Abstract: A pneumatic tire and wheel rim assembly of the type in which the wheel rim has retention means engageable with at least one tire bead to retain the tire bead at its bead seat under the action of road generated forces tending to dislodge tire bead wherein bead retention is improved by providing said at least tire bead with a bead reinforcement which has substantial resistance to deformation in an axial direction yet retains sufficient flexibility to a radial direction normal thereto to allow tire fitting to a one-piece rim. Suitable bead reinforcements are those having an axial rigidity factor `K` greater than 8.5 N.m.sup.2.

Abstract: A tire fitting device comprises a strip for location in an annular groove adjacent to a bead seat to prevent a tire bead engaging the groove prior to inflation of the tire and a handle for mounting on the wheel rim to locate the tire in the well and prevent the tire beads slipping around the rim edge during fitting.The strip comprises a length of flexible material, e.g. spring steel, which extends around at least half the circumference of the groove. Alternatively the strip may comprise a closed loop of resilient material.The handle has an attachment portion by which the handle is mounted on the rim and an arcuate portion which engages the tire sidewall to urge the sidewall axially inwards into the well during fitting. The handle is attached to the strip by a flange portion welded to one side of the strip. Alternatively the strip and handle may be separate.

Abstract: A tire and wheel rim assembly in which the rim includes adjacent to the bead seat a circumferentially extending groove and the tire bead has a radially and axially inwardly projecting toe, the tip of which is engaged in the groove whereby the toe is flexible perpendicular to its length to allow tire fitting. However the toe is substantially rigid in the direction of its length, and is provided with an abutment means on the axially inward surface of the bead toe to contact the rim upon rotation of the bead to assist in retaining the bead at its seat.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire and a tire and wheel rim assembly are disclosed in which the tire has means preventing the tire remaining inflated when fitted to a non-matching wheel rim.The tire has a pair of axially spaced tire beads at least one of which has a circumferentially extending toe projecting axially and radially inwards of the bead. The toe has primary air relief means extending between axially inner and outer surfaces of the toe to prevent the toe effecting a seal with the rim bead seat or hump when the tire is fitted to a non-matching wheel rim.The tire bead having the toe may have secondary air relief means axially outboard of the primary air relief means to prevent the tire bead effecting a seal with the bead retaining flange when the tire is fitted to a non-matching wheel rim.