Abstract: A tire apparatus for driving a vehicle is provided. The tire apparatus allows the vehicle to be driven during periods of both low tire pressure and normal tire pressure. The tire apparatus has a tire that has a tread section. The tire has a pair of side walls that are located adjacent to the tread section. A first bead is located at an end of one of the side walls, and a second bead is located at an end of the other side wall. A wheel is also present that has a rim with a first bead seat and a second bead seat. The wheel is configured for attachment to the vehicle. The wheel has a support member for engaging the tire during periods of low tire pressure. At least one of the first and second bead seats has a plurality of friction members to prevent relative rotational movement between the tire and the rim.

Abstract: The invention concerns a light safety support (1) for a tire comprising a base (2), a top (3) and an annular linking body (4) with a continuous support element around the circumference and a circumferential median plane, wherein the support element includes a plurality of partitions (13), (23) extending axially on either side of the circumferential median plane that are adapted in their central part relative to their lateral end parts to reinforce the support buckling strength under a radial load.

Abstract: A safety insert is designed to be mounted in an assembly including a tire and a rim of a vehicle, so that on bearing of the tire against the insert, the insert will generate multiple vibrating signals of the rotation frequency of the tire. In one embodiment, the vibrating signals are generated by a variation of at least one of the outer radius and radial stiffness as a function of azimuth &agr;, which presents at least four maxima distributed in at least twice two different values M1 and M2.

Abstract: Rim for a vehicle tire with an emergency surface, vehicle tire with tubeless pneumatic tire and emergency surface, and process of forming emergency surface. The rim includes a radially outer surface and an emergency running support surface formed on the radially outer surface. The emergency running support surface includes an annular layer of at least one of rubber, rubber-like material, and plastic. The annular layer is vulcanized onto the radially outer surface. The vehicle wheel includes a tubeless pneumatic tire, at least one rim comprising a radially outer surface, and an emergency running support surface formed on the radially outer surface. The emergency running support surface includes an annular layer of at least one of rubber, rubber-like material, and plastic. The annular layer is vulcanized onto a the radially outer surface.

Abstract: A device to prevent the full collapse of a pneumatic tire on vehicles and large aircraft includes three arcuate portions for cooperatively fitting over a tire rim to provide an underlying support surface for a tire carcass subsequent to losing air or gas pressure. The three arcuate band portions releasably couple together for mounting on the drop well of a tire rim to form a substantially continuous surface. The invention also has protective coverings removably disposed on the outer radial extent of the band portions. The protective coverings are provided with frictional means for engaging the inner wall of the tire to prevent circumferential or lateral displacement of the tire carcass during rotation of the wheel. An insert may be placed between the band and the drop well to position the band.

Abstract: A flat-proof rim for a pneumatic tire of a wheel is disclosed. The flat-proof rim includes a circular rim body having an outer periphery. A plurality of spaced linkages are arranged along and movably connected to the outer periphery of the rim body, and each have a hoof adapted to be movable between a radially inner position and a radially outer position relative to the rim body. In addition, there is provided an apparatus for driving the linkages so that the hoofs are moved from the radially inner positions to the radially outer positions when the pneumatic tire is deflated while the wheel is rotated at a high speed.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel, comprising a rim, a disc, a tire defining with the rim a circumferential cavity C, and at least one resonator suitable for attenuating a natural resonant frequency of said cavity, said wheel also comprising a safety support, for supporting the tread of this tire from the inside in the event of loss of inflation pressure, said support providing at least one of the walls of said resonator. The invention also provides for the safety support comprising resonators.

Abstract: The invention provides a runflat device for a motor vehicle, the device comprising a ring for mounting inside a tire on a one-piece non-standard wheel rim that presents a drop center, an inner flange and an outer flange, said ring being made as at least two sectors each having a radially inner zone and a radially outer zone, wherein the sectors of the ring are independent of one another, and wherein each sector is fixed to the rim via its radially inner zone.

Abstract: A device, such as a safety support, comprising a body and a base, in which the base comprises at least one zone of resistance which is essentially circumferentially inextensible and is mechanically coupled to the body, and at least one centering zone which is mechanically joined to the resistance zone by connections with low tensile rigidity and so to be mechanically uncoupled from the body.

Abstract: A flat-proof rim for a pneumatic tire of a wheel is disclosed. The flat-proof rim includes a circular rim body having an outer periphery. A plurality of spaced linkages are arranged along and movably connected to the outer periphery of the rim body, and each have a hoof adapted to be movable between a radially inner position and a radially outer position relative to the rim body. In addition, there is provided an apparatus for driving the linkages so that the hoofs are moved from the radially inner positions to the radially outer positions when the pneumatic tire is deflated while the wheel is rotated at a high speed.

Abstract: A runflat system for a motor vehicle, comprising a non-standard one-piece rim having at least a first peripheral cavity or drop center to enable a tire to be mounted on the rim, and a runflat device for mounting on the rim inside the tire, said device being constituted by a rigid ring split into at least two circularly arcuate elements or sectors, wherein the rim has at least one second peripheral cavity which is separated from the first cavity by an intermediate peripheral ridge, wherein each sector of the ring has a radially inner portion for being received in the second cavity of the rim, and wherein the system also comprises means for fixing the sectors in the second cavity of the rim.

Abstract: Vehicle wheel including a wheel rim and pneumatic tire having a tread, two side walls and two beads, is mounted to the wheel rim. An emergency running support body is arranged within the pneumatic tire. The emergency running support body comprises a ring-shaped body. The ring-shaped body comprises a first axial outer wall region, a second axial outer wall region, and an emergency running support surface adapted to support the pneumatic tire in an emergency running condition. A first ring-shaped support element is arranged to support the first axial outer wall region. A second ring-shaped support element is arranged to support the second axial outer wall region. At least one of the first and the second ring-shaped support elements comprises a multi-layered structure.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel including a wheel rim, a pneumatic tire comprising a tread and first and second side walls, wherein each of the first and second side walls comprise a bead having a bead core, an emergency running support body including an emergency running surface and first and second axial outer wall sections, the emergency running support body further comprising the shell-shaped ring body adapted to be disposed within the tire and to support the tire in case of damage, a first ring-shaped supporting element, and a second ring-shaped supporting element, whereby the first axial outer wall section is supported on the wheel rim via the first ring-shaped supporting element and the second axial outer wall section is supported on the wheel rim via the second ring-shaped supporting element, wherein the shell-shaped ring body is one of removably connected and removably attached to one of the first ring-shaped support element and the second ring-shaped support element, and wherein one of the first ring-shaped support

Abstract: A safety support including a body and a base having a substantially cylindrical radially internal face intended to be mounted around a tire rim, the base including a set of substantially inextensible circumferential reinforcing wires wrapped in an elastomer substance, the support being provided by injection under pressure into a closed cavity from feed points located on the support body, the base including supplementary reinforcing elements arranged radially, at least in part, externally relative to all the circumferential reinforcing wires and axially with respect to the feeding points.

Abstract: A wheel (11) having a rim (12) with a pair of flanges (17, 19) including a peripheral potential roll surface (33) on at least one flange for contacting the ground in the event of tire failure has a convexly contoured roll surface with a finite cross-sectional radius of curvature (42) at the outermost radius of the wheel to provide an optimized shape of the contact surface and an enhanced contact area without introducing any flat regions in the contact area. The roll surface is formed to have a finite radius of curvature throughout the potential roll surface. The roll surface radius of curvature and may be formed in cross-section as a central circular segment (40) blending smoothly into two circular segments (44, 50) of lesser radii at the central circular segment extremities, or may be formed in cross-section as a portion of an ellipse (57) having a semi-minor axis (63) extending generally radially along the respective annular rim portion.

Abstract: A tire (1), a mounting rim (2) therefor and a circumferentially unstretchable ring (3) for supporting the tread (10) of the tire when running at low or zero pressure. The tire (1) has a radial ply casing (13) on which the points that are furthest apart axially are radially apart close to seats (12B) of outwardly sloping beads (12). The seats (12B) engage sloping seats (23′, 23″) on the rim (2), which may have at least one mounting well (22), at least one cylindrical portion (21) for receiving the supporting ring (3) and rim flange (24).

Abstract: A rim having a bearing support located between its two rim seats, which bearing support is intended to receive a support ring, is characterized in that this bearing surface comprises at least one surface clamping part, each surface clamping part being regularly distributed in the circumferential direction over the bearing surface and having a maximum external development Ds, measured on an enveloping surface concentric to the bearing surface, which is greater than the development Dp of the bearing surface, in order to create mechanical clamping between a support ring and the surface clamping part which is appropriate to ensure holding of the ring on the bearing surface during travel.

Abstract: A tire has a buttress system which maintains flexible cushioning to support a load on the tire, even after a puncture in the tire. The tire has a tire body with an inner rim attached to a wheel rim with a clamping piece. The buttress system is provided within the tire body and has an upper rib adjacent to the inner side of the tread portion of the tire body and a lower rib attached to the wheel rim. The upper rib is positioned across from the lower rib and is supported by the lower rib when there is a puncture in the tire. A clamping system clamps a doubly acute bead on the inner rim of the tire body to a cupped part of the wheel rim using the clamping piece. A saddle is provided to raise up the anchoring portion of the lower rib of the buttress system.

Abstract: Runflat tires are generally made by including a stiff insert in the sidewall thereof. This insert should be as stiff as possible to help support the weight of the vehicle to which the tire is mounted in situations where there is a loss of air pressure. During periods of operation after loss of air pressure the stiff insert carries most of the load on the tire which leads to the generation of heat. Heat build-up can then lead to thermal degradation in the insert. A reduction in crosslink density and a change in the distribution of crosslink types is the result of this thermal degradation. This invention is based upon the discovery that thermal degradation in the inserts of runflat tires can be inhibited by including a bis-citraconimido compound therein as an antireversion agent.

Abstract: A runflat system for a motor vehicle, comprising a non-standard one-piece rim having at least a first peripheral cavity or drop center to enable a tire to be mounted on the rim, and a runflat device for mounting on the rim inside the tire, said device being constituted by a rigid ring split into at least two circularly arcuate elements or sectors, wherein the rim has at least one second peripheral cavity which is separated from the first cavity by an intermediate peripheral ridge, wherein each sector of the ring has a radially inner portion for being received in the second cavity of the rim, and wherein the system also comprises means for fixing the sectors in the second cavity of the rim.

Abstract: A circular tire rim has intermediate its ends an annular drop-center section, and coaxially on opposite ends thereof enlarged diameter, circumferential flange sections engageable with the beads of a tubeless tire to support the tire on the rim. Adjacent one end thereof the drop-center section has projecting from its outer peripheral surface a pair of projections angularly spaced 180° from each other about the axis of the rim. Removably secured coaxially on the drop-center section of the rim is an annular runflat device the outer peripheral surface of which normally is radially spaced from the inner peripheral surface of the properly inflated tire on the rim, but engageable by and slidably supporting the inner peripheral surface of the tire when the latter is operated in a runflat mode. The two projections on the drop-center section of the rim seat in registering recesses formed in the inner peripheral surface of the runflat device to prevent any relative movement between the device and the rim.

Abstract: A process for cross-linking/expanding at least one cross-linkable, expandable blank, which is intended to form all or part of an elastomeric safety support for a tire in which:

Abstract: A vehicle wheel with a one-piece rim and tubeless pneumatic tire comprises an emergency rolling surface on a radially exterior shell of the rim, an elastic bead, and a one-piece toroidal chamber at each axial front end of the rim. Each chamber includes a closed radially interior chamber wall, a closed radially exterior chamber wall, a closed axially interior chamber wall, and an axially exterior chamber wall axially closed in a radially exterior area defining a radially inwardly directed flange and open in a radially interior area. A filler ring is radially secured in each chamber on the radially interior chamber wall. Each side wall of the tire extends inwardly from the axially exterior wall through the opening, and the head is embedded in the chamber such that the bead lies across the axial extent of the filler ring, the head and the filler ring completely filling the chamber.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion, a pair of sidewall portions, a pair of bead portions, a carcass extending between the bead portions, and a tread reinforcement disposed radially outside the carcass in the tread portion. The tread reinforcement comprises a reinforcing rubber layer and a radially outer reinforcing cord layer. The radially outer reinforcing cord layer is made of cords disposed radially outside the reinforcing rubber layer. The reinforcing rubber layer extends across the substantially overall tread width and made of a rubber material having a hardness of not less than 70 degrees and a loss tangent of not more than 0.15. In a tire meridian section, the thickness of the reinforcing rubber layer being in a range of not less than 2 mm at the tire equator and gradually decreasing towards the axial edges of the reinforcing rubber layer.

Abstract: A device to prevent the full collapse of a pneumatic tire on vehicles and large aircraft includes three arcuate portions for cooperatively fitting over a tire rim to provide an underlying support surface for a tire carcass subsequent to losing air or gas pressure. The three arcuate band portions releasably couple together for mounting on the drop well of a tire rim to form a substantially continuous surface. The invention also has protective coverings removably disposed on the outer radial extent of the band portions. The protective coverings are provided with frictional means for engaging the inner wall of the tire to prevent circumferential or lateral displacement of the tire carcass during rotation of the wheel. An insert may be placed between the band and the drop well to position the band.

Abstract: A run-flat device for a motor vehicle, the device being designed to be fitted clamped on a standard rim having lateral flanges for holding the beads of a tire, wherein the device is constituted by at least two coaxial annular pieces engaged one on the other, the radially-inner piece being of relatively rigid material and forming an open ring around the rim, the radially-outer piece being based on an elastically deformable material and comprising a one-piece continuous surrounding the radially-inner annular piece and having an inside diameter that is substantially equal to or greater than the outside diameter of a lateral flange of the rim.

Abstract: A method for detecting vibrations generated by the running of a tire on a safety insert, wherein a vibration signal is measured within a given frequency band and the measurement thus made is processed to detect a mode of resonance generated by this running. The energy of the signal measured by a sensor in two frequency bands, one being narrow and the other being wide, which are centered on the same line of the mode of resonance, is determined. The ratio of these two energies is compared with a given warning threshold.

Abstract: A run-flat tire system for motorcycle improved in the puncture resistance and run-flat performance, which comprises a tire, tube and buffer; when the tire is mounted on a wheel rim and inflated, a tire cavity has a maximum section width (Wi), and when the tire is not inflated, the tire cavity has a maximum diameter (dd) and a sectional area (Sd); the buffer is an annular body made of an elastic closed-cell material disposed in the tire cavity, and a circumferentially extending groove is formed in a radially inner surface thereof to dispose the tube therein; the outside diameter (D) of the buffer under its free state is set in the range of from 0.90 to 1.0 times the maximum diameter (dd) of the cavity; the maximum section width (W) of the buffer under the free state is set in the range of from 1.05 to 1.2 times the maximum section width (Wi) of the cavity; and a gross sectional area (S) of the buffer under the free state inclusive of the sectional area of the groove is set in the range of from 1.0 to 1.

Abstract: Preventing simply and firmly occurrence of a puncture caused by mutual contact of wall faces of a tube. Thick wall portions are formed at portions of a tube included in a tire and the thick wall portions are brought into contact with thin wall portions when the tire engages on a hazard and the tire and the tube are squeezed between flange portions of a rim and the hazard. The thick wall portions are not damaged since they have an increased strength and also the thin wall portions are protected against damage caused by a load since the load exerting on the thin wall portions is dispersed by the thick wall portions which are readily subjected to elastic deformation. The thin wall portions may be rendered thick wall portions and the thick wall portions may be brought into mutual contact.

Abstract: A tire with a radial carcass reinforcement, when viewed in meridian section, includes a first bead, the seat of which is inclined towards the outside, the heel of the bead being axially on the inside and being reinforced by at least a reinforcement ring, the toe of the bead being axially on the outside and having a rubber wedge section made of rubber mix, the wedge being defined by two sides, the said rubber mix having a Shore A hardness greater than the Shore A hardness(es) of the rubber mixes located axially and radially above the bead ring and above the rubber wedge section.

Abstract: A tire is supported in a deflated or run-flat condition by curved, tubular support segments. End portions of adjacent support segments include complementary male and female portions disposed in mating engagement when installed on a wheel in the run-flat operative position. The mating end portions maintain alignment of the support segments during installation and oppose lateral deflection of the segments relative to the wheel in response to side impact forces imposed on the tire during run-flat operation. Each support segment includes a smooth crown portion centered between two shoulder portions and separated from the shoulder portions by a pair of annular grooves or pockets. During run-flat turning and cornering movement, tire tread material is pressed into one of the annular grooves, thus centering the tire on the support segment, thereby opposing lateral shifting movement of the tire tread relative to the support segment and distributing load forces uniformly across the tire tread.

Abstract: A tire (1), a mounting rim (2) therefor and a circumferentially unstretchable ring (3) for supporting the tread (10) of the tire when running at low or zero pressure. The tire (1) has a radial ply casing (13) on which the points that are furthest apart axially are radially apart close to seats (12B) of outwardly sloping beads (12). The seats (12B) engage sloping seats (23', 23") on the rim (2), which may have at least one mounting well (22), at least one cylindrical portion (21) for receiving the supporting ring (3) and a rim flange (24).

Abstract: A device enabling a motor vehicle to run on a flat tire, the device comprising a running ring made of elastomer and mounted tightly on the rim of the wheel inside the tire, the running ring being largely overdimensioned in radial height, in width or axial dimension, and in mass, and its radially-projecting annular portion is offset towards the inside of the vehicle to form protection for the occupants of the vehicle against the explosion of a mine triggered by passage of the wheel.

Abstract: A safety insert, intended to be mounted on a wheel rim inside a tire to support the crown of this tire in the event of a loss of inflation pressure, wherein the running radius of the safety insert under run-flat conditions varies with a frequency of variation that is appreciably equal to its frequency of rotation.

Abstract: A safety liner for protecting the tubeless tires is provided. The liner is combined a predetermined number of segment of identical shape to form a circular configuration for disposing in place into the drop center of a tire rim and adjustably locked up by a coupling member at the confronting ends of the circular configuration. A wedge plate slidably secures between each segment and the drop center at one side and a cushion runner disposes between the circular configuration and the drop center at the other side. When the tire becomes flat, the flexible outer surface of the liner engages with the inner surface of the tire that permits a vehicle continuous operation. Because the liner is combined by a plurality of segments, it is structurally flexible to suite to different types of tire rim and because the segments are in identical shape, it facilitate a mass production and low cost to manufacture.

Abstract: A device for supporting the tread of a tire which includes a rigid support 1) and an elastic top cap rubber (2) made of a vulcanized rubber compound, a lubricant (5) arranged between said support (1) and said top cap rubber (2) allowing circumferential displacement between the support (1) and the top cap rubber (2), wherein each shoulder (122) of the bearing ring (12) of the support (1) is equipped on its edge with at least one straight circumferential groove (124) in which there is housed the corresponding circumferential rib (25) of the radially internal face (200) of the top cap rubber (2), said rib (25) being in contact with the bottom of the groove (124) of the support (1).

Abstract: A tire has a carcass reinforcement (1) which, when viewed in meridian secn, is wound in each bead B about a bead wire (2) coated with a rubber mix, passing from the heel to the toe of the bead B, the upturn (10) being located in a profile (3) of rubber mix in the form of a wedge defined by two sides (31 and 32) coming from an apex A located beneath the section of the coated bead wire (2). Advantageously the upturn (10) surrounds in its entirety the contour of the profile (3), forming either a first radially inner side (32), a lateral side (30), and a final radially outer side (31) or a first radially outer side (31), a lateral side (30), and a final radially inner side (32). The tire may form with different rims J high-performance assemblies in the event of travel at low or zero pressure, permitting simple mounting of the tires and optionally of bearing supports S for the tire tread on the rims J.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a vehicle having at least one tire mounted on a support member. The tire has a centerline that substantially defines a first tipline of the vehicle. A device, which has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the tire, is attached to the support member. The device includes a contact surface having a centerline that substantially defines a second tipline of the vehicle. When the tire is loaded and deflects such that the device interacts with a support surface, the tipline of the vehicle is moved from the first tipline to the second tipline to improve the stability of the vehicle.

Abstract: A tube or tubeless tire, which can be punctured and still allow a vehicle to continue running, includes a plurality of spherical members formed of foamed rubber or foamed urethane. The spherical members are contained inside an air chamber of the tire and occupy 50% to 80% of the volume of the air chamber of an inflated tire.

Abstract: Safety support essentially made of a flexible elastomeric material includ a substantially cylindrical base, a substantially cylindrical cap and an annular body connecting the base and the cap. The body has, on one side, which is intended to be placed on the outboard side of the vehicle, a plurality of cavities extending substantially axially as far as at least halfway into said body without passing through it.

Abstract: A back up tire or safety rim is formed of semi-elastic material mounted on the rim of a vehicle wheel inside a tubeless tire of the vehicle which serves as a cushion between the rim of the wheel and the tread of the tubeless tire when a blowout of the tire occurs.

Abstract: A rolling assembly is formed of a tire P with radial carcass reinforcement (1), the equilibrium curve of the thickness center line of which is tangent to the bead cores (2), and of a rim J comprising, axially to the outside of each seat (20) a flange R formed of a frustoconical portion (23) having a generatrix forming an angle of between 20.degree. and 60.degree. with a direction parallel to the axis of rotation, which is connected axially to the inside to the rim seat by an S-shaped portion and which is extended axially towards the outside by a cylindrical portion (25), in its turn extended by the curved end (26), the rim J having an axial width A equal to at most 0.65 times the maximum axial width S of the tire mounted on its rim and inflated to its pressure of use.

Abstract: A method of fitting a tire and support ring on a one-piece wheel rim in wh the rim includes a first wheel rim seating surface and a second wheel rim seating surface, the first wheel rim seating surface tapering outwardly and having a small hump at the axially outer end and being connected axially on the inside to a cylindrical portion intended to receive a tread support ring, the tire having a first bead and a second bead to be fitted, respectively, on the first wheel rim seating surface and the second wheel rim seating surface, and in which the removable support ring is inserted into the tire before fitting the support ring on the wheel rim.

Abstract: A tire (1), a mounting rim (2) therefor and a circumferentially unstretchable ring (3) for supporting the tread (10) of the tire when running at low or zero pressure. The tire (1) has a radial ply casing (13) on which the points that are furthest apart axially are radially apart close to seats (12B) of outwardly sloping beads (12). The seats (12B) engage sloping seats (23', 23") on the rim (2), which may have at least one mounting well (22), at least one cylindrical portion (21) for receiving the supporting ring (3) and a rim flange (24).

Abstract: A vehicle wheel has a wheel rim with a radially inwardly positioned mounting surface and rim flanges connected axially to opposite ends of the the mounting surface. A pneumatic vehicle tire with a carcass including at least one carcass ply is provided. The pneumatic vehicle tire has a tread and two sidewalls. The pneumatic vehicle tire is mounted on the inner mounting surface of the wheel rim so as to substantially enclose the mounting surface of the wheel rim. The rim flanges have a radially outwardly projecting end portion serving as axial contact surfaces for a respective one of the sidewalls.

Abstract: Three equally spaced contoured pads are installed around the center of the outer periphery of a conventional existing wheel rim. The pads are supported by brackets welded to the rim, and the contours of the pads form a circle when positioned correctly. The pads are flexibly moveable relative to the brackets to allow for instantaneous spin balancing during wheel rim rotation as occasioned by vehicle usage. In addition to spin balancing, the wheel safety rim functions to prevent a vehicle from riding on the wheel rim when an associated tire becomes deflated. Further provided is a specialized tool for facilitating the installation of the present device.

Abstract: An assembly is formed of a tire (1), a mounting rim (2), and an annular bearing support (3) for the tread (10) of the tire, for running at low pressure or at zero pressure. The rim (2) has two seats (23', 23"), the first seat (23') having an outwardly inclined generatrix and being axially outwardly extended by a shoulder or hump (25'), and the second seat (23") having an inwardly inclined generatrix and being axially outwardly extended by a flange (24). The tire (1) has a radial carcass reinforcement (13) with a particular meridional profile and two beads (12', 12") adapted to the mounting rim (2). The tread supporting ring (3) is ovalizable and circumferentially inextensible.

Abstract: An emergency ring of elastic material for a vehicle wheel having a one-piece deep bed rim comprises a one-piece annular support body, which via support rings are supported exclusively on the rim bed of the wheel and is spaced apart from at least one side wall region or of a pneumatic tire. Reinforcement inlays are disposed radially such that there is only relatively little compressible elastic material within the reinforcement inlays. High security against rotation of the emergency ring relative to the rim is thereby assured. Moreover, the emergency ring is easily mounted and provides great security against a tire being thrown off, even when cornering with tires with low air pressure.

Abstract: A support device for a pneumatic tired wheel for supporting the tire in a deflated or run-flat condition includes circular segment support members, each having a transverse cylindrical web and opposed radially inwardly projecting flange portions. The support member segments are interconnected by linkages which provide for radially extending and retracting the segments so that the support device may be mounted on a fixed or one-piece wheel having a rim portion with a diameter less than the opposed tire bead support flanges and with or without removing a tire entirely from the wheel. Threaded bolts are mounted on the wheel rim and extend radially outwardly into engagement with a link member of each of the linkages to cause the linkages to radially extend or retract the support segments.

Abstract: A composite wheel is used with a pneumatic tire having at least one bead. The composite wheel includes a circular drum having an elongated skirt extending out from the circular drum substantial perpendicular thereto along the periphery of the circular drum. A tire bead retention member receives the bead of the pneumatic tire and is then removably secured to the elongated skirt with a nut and bolt fastening system. The removability of the tire bead retention member enables the pneumatic tire to be dismountable from the composite wheel. Run flat devices are attachable to the tire bead retention members prior to mounting the drum body which allow the pneumatic tire to run without air without destroying sidewalls of the pneumatic tire.