Abstract: A low or no pressure use indicator for use on a tire is provided. The tire has a crown and a pair of sidewalls that extend from the crown. Each of the sidewalls has a bead located on an end of the sidewall that is opposite from the crown. The low or no pressure use indicator is located on a wall of one of the sidewalls. The low or no pressure use indicator is configured for indicating by a permanent physical change whether the tire has been subjected to an operation condition of an undesirable amount of low tire pressure.

Abstract: The invention provides a measuring method of a tread wear amount by using a pneumatic tire in which a mark portion is formed on a part of a tread surface, the mark portion changing its surface shape as wear progresses. Image data of the mark portion is detected, the detected data is inputted in processor means, and then the tread wear amount is determined by use of either ratio referential data of the mark portion inputted in advance and corresponding to the wear amounts of the tread surface, or a formula inputted in advance for computing the wear amount, thereby facilitating automatic measurement of the tread wear amount.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method whereby when the tyre reaches a wear threshold level, acoustic wear indicators emit a sound signal by coming into contact with the ground. Magnetic, optical and mechanical embodiments are also disclosed. A detector consisting of a microphone placed beneath the vehicle and a processing unit switches on an indicator placed in the instrument panel. In a more sophisticated version, the detector by matching the acoustic signal phase with the ABS data, identifies the tyre concerned. The invention is useful for detecting tyre deterioration, or that of any, other type of surface such as pads, and the like, and for detecting the presence of snow chains or nails.

Abstract: In a pneumatic tire of the present invention, a tread reinforcing rubber layer composed of a rubber having larger tensile modulus of elasticity than that of a rubber composing the tread rubber layer and is less stretchable is provided in a thickness direction central area of a tread rubber layer. Because the tread reinforcing rubber layer diminishes the amount of lateral expansion and the amount of vertical compressive deformation when the tread rubber layer contacts the ground, generation of heat in the tread rubber layer can be suppressed. Therefore, in the present invention, the unique tread structure reliably suppresses heat-generation and the rubber of the tread rubber layer exhibits excellent tire wear resistance. As a result, suppression of heat-generation and high tire resistance can readily be achieved simultaneously.

Abstract: A tread of thickness E, intended to be used in a tire having a carcass reinforcement surmounted by a crown reinforcement and including on its outer surface a plurality of grooves of depth h, including at least circumferential grooves separated axially by ribs, is provided with at least one internal, circumferential anti-rubber-on-rubber connection element, the outer wall of which, viewed in meridian section, has in part a contour identical to the contour of the wall of the regrooving groove to be created, the point(s) of said wall which are farthest from the axis of rotation being radially distant from the tread surface by a quantity h1 less than the depth h of the grooves, and the point(s) of said wall closest to the axis of rotation being radially distant from the tread surface by the maximum regrooving height H.

Abstract: A safety tire with illumination including a tire adapted for operative positioning on a vehicle. The tire has a plurality of treads extending circumferentially around a perimeter thereof, and annular recesses between the treads. Fluorescently colored rubber is disposed within the annular recesses of the plurality of treads of the tire. Fluorescently colored steel belts of a contrasting color extend within the treads to indicate when the tire is unduly worn.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for assessing the range of a motor vehicle run-flat system comprising at least for each wheel a tire casing, a deflation alarm and means supporting the running tread of the tire casing when the casing is deflated, which method, from the instant the deflation alarm has detected a predetermined deflating threshold, includes the steps of: periodically measuring the distance covered and a parameter C(t) characteristic of the running conditions; determining on the basis of C(t) and the measured distance over &Dgr;t a quantity characteristic of potential elementary damage of the system during the elapsed time &Dgr;t; calculating an estimate of the global damage by combining the calculated elementary damage levels since the start of flat running; and transmitting to the vehicle driver a quantity related to that estimate of the flat running system global damage.

Abstract: The invention provides a measuring method of a tread wear amount by using a pneumatic tire in which a mark portion is formed on a part of a tread surface, the mark portion changing its surface shape as wear progresses. Image data of the mark portion is detected, the detected data is inputted in processor means, and then the tread wear amount is determined by use of either ratio referential data of the mark portion inputted in advance and corresponding to the wear amounts of the tread surface, or a formula inputted in advance for computing the wear amount, thereby facilitating automatic measurement of the tread wear amount.

Abstract: A four step process for removing vehicles from the public roadways having worn tires including (a) establishing a standard for end of life tire conditions, (b) converting the standard to relate correspondingly to tread wear, (c) providing a visual indication of end of life tread wear and (d) providing for inspection and vehicle disqualification where end of life tire wear is indicated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tire comprising a means for indicating the position of a tire among the set of tires of a vehicle. The means is a button, which is fitted in a recess made in the center of a pattern which illustrates the tire positions of the vehicle, so that the position of this particular tire among the set of tires of the vehicle can be indicated unambiguously by turning the button by means of the pattern on the button. The button has a groove and/or an embossment for turning the button by means of a screwdriver with a chisel head, a coin or a pair of pliers, for instance.

Abstract: A system (10) includes a vehicle-based controller (30) for automatically controlling a throttle (32) of a vehicle (14) to maintain a desired cruise speed of the vehicle. The system also includes a tire-based unit (20) for monitoring an operating condition of a vehicle tire (12) of the vehicle (14). The tire-based unit (20) provides a signal (22) indicative of a sensed operating condition of the vehicle tire (12) to the controller (30). The controller (30) determines an abnormal condition of the vehicle tire (12) when the sensed operating condition reaches a predetermined level. The controller (30) limits the vehicle cruise speed to a predetermined maximum cruise speed when the vehicle tire (12) is in the abnormal condition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wear indicator for a vehicle tire (1), the tread of said tire being provided with grooves (2) to improve the grip. As taught by the invention, the surface of the tread in contact with the road surface is provided with indicators (5) indicating the momentary groove depth (H) of the tire, said indicators forming at least one group of elements and extending in radial direction into the tire. The element depth grows by predetermined steps from the shortest element to the longest element. The indicator is formed from a sipe(5) the depth of which is advantageously smaller than the depth (H) of said groove and the cross-section of which in the direction of the tread forms a number, letter, sign or symbol, image or equivalent determining the groove depth of the tread on the height of the plane in the direction of the tread which is tangential to the bottom (2p) of the capillary groove.

Abstract: A data transmission-reception unit which operates by means of energy of a received electromagnetic wave and serves as a main circuit, is provided with a sensor circuit as an additional circuit, and a transponder having a sensor power circuit for supplying electric power only to the sensor circuit is constituted. From a sensor charging circuit of an interrogator, an electromagnetic wave of a lower frequency different from a frequency of electromagnetic wave for data communication is radiated, or loop coil-shaped charging antennas are electromagnetic-coupled to thereby charge a capacitor for the sensor power circuit. Thereby, a secondary battery and the capacitor such as a large scale capacitor can be easily charged from an outside, and further, a power consumption for the capacitor can be restrained.

Abstract: A safety insert designed to be mounted in an assembly comprising a tire and a rim of a vehicle and device for detecting the bearing of the tire on an insert, so that the insert generates signals oriented parallel to the axis of rotation of the tire and rim assembly and so that the device detects and analyzes the vibrating signals of the chassis of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting an electronic monitoring device to a pneumatic tire includes mounting the monitoring package of the monitoring device within the body of the tire or the body of a patch and subsequently connecting the power source to the monitoring package through electrical coupling. The method allows the monitoring package to be cured within the tire or the patch at relatively high temperatures while protecting the sensitive power source from the high temperatures. The use of electrical coupling to achieve the power transfer prevents the material surrounding the monitoring package from being pierced by an element that would form the direct electrical connection. The method allows the monitoring package and its antenna to be positioned in a variety of positions on or within the pneumatic tire.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire as a slick tire comprising at least one wear indication hole within a contact width of a tread portion, wherein a distance from a shoulder contact end to the wear indication hole is set equal to 35 mm or lower; and a projected line is provided in a surface of the tread portion, the projected line having a height set in a range of 0.1 to 1.0 mm, and being extended from a position in contact with the wear indication hole to a shoulder side. Also, a metallic mold used for building the slick tire.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a pneumatic vehicle tire comprising a pair of sidewalls and a ground engaging surface extending therebetween, at least one of the sidewalls bearing an outwardly visible inflation-indicating ring and a pair of sighting rings. At least a first portion of the inflation-indicating ring being positioned relative to the ground engaging surface, wherein to the ground engaging surface, wherein when the tire becomes incorrectly under-inflated, the first portion is arranged to change from one position to another visibly distinct postion when viewed along a sight line indicated by a pre-determined relationship between the pair of sighting rings.

Abstract: The invention provides a measuring method of a tread wear amount by using a pneumatic tire in which a mark portion is formed on a part of a tread surface, the mark portion changing its surface shape as wear progresses. Image data of the mark portion is detected, the detected data is inputted in processor means, and then the tread wear amount is determined by use of either ratio referential data of the mark portion inputted in advance and corresponding to the wear amounts of the tread surface, or a formula inputted in advance for computing the wear amount, thereby facilitating automatic measurement of the tread wear amount.

Abstract: An attachment between a monitoring device and an innerliner of a tire includes the use of an epoxy adhesive that bonds the monitoring device directly to the inner surface of the innerliner of the tire. The innerliner is first roughened in a manner that provides a roughened portion of the innerliner without removing the entire thickness of the innerliner. The entire thickness of the innerliner is not removed because the innerliner is preferably more than {fraction (1/16)} of an inch thick. The thickness of the innerliner allows the rigid cured epoxy to bond the monitoring device to the inner surface of the innerliner while allowing the innerliner to flex with the tire so as to not break the seal between the rigid epoxy and the innerliner. The monitoring device is preferably located at a low flex area of the tire to help avoid the problem of the innerliner flexing.

Abstract: A tire (1) for motor-vehicle wheels comprises a tread band (10) and a belt structure (6), the tread band being molded with a raised pattern having a circumferential groove (11). In the absence of load and inflating pressure, the tire is characterized in that the belt structure in a cross-section of the tire has an axial profile comprising three distinct portions, first (14) and second (15) side portions and one central portion (16) interposed between the side portions. The side portions are concave at a radially internal position, in which the concavity is defined for each portion by a respective center and a respective radius of curvature. The central portion is concave at a radially external position where the concavity center of the central portion lies in the center line plane of the circumferential groove, in which the depth of the radially external concavity is canceled under the effect of the normal inflating pressure of the tire.

Abstract: A tire with worn tread indicator for providing a visual indication that a tire's tread is worn below a predetermined level. The tire with worn tread indicator includes a tire with a treaded outer surface having a plurality of alternating tread channels and tread ridges. A plurality of spaced apart elongate gel tubes are embedded in the tire and positioned adjacent the treaded outer surface. In the lumen of each gel tube is a visibly detectable colored liquid therein.