Abstract: A vehicle wheel including a wavelength tube member may include spokes, a cylindrical rim configured to connect both circumferential portions of the spokes, and a wavelength tube member accommodated on the rim between the first and second circumferential portions of the spokes and configured to cancel sound wave generated in a cavity formed between the rim and a tire, wherein the wavelength tube member may include a rim seating portion being in surface-contact with and accommodated on an external surface of the rim; and a plurality of wavelength tube portions formed on the rim seating portion.

Abstract: The invention described tires resisting temperature over 180 degrees Fahrenheit, using both pneumatic and non-pneumatic properties in conjunction to support the integrity of the tire on pneumatic rims where the tire's main sections are the two beads, the air pocket, the elastomeric flection design, shear band, and the tread. A premium tire assembly comprising of elastomeric and flexible properties, which supports the pneumatic air pocket and is reasonably secured onto the rim with circularly radial beads. The said tire uses elastic and flexible properties to support the load of the vehicle instead of using pneumatic properties alone. All of the sections are joined by a framework. The elastomeric flection and pneumatic air pocket combination technology alone makes Hybrid Tires unique and revolutionary.

Abstract: An inflatable tubeless tire includes a carcass, a bead at the lower edge of both sides of the carcass; a cladding layer, continuously covering the bead from the exterior to the interior of the carcass, and both ends of the cladding layer having an overlapped portion between each carcass and a tread and continuously extending to form an external covered portion for covering an area from the outer surface to the bead, and the portion of both sides of the cladding layer covering the interior of the carcass being an internal covered portion, and the uncovered position in the carcass being an elastic portion, and each inner surface in the carcass and the cladding layer jointly forming a gas chamber; at least a separator, partially disposed on a wall surface of the gas chamber for isolating each elastic portion and the inner surface without sticking to one another of the carcass; an air valve module, passing between each opening and the through hole, and having a film fixed to the elastic portion; and an extending

Abstract: A method for locking a tire to a wheel rim, includes the steps of mounting a tubular tire locking element on the wheel rim, which tubular locking member is arranged with a valve, which valve is pushed through a hole in the rim; mounting a tire on the rim such that the tire encloses the tubular tire locking element and a pressure chamber is obtained between the tire locking element and the tire; pressurizing the tubular tire locking element via the valve such that it expands, whereby the beads of the tire are pressed against the flanges of the wheel rim; inserting a hollow needle through the tire and into the pressure chamber, which hollow needle is connected to a pressurized air source; pressurizing the pressure chamber to desired pressure, removing the hollow needle; and sealing the hole caused by the needle with sealing fluid or plug.

Abstract: A pneumatic wheel assembly includes a tire, mounted to a wheel rim, including an inflation valve, one default air chamber and one or more spare inner chambers, which spare inner chambers are inflatable if necessary, such as in case of puncture of the tire, where the inflation valve includes a gas inlet and a multi-way valve having selectable switching states to fluidly connect the inlet to either one of the default chamber or one of the inflatable inner chambers thereby allowing for individual inflation of any of the chambers, and a perforated rigid chamber extending circumferentially around the rim between the tire beads and fluidly connectable to a gas outlet.

Abstract: A tire with a cellular layer is provided. The tire includes a tire structure formed of at least one crown extended by two sidewalls and two beads. A base of each of the two beads is configured to be mounted onto a rim seat. The tire also includes a carcass-type reinforcing structure anchored into the two beads, and a layer that includes a cellular material, also referred to as a cellular layer. The cellular layer is positioned on an inner wall of the tire structure, such that the cellular layer is bonded to the tire structure over at most over 20% of a surface of the cellular layer and is not bonded to the tire structure elsewhere on the surface.

Abstract: A tire assembly includes a tire having an annular tread between and connected to outer edges of opposed first and second sidewalls. The first and second sidewalls terminate at radially inner edges defining first and second bead sections, respectively. The tire also has a first interior wall having one edge coupled to the tread and an opposite free edge. The first interior wall is positioned between and generally parallel to and spaced from the first and second sidewalls. A first annular spacer is positionable adjacent the first bead section between the first sidewall and the first interior wall on one side of the first interior wall. A second annular spacer is positionable on the opposite side of the first interior wall. The first and second annular spacers are configured to generally maintain a spacing of the first and second sidewalls and the first interior wall relative to one another.

Abstract: A variable friction tire is provided. The variable friction tire includes a tire wall portion, a tread portion, a primary inflatable tube, and a secondary inflatable tube. The tread portion is for contacting the ground. The primary inflatable tube is at least partially encapsulated by the tire wall portion. The secondary inflatable tube is disposed between at least a portion of the tread portion and at least a portion of the primary inflatable tube. The secondary inflatable tube is selectively inflatable or deflatable in order to vary an amount of the tread portion in contact with the ground.

Abstract: An automotive wheel used to substantially reduce energy loss due to tire flex and energy loss from a conventional drive train. The wheel includes a wheel hub, two sidewalls, an inner low pressure pneumatic chamber with hub protector, and an outer tread ring with inner tread wall and semi-rigid outer tread, containing an elastic band. The hub can contain an electric hub motor. The pneumatic chamber and a porous restraint band position the outer tread ring and enable the wheel to simulate an energy efficient high pressure pneumatic when, experiencing little deformation when under smooth road conditions. When road conditions are rough, the sidewalls and the outer tread ring temporarily flex in response to the increased road forces, simulating a low pressure conventional tire having ample space for deformation.

Abstract: The energy efficient wheel product substantially reduces energy loss due to tire flex and energy loss from a conventional automotive drive train. The wheel product includes an axis, a hub, two sidewalls, a low pressure inner chamber with shock absorbing hub protector, an outer ring with at least one high pressure pneumatic chamber with tread, and at least one restraint band radially restraining the outer ring to the hub. The hub can include an electric hub motor which rotates the hub, propelling the vehicle. The restraint band, sidewalls and pressurized chambers enable the wheel to simulate an energy efficient high pressure pneumatic wheel, experiencing little deformation when under smooth road conditions. When road conditions are rough, the band, sidewalls and outer chamber can temporarily buckle in response to the increased road forces, simulating a low pressure conventional tire having ample space for deformation.

Abstract: A system for dissipating sound shock waves within a vehicle tire includes a wheel upon which a tire is mounted to create an internal air chamber defined by the wheel and the tire. A flow-resistant barrier is coupled to the wheel or the tire and defines an air cavity within the internal air chamber. The barrier comprises a material that provides an acoustical resistance to sound shock waves passing therethrough. The air cavity defined by the barrier has a volume such that air within the cavity offers relatively small impedance to the passage of shock waves through the barrier and into the air cavity. The barrier also can produce frictional heat when displaced by a shock wave, thereby converting energy of the shock wave to heat to reduce noise associated therewith.

Abstract: A system for dissipating sound shock waves within a vehicle tire includes a wheel upon which a tire is mounted to create an internal air chamber defined by the wheel and the tire. A flow-resistant barrier is coupled to the wheel or the tire and defines an air cavity within the internal air chamber. The barrier comprises a material that provides an acoustical resistance to sound shock waves passing therethrough. The air cavity defined by the barrier has a volume such that air within the cavity offers relatively small impedance to the passage of shock waves through the barrier and into the air cavity. The barrier also can produce frictional heat when displaced by a shock wave, thereby converting energy of the shock wave to heat to reduce noise associated therewith.

Abstract: A tire with reduced rolling noise includes a tire structure formed of at least one crown extended by two sidewalls and two beads. A base of each of the two beads is configured to be mounted onto a rim seat. The tire also includes a carcass-type reinforcing structure anchored into the two beads and an additional layer bonded to an inner wall of the tire structure. The additional layer is bonded to the tire structure at its edges and the rest of the additional layer is not bonded. The additional layer includes an inflation valve.

Abstract: It is to solve a problem of an elongation of a partition in a safety tire wherein hollow particles called as a foamable composition are filled in a hollow ring-shaped partition and to propose a safety tire with a partition structure sufficiently developing a function of hollow particles. In a safety tire comprising a tire-approved rim assembly formed by assembling a tire onto an approved rim, a chamber defined inside the assembly through a hollow ring-shaped partition and extending along the rim in a circumferential direction, and thermally expandable hollow particles filled in the chamber, each of which particles consisting of a continuous phase of a resin and a closed cell(s), a hollow ring-shaped sub-partition is disposed on at least radially outside of an outer peripheral portion of the partition and a tire internal pressure is applied to an inside of the sub-partition.

Abstract: A pneumatic tires (20FL, 20FR, 20RL, 20RR) each having a plurality of air chambers disposed therein along a tread width direction. An internal pressure control device (100) includes a sensor unit (120) configured to inform a controller (110) that the four-wheel automobile (10) is going as being displaced in the leftward or rightward direction; and the controller (110) configure to change the internal pressures of the plurality of air chambers on the basis of the instruction outputted from the sensor unit (120).

Abstract: The present device is an integrated automotive wheel for electric vehicles which substantially reduces energy loss due to tire flex and energy loss from a conventional drive train. The wheel includes an axle, a hub, two composite sidewalls, a low pressure inner chamber with shock absorbing hub protector, and at least one outer high pressure pneumatic chamber with tread. The hub can contain an electric hub motor which rotates the wheel, propelling the vehicle. The sidewalls include at least one pressurized chamber which position the outer tread ring and enable the wheel to simulate an energy efficient high pressure pneumatic wheel, experiencing little deformation when under smooth road conditions. When road conditions are rough, the sidewalls can temporarily buckle in response to the increased road forces, simulating a low pressure conventional tire having ample space for deformation, with suspension and shock absorption capability built in.

Abstract: An automobile tire having fluid-tight internal partitions to form discrete internal compartments includes bead-like sub-structures provided within internal partitions having contact with a road during use of the tire, the bead sub-structures including a pressure-sensitive sealant in which a rapid change in air pressure in the tire induces activation of the sealant; and a tire wheel having a lateral surface complemental to an inner radial geometry of the tire, including, at an interface between the wheel and the tire, a pump for selectable inflation of at least one of the compartments. The system may also include inflatable wheel sealing ridges formed integrally within the tire, the ridges including circumferential annular fluid tight channels inflatable independently of inflation of the internal wheel partitions.

Abstract: A run-flat tire of improved load bearing capacity after being punctured is disclosed. The tire has two circumferential sidewalls, at least one circumferential intermediate wall interposed between the sidewalls, and a transverse base extending from one sidewall to the other and defining a compartment between a sidewall and an adjacent intermediate wall or between two adjacent intermediate walls. Each compartment is adapted to assume an expanded symmetrical configuration when an adjacent sidewall or intermediate wall is punctured. A carcass portion is provided within each sidewall, each intermediate wall and base. A shock absorber is provided in the vicinity of a junction connecting each intermediate wall to the base. A padding element is affixed to the inner liner portion applied to the bead wrap of each intermediate wall.

Abstract: A tire includes a pair of sidewalls in spaced apart relation and extending substantially radially from a respective inner circumferential portion to a respective outer circumferential portion, a tread extending between and connecting outer circumferential portions of the sidewalls, at least a portion of a tire cavity defined by the tread and sidewalls, and a bead portion on the inner circumferential portion of each radially extending sidewall, the bead portion providing an engagement surface for engaging a wheel on which the tire is to be mounted, and a noise reducing foam disposed in at least a portion of the tire cavity.

Abstract: A tire which is adapted to be mounted on a rim, and which includes: a tube body which is made of a thermoplastic material and is adapted to be fit on an outer peripheral section of the rim; and a tread provided in an outer side of the tube body, in which the tube body is fixed to the outer peripheral section of the rim in a close contact manner with positive gas pressure inside the tube body.

Abstract: To provide a pneumatic tire capable of improving the durability of connection points between partition wall parts and a tire inside surface. In a pneumatic tire 10, partition wall parts 24 that extend inward in a tire radial direction from a tire inside surface 17 of tire shoulder parts 21 and whose tire radial direction inside ends contact a rim 12 are disposed. A pair of right and left reinforcement layers 38 are disposed in regions ranging from the partition wall parts 24 to tire side parts 20 via connection parts 29 between the partition wall parts 24 and the tire inside surface 17 such that the reinforcement layers 38 continue from the partition wall parts 24 to the tire side parts 20 via the connection parts 29 between the partition wall parts 24 and the tire inside surface 17.

Abstract: A system for dissipating sound shock waves within a vehicle tire includes a wheel upon which a tire is mounted to create an internal air chamber defined by the wheel and the tire. A flow-resistant barrier is coupled to the wheel or the tire and defines an air cavity within the internal air chamber. The barrier comprises a material that provides an acoustical resistance to sound shock waves passing therethrough. The air cavity defined by the barrier has a volume such that air within the cavity offers relatively small impedance to the passage of shock waves through the barrier and into the air cavity. The barrier also can produce frictional heat when displaced by a shock wave, thereby converting energy of the shock wave to heat to reduce noise associated therewith.

Abstract: The invention is a high-efficiency wheel product for use with various ground vehicles. The product is designed to provide rolling support to the vehicle and to accommodate various surface conditions, for example, smooth pavement, rough pavement, potholes, dirt roads, and other conditions. The wheel product includes a multi-chambered pneumatic tire designed to minimize energy loss between the tire and a rolling surface by substantially reducing tire flex, a main source of energy loss in ground vehicles. Additionally, the product can reduce the need for conventional drive train elements such as shock absorbers.

Abstract: A tube-type tire to be mounted on the rim of a (e.g., spoke-type) wheel such as that commonly used by a bicycle or a motorcycle, whereby the tube-type tire will operate without a conventional inner tube and as if it were tubeless. The tire includes a main tire section that is seated upon the generally flat shelf of the rim and a pneumatic sealing ring having an inner tube that is seated upon the beadwell of the rim. An air chamber of the inner tube of the sealing ring is inflated to a greater pressure than an air chamber of the main tire section so as to isolate the air chamber of the main tire section from the rim and force the main tire section against the vertical lip of the rim. The sealing ring also has an outer inflatable liner that is located in surrounding engagement with the inner tube to separate the inner tube from the air chamber of the main tire section.

Abstract: A run-flat tire of improved load bearing capacity after being punctured is disclosed. The tire has two circumferential sidewalls, at least one circumferential intermediate wall interposed between the sidewalls, and a transverse base extending from one sidewall to the other and defining a compartment between a sidewall and an adjacent intermediate wall or between two adjacent intermediate walls. Each compartment is adapted to assume an expanded symmetrical configuration when an adjacent sidewall or intermediate wall is punctured. A carcass portion is provided within each sidewall, each intermediate wall and base. A shock absorber is provided in the vicinity of a junction connecting each intermediate wall to the base. A padding element is affixed to the inner liner portion applied to the bead wrap of each intermediate wall.

Abstract: A tire with a cellular layer is provided. The tire includes a tire structure formed of at least one crown extended by two sidewalls and two beads. A base of each of the two beads is configured to be mounted onto a rim seat. The tire also includes a carcass-type reinforcing structure anchored into the two beads, and a layer that includes a cellular material, also referred to as a cellular layer. The cellular layer is positioned on an inner wall of the tire structure, such that the cellular layer is bonded to the tire structure over at most over 20% of a surface of the cellular layer and is not bonded to the tire structure elsewhere on the surface.

Abstract: A safety liner (20) for a vehicle tire (500) includes a tubular body (22) having a one-way valve (24). A service valve (50) is selectively insertable into the one-way valve (24). Tubular body (22) is compressible into a flattened circular shape by a compressive force, and when the compressive force is removed, the tubular body (22) resiliently assumes its original toroidal shape. Safety liner (20) is installed in the cavity (503) of vehicle tire (500) as the vehicle tire (500) is being installed on the tire rim (502). If a blowout or other leak occurs, safety liner (20) will cause the shape of vehicle tire (500) to be retained at a reduced profile.

Abstract: A rubber composition is provided with a large friction force even on a body having, for example, an ice face of a low friction coefficient. The composition is constituted by a foamed rubber having a rationalized foaming state. The composition is applied to an upper-layer rubber part of a tread rubber constituting at least a ground contact face to enhance a gripping force on a frozen road surface or a snow covered road surface. The foamed rubber has continuous cells 6 each continuously extending substantially along a particular direction 4 and sealed with a resin protection membrane 5. Also, a method is provided for producing such a tire.

Abstract: A tire consisting of a tread, two exterior sidewalls, and a plurality of interior support walls mounted to a rim and/or a run-flat support ring which provides for at least three pressure zones inside the tire. These differing zones provide multiple run-flat stages reducing the likelihood of complete pressure loss when the tire is punctured. These pressure zones also provide for the contact patch to be adjusted to the current driving conditions. When mounted to a vehicle where camber changes during cornering, these differing air zones provide for an extended contact patch during cornering by exchanging air pressure between the inside shoulder and the outside shoulder of the tire.

Abstract: The invention proposes a technique of preventing a propagation of a damage in a reinforcing layer to a toric air bag even if the reinforcing layer arranged on an outer peripheral side of the toric air bag in a safety tire to suppress an unnecessary size growth of the toric air bag and allowed to a proper expansion deformation of the toric air bag in the puncture of the tire or the like is damaged by foreign matters entered through a puncture hole into the tire, in which the reinforcing layer separately arranged from the toric air bag is fitted on the outer peripheral side of the toric air bag having a hollow torus shape over its full periphery to suppress the propagation of the damage in the reinforcing layer to the toric air bag through an interface layer therebetween.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire, comprising adhesive sealant applied onto the inner surface thereof, wherein an air barrier membrane is disposed on the inner surface of the tire at least at a tread part, a space part is formed between the air barrier membrane and the inner surface of the tire, and the adhesive sealant is stacked on the space part side surface of the air barrier membrane, whereby an increase in weight can be minimized and a workability in handling the tire can be increased.

Abstract: In a tire valve for the rim (10) of a pneumatic tire on a vehicle comprising a valve body (14) of a rigid material and a valve insert (60) and an air outlet (51), which is disposed at a spacing in relation thereto, of a flow path (48, 50), a slider or plunger (44) including the flow path (48, 50) is mounted movably in the valve body (14) and the flow path is adapted to be connected at one end selectively to one of at least two air outlets (62, 64) provided on the valve body. The cup-like valve body (14) which comprises rigid material, in particular a metal material, has a wall (16) and a bottom plate portion (17). In addition the plunger (44) is to be provided with the valve insert (60).

Abstract: A tire noise damper to be disposed in an annular tire hollow formed between a wheel rim an a pneumatic tire mounted thereon, the damper made of a flexible material and comprising a base to be secured to the wheel rim and at least one flap extending from the base to be risen radially outwards from the wheel rim by centrifugal force during running to block the annular tire hollow. For example, the damper comprises at least one annular elastic band to be put around the wheel rim, the annular band provided with at least one U-cut for forming a flap, and the base is formed by the remaining annular portion of the band. In another example, the damper is made of a strip of the fixable material having a certain length, the base is formed by one end portion of the strip, and the flap is formed by the remaining portion of the strip.

Abstract: A dual compartment tire has a primary air compartment and a secondary air compartment that is internal to the primary air compartment. During ordinary travel, the primary air compartment is in contact with the road surface, with the secondary air compartment constituting an integral spare tire in the event of a flattening of the primary air compartment. Each of the primary and secondary air compartments is bounded by an exterior surface. In contrast to prior art dual compartment tires, the exterior surface of the secondary air compartment is relatively thicker than the exterior surface of the primary air compartment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tire/wheel assembly capable of reducing air column resonance sound without deteriorating uniformity or damaging rim assembling performance. In this tire/wheel assembly, an annular tube, an outer sectional area of which is nonuniform in a tire circumferential direction, is arranged in a closed space formed between a pneumatic tire and a wheel.

Abstract: A tire assembly of the present invention is specially for off-road racing motorcycle or bicycle, wherein an inner tube and a sub-inner tube are defined between an outer tire and a wheel rim, the inner tube is inflated at normal pressure while a space between the outer tire and the sub-inner tube is inflated with the pressure applicable to racing purpose, such that, in case of running in low pressure, two annular lips of the outer tire will not fall off the wheel rim while it encounter a great impact, as a result, it prevent the inner tube from being squeezed to leak by the outer tire and the wheel rim and the broken of the cord fabric of the outer tire.

Abstract: The invention proposes a technique of preventing a propagation of a damage in a reinforcing layer to a toric air bag even if the reinforcing layer arranged on an outer peripheral side of the toric air bag in a safety tire to suppress an unnecessary size growth of the toric air bag and allowed to a proper expansion deformation of the toric air bag in the puncture of the tire or the like is damaged by foreign matters entered through a puncture hole into the tire, in which the reinforcing layer separately arranged from the toric air bag is fitted on the outer peripheral side of the toric air bag having a hollow torus shape over its full periphery to suppress the propagation of the damage in the reinforcing layer to the toric air bag through an interface layer therebetween.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tire for a vehicle wheel includes making a carcass structure, applying a belt structure to the carcass structure, applying a tread band to the belt structure, and applying at least one pair of sidewalls to the carcass structure. Making the carcass structure includes applying at least one first part of the at least one carcass ply on a toroidal support, applying at least one circumferentially-inextensible annular anchoring insert, and applying at least one stiffening element. The at least one annular anchoring insert includes a cross-sectional profile of flattened conformation, extending away from an equatorial plane of the tire. The at least one stiffening element includes at least one main portion with a cross-sectional profile tapering away from a rotation axis of the tire. The at least one main portion is located substantially at an axially-inner position relative to the at least one annular anchoring insert.

Abstract: A dual compartment tire has a primary air compartment and a secondary air compartment that is internal to the primary air compartment. During ordinary travel, the primary air compartment is in contact with the road surface, with the secondary air compartment constituting an integral spare tire in the event of a flattening of the primary air compartment. Each of the primary and secondary air compartments is bounded by an exterior surface. In contrast to prior art dual compartment tires, the exterior surface of the secondary air compartment is relatively thicker than the exterior surface of the primary air compartment.

Abstract: Toric membrane M used as a support means for the tread of a tire P and forming together with the said tire P and its mounting rim J an assembly that can roll when the tire P suffers a loss of pressure, the said membrane M being expandable, capable of filling the internal cavity of the tire P, consisting of an airtight interior layer (10), a crown reinforcement (14) comprising two crossed plies (141, 142), two carcass half-plies (111, 112) anchored in each bead B reinforced by a reinforcement ring (2) and a cap (17) reinforced by a hopping armature (16), the crown reinforcement (14) being detached from the interior layer (10) and from the edges of the carcass half-plies (111, 112) which are on either side of the equatorial plane XX′ and are connected by at least one connecting ply (15).

Abstract: There is proposed a toric air bag for a safety tire capable of sufficiently and equally contacting with a full inner face of a tire in the expansion-deformation of the toric air bag by a drop of an internal pressure in the tire, wherein at least an expansion-deforming portion of the toric air bag having a hollow torus shape as a whole is constructed with a tension support member, and to the expansion-deforming portion is given a property indicating a characteristic of extension ratio-tensile force that tensile force per unit width is substantially and gradually increased with the increase of elongation through the expansion-deformation.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a high-speed, puncture proof tire including a tire casing having a tread portion and a pair of side wall portions and a plurality of small diameter pressurized tubes disposed within the tire casing. Each pressurized tube has an elongate body fabricated from film material that is sealed crosswise along the length of the body to define at least two compartments that contain gas under pressure. The tubes can be oriented radially or circumferentially within the annular space of the tire casing. In another embodiment of the tire, at least one panel of film material resistant to shear forces is disposed within the annular space of the tire casing. The panel is sealed lengthwise thereof to define a plurality of small diameter pressurized tubes. Each pressurized tube is sealed crosswise along the length of the tube to define at least two compartments that contain gas under pressure.

Abstract: A wheel-and-tire apparatus has a pneumatic tire with two or more circumferential tread sections, the relative diameters of which may be adjusted to select the tread sections in contact with the road. The tire may have one or more air chambers. The apparatus facilitates selective use of tire tread designs and compositions having different performance characteristics to suit particular road conditions and vehicle operating parameters. Adjustment of tread section diameters is accomplished using tread diameter adjustment means having a source of compressed air. Sensors monitor selected operational parameters of the vehicle and transmit corresponding signals to a computer, which selects an optimal configuration of tread section diameters to suit the data from the sensors. The computer sends a corresponding signal instructing the tread diameter adjustment means to adjust the diameter of one or more tread sections as required to achieve the selected configuration of tread section diameters.

Abstract: A new tire design superseding current conventional single-chamber tire design is delineated. This new invention incorporates the use of multiple independent chambers arranged side-by-side to improve vehicular safety and functionality. This design is an improvement over prior art utilizing concentric dual chambers by maintaining tire height in the event of a single chamber puncture. During such blow outs, steering and ride would be unimpeded, allowing driver to complete travel and replace damaged tire at a more convenient time. Much time will be saved in not requiring driver to either change the punctured tire immediately or to call and wait for road service assistance. This feature is especially important in military, police, or commercial applications where uninterrupted and unaffected travel is crucial to ensuring occupant safety, achieving mission objectives, or meeting delivery or travel deadlines.

Abstract: A run flat tire that includes a tire casing and an inner support fitted within which tire casing, with the inner support to support the tire casing load upon run flat tire deflation. The tire casing and inner support are for mounting to a rim, the tire casing side wall bead ends to fit against side wall ends of the inner support that are maintained against rim interior stepped sections. The inner support is formed from an elastomeric material, preferably by casting or molding methods, to include an interior arch shaped cavity centered under the inner support outer surface having at least one hundred forty (140) degrees and not more than one hundred eighty (180) degrees of arc, and has a uniform thickness between the inner support inner and outer surfaces that is selected to support a particular anticipated load, after tire deflation, to support, in compression, the tire load for a target distance and speed.

Abstract: A low-section tire includes an air tube including an internal wall and two air tube sidewalls. The internal wall comprises a greater rigidity than the tube sidewalls so that, when a carcass and the tube are mounted on a rim, and during inflation, the tube sidewalls contact the carcass sidewalls no later than the internal wall contacts a crown portion of the carcass. A process for manufacturing the air tube includes moulding two tube sidewalls separated from each other, moulding a central core, arranging the tube sidewalls and central core in a single vulcanization mould, closing the vulcanization mould to form the tube, feeding pressurized fluid into at least two distinct circumferential portions of the tube, and vulcanizing the tube to join the central core and tube sidewalls. A mould for manufacturing the an air tube includes two axially-external cheeks, two axially-intermediate male dies, and two axially-inner spacers.

Abstract: A wheel assembly provides a mount for a pneumatic tire having two tire beads. The wheel assembly includes a disk defining a hub receiving center and an outer peripheral edge. The wheel assembly also includes a rim that is fixedly secured to the outer peripheral edge. The rim has first and second tire seat surfaces and a well separating the first and second tire seat surfaces. First and second rim flanges are secured to the first and second tire seat surfaces, respectively, such that each of the first and second rim flanges extend out from each of the first and second tire seat surfaces at an angle less than or equal to thirty degrees. The wheel assembly also includes anti-roll off devices that interact with the tire through the flat rim flanges of the wheel assembly. A run flat device, including an inner rim bonded to an inner tube, which is, in turn, bonded to an interior carcass surface of the tire.

Abstract: A tire noise damper to be disposed in an annular tire cavity formed between a wheel rim and a pneumatic tire mounted thereon. The damper comprises an annular band-like body which is made of an elastomeric material and provided with at least one generally U-shaped cut oriented in a circumferential direction. The cutout formed by the at least one U-shaped cut forms a flap risen by a centrifugal force during running, and the remainder forms a base band to be put around a bottom of the wheel rim in an elongated condition. In order to reduce resonance of the air in the tire cavity in not only the fundamental mode but also the higher harmonic modes, the flap may have a relatively long length such that, when risen, a radially outer end portion thereof comes into contact with the radially inside of a tread portion of the tire. Further, the flap may be made of nonwoven fabric at least partially.

Abstract: Toric membrane M used as a support means for the tread of a tire P and forming together with the said tire P and its mounting rim J an assembly that can roll when the tire P suffers a loss of pressure, the said membrane M being expandable, capable of filling the internal cavity of the tire P, consisting of an airtight interior layer (10), a crown reinforcement (14) comprising two crossed plies (141, 142), two carcass half-plies (111, 112) anchored in each bead B reinforced by a reinforcement ring (2) and a cap (17) reinforced by a hopping armature (16), the crown reinforcement (14) being detached from the interior layer (10) and from the edges of the carcass half-plies (111, 112) which are on either side of the equatorial plane XX′ and are connected by at least one connecting ply (15).

Abstract: A reinforced rubber toric membrane, inflated to a pressure p0 greater than the pressure p1 of the cavity of the tire in which it is used, has a hooping ply of cords or cables, oriented circumferentially, and is reinforced in each of its sidewalls by at least one ply of reinforcement elements, each being composed of a core having a breaking load which is firstly greater than the tension, per element of ply, due to the pressure differential p0 −p1 and to the maximum centrifugal force to which said element is subjected, and secondly such that it permits the breaking of said reinforcement elements for a pressure differential p0−p′1 greater than p0−p1 and after the breaking of the elements of the hooping ply, around which core is wound at least one cord or cable.