by side relation. The number of the shaped blocks 7 arranged in each row gradually increases while moving from the equatorial plane X—X to the axial outer side edges 1a of the tread 1. Thus a gradual increase in the longitudinal stiffness of the shaped blocks 7 is achieved on passing from the side edges 1a of the tread 1 to the equatorial plane X—X, which brings about a reduction in the mobility of said blocks on the road contact patch and lower rolling noise.

Abstract: Reinforcing fabric for articles made from elastomeric material, particularly for pneumatic tires, comprising a plurality of filamentary elements having at least tensile strength, parallel and adjacent to each other in a plane, lying in a predetermined direction. The reinforcing elements, preferably cords, are incorporated in an elastomeric material and constitute at most the 40% of the volume of the fabric.

Abstract: A tread pattern for motor vehicle winter tires having transverse grooves symmetrically converging toward an equatorial plane "X" of the tire. A pair of circumferential grooves (3) respectively defined by oblique stretches (3a) have an orientation converging toward the equatorial plane "X", in a direction opposite to the rolling direction "D" according to which the transverse grooves (2) converge. Grip hollows (6) of increasing width in a direction opposite to the rolling direction, are formed astride of each transverse groove (2), at two contiguous center blocks (4). A central separation cut (7) between the center blocks (4) defines therein separation walls (7a) arranged to come into mutual contact when in the ground contacting area.

Abstract: A tread for motor-vehicle tires has a raised pattern formed of a plurality of shaped blocks 7 distributed in circumferential rows 3, 4, 5, 6 disposed in parallel and in side by side relation. The number of the shaped blocks 7 arranged in each row gradually increases while moving from the equatorial plane X--X to the axial outer side edges 1a of the tread 1. Thus a gradual increase in the longitudinal stiffness of the shaped blocks 7 is achieved on passing from the side edges 1a of the tread 1 to the equatorial plane X--X, which brings about a reduction in the mobility of said blocks on the road contact patch and lower rolling noise.

Abstract: A tire for a vehicle, that is representable by a dynamic rigid-ring tire model with concentrated parameters, has construction features that are substantially equivalent to concentrated parameters that fall within the following intervals corresponding to preselected indices of comfort:rb=100-300 (Ns/m)rbt=2-40 (Nms/rad)rcz=100-350 (Ns/m)rct=10-90 (Nms/rad)Ckx=18,000-70,000 (N),where rb is a radial foundation dampening of said dynamic tire model; rbt is a torsional foundation dampening of said dynamic tire model; rcz is a residual radial dampening of said dynamic tire model; rct is a residual torsional dampening of said dynamic tire model; and Ckx is a slipping stiffness of a brush model of said tread.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire particularly adapted for cars, is provided with belt strips (7, 8) each comprising a first and a second series of cords (7a, 7b, 8a, 8b) made of different materials, alternated with each other axially across the width of the tire according to a preestablished sequence. The cords (7b, 8b) of the second series, made of aramid or glass for example, cooperate with those of the first series (7a, 8a), made of steel, to withstand tensile stresses in the longitudinal direction. Conversely, the cords (7b, 8b) of aramid or glass have a greater compliance than the steel cords (7a, 8a) towards compressive stresses. The elastomer incorporating the cords (7a, 7b, 8a, 8b) is filled with reinforcing fibers, short aramid fibers or aramid pulp for example, and has a modulus of elasticity between 15 and 50 megapascals.