Abstract: A tire for heavy loads, having an inextensible radial carcass ply anchored to a bead wire to form an upturn, the end of which is located at a radial distance from the base of the bead. Each bead is reinforced by at least two additional reinforcement armatures, one armature formed of radial inextensible metallic reinforcement elements and a second armature formed of metallic elements forming an angle with the circumferential direction, the first armature being formed of at least one ply wound around the anchoring bead wire on the inside of the carcass reinforcement to form two strands, such that the axially inner strand, between the radially lower end of its radially upper edge parallel to the meridian profile of the carcass reinforcement and its point of tangency with the anchoring bead wire, follows a rectilinear trace referred to as “shortest-path”.

Abstract: A tire has a radial carcass reinforcement having a bead, the seat of which is inclined towards the outside, the bead heel axially to the inside and reinforced by at least one reinforcement element, the bead toe axially to the outside and having a profiled element of rubber mix in the form of a wedge defined by two sides, the mix having a Shore A hardness greater than the Shore A hardness of the rubber mixes radially above, wherein the reinforcement winds around the annular element to form an upturn, the end of which is located axially to the outside of a straight line P2 perpendicular to the axis of rotation and passing through the center of gravity of the meridian section of the element, and axially to the inside and radially to the outside of the straight line P1 supporting the radially outer side of the profiled element.

Abstract: A two-piece tire assembly has a removable tread belt 12 for installing about the circumference of a tire carcass 14. The tread belt has a pair of lateral ends each axially extending beyond the inflated unloaded carcass 14 at the circumferential surface by a distance of at least 4% of the width as measured at the tread belt 12 and carcass 14 interface. The carcass 14 has an abrasion resistant rubber layer 82 at the tread belt interface. The tread belt 12 also has the abrasion resistance tread compound 82 at the carcass 14 interface.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a carcass comprised of one or more carcass plies and a belt disposed on an outer periphery side of a crown portion of the carcass and comprised of one or more belt layers, wherein each of at least one carcass ply and at least one belt layer is constituted with organic fiber cords having a modulus of elasticity within a specified range.

Abstract: A pneumatic vehicle tire of radial construction, especially for automobiles, is provided. The tire has a profiled tread strip, a belt structure of at least two belt plies, bead regions having bead cores, and a carcass having load-carrying members of steel cord. In the tire the carcass forms a C-ply construction and contains steel cords of three or five steel filaments, which all have the same diameter of 0.12 to 0.1 5mm.

Abstract: A two-ply radial runflat tire having a belt structure, a ply structure, two inextensible beads and two wedge-insert reinforced sidewalls. The outer ply is reinforced by high-modulus, light-weight aramid. The aramid reinforcement material of the outer ply is clamped around the beads. The outer ply is prestressed in tension during manufacture of the tire. The resultant tire is light in weight and resists upward buckling of the tread during runflat operation.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises at least one carcass ply of steel cords, in which a wrap part wound on a bead core along its outer peripheral face is disposed in a turnup portion of the carcass ply and at least one wire chafer wound around the bead core from a main body portion of the carcass ply toward the turnup portion thereof in a widthwise direction is embedded in the bead portion or the main body portion of the carcass ply is adequately regulated so as to enhance lateral stiffness of the bead portion.

Abstract: A tire to be mounted on a rim of axial width L, with flanges with rounded rim hooks, having a tread joined to two beads (3) by two sidewalls (2) and at least one carcass reinforcement (1) formed of at least one ply of reinforcement elements, characterized in that each bead (3) is without a bead wire, the carcass reinforcement (1) having in each bead (3) a meridian profile which is curved axially and radially from the outside to the inside to form an axially inner edge located in an angle a open axially and radially towards the inside, one of the edges of which is parallel to the axis of rotation, the carcass reinforcement (1) being reinforced in each bead (3) at least radially to the outside and axially to the inside by at least one first continuous additional layer (6), of meridian profile substantially parallel to the meridian profile of the carcass reinforcement (1) in the bead (3) and including at least one first section composed of at least one ply (61, 62, 63) of inextensible reinforcement elements form

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a body having a plurality of main body cords. The tire includes an upper section above the maximum section width and a lower section below the maximum section width. The modulus of the body cords is configured to be larger in the lower section than in the upper section. This modulus ratio decreases the rolling resistance of the tire. The increased modulus in the lower section is achieved by providing intermediate body cords disposed between the main body cords. In another embodiment, the increased modulus is achieved by changing the material and/or size of the cords in the lower section.

Abstract: Formation of a carcass ply takes place by laying down onto a toroidal support (11), a first and a second series of strip-like sections (13, 14) cut to size from a continuous strip-like element (2a) and each comprising longitudinal thread-like elements (15) incorporated into a layer of elastomer material (18). The sections (13) of the first series are sequentially disposed at some circumferential distance from each other, to form side portions (19) to the end flaps (19a) of which primary portions (4a) of respective bead-reinforcing structures (4) are applied. The sections (14) of the second series are each interposed in the space defined between two sections of the first series (13), with the respective end flaps (20a) overlapping the primary portions (4a) of the annular structures (4). Additional portions (24) of the annular structures are applied to the end flaps (20a) of the sections (14) belonging to the second series.

Abstract: The tire of the invention has an optimized path of the outermost carcass designed to maximize the extent of tensile stress in the sidewall and bead portions of the tire. The invention further provides separate reinforcement structures in the bead portion for anchoring the carcass or carcasses in the bead and for retaining the bead on the mounting rim during deflated operation, and said anchoring reinforcement also facilitates the maintenance of the desirable carcass profile.

Abstract: The invention concerns a tire whose crown contains a ply of circumferentially oriented cords. That ply is so arranged that in sensitive zones, as, for example, at the side ends of the adjacent crown reinforcing ply, the laying pitch of the circumferentially oriented cords is markedly increased. That considerably lessens the risk of damage to the circumferentially oriented cords in those zones.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the rolling efficiency of a wheel includes a circular frame capable of rolling along a rolling surface, a rolling assembly for causing the circular frame to rotate, and a shock absorbing means connecting the rolling assembly and the circular frame wherein the circular frame maintains a substantially rounded area of contact with the rolling surface.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire with an increased load carrying capacity (extended load index) but compatible with conventional, commercially available wheel rims, has a modified carcass ply line. The pneumatic tire (746) has a tread area (712) and a carcass structure (728) including two bead areas (750a,750b), at least one cord-reinforced elastomeric ply (730) extending through sidewalls (726a,726) between the bead areas (750a,750b) and the tread area (712), and a belt structure (718) between the tread area (712) and the carcass structure (728). The tire (746) has bead areas (750a,750b) containing a triangular shaped beads so that the ply line (PL′″) that causes the bead areas to better secure the tire to the rim during high stress conditions.

Abstract: A tire with a form ratio H/S between 0.3 and 0.8 has a carcass reinforcement (1) which is covered radially by a quasi-cylindrical crown reinforcement (3) and which is tangential at T to a holding circle C. The common tangent at T to the circle C and to the meridian profile of the carcass (1) makes an angle &agr; of between +20° and −80° with respect to a line parallel to the rotation axis and passing through the tangency point T. In its portion located between the tangency point T and the point E of greatest axial width, the carcass reinforcement (1) is provided with a reinforcement armature (6) of circumferentially non-extensible elements. Viewed in meridian cross-section and when the tire is fitted and inflated to the recommended pressure, the carcass (1) has a meridian profile consisting of four circular arcs configured to improve the endurance of the tire while improving its rolling resistance.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a rubber component where the rubber in said component is comprised of

Abstract: A heavy duty radial tire comprises: a carcass ply turned up around a bead core in each bead portion from the inside to outside of the tire so as to form a pair of turnup portions and a main portion therebetween; a bead apex rubber disposed between each of the turnup portions and the main portion, each. of the turnup portions extending radially outwardly beyond a radially outer end of the bead apex to adjoin the main portion; a chafer rubber disposed along at least an axially outer surface of each of the bead portions so as to define at least a flange-contacting part for contacting with a flange of a wheel rim; the height of the radially outer end of the bead apex being in the range of from 7 to 35% of the height of the carcass at the tire equator and being less than the height of the radially outer end of the chafer rubber; and the flange-contacting part being devoid of a concave profile. When the carcass ply is made of steel cords whose sectional area is in the range of from 0.10 to 0.25 sq.

Abstract: A carcass structure for vehicle wheel tyres includes at least one carcass ply and a pair of annular reinforcing structures. The at least one carcass ply includes a first and a second series of strip segments consecutively arranged along a circumferential development of a toroidal support and including at least two filiform elements, positioned longitudinally and parallel to each other, at least partially coated by at least one layer of raw elastomer material. The annular reinforcing structures include at least one primary portion and at least one additional portion. The at least one primary portion includes a first circwnferentially-inextensible annular insert, a filling body, and at least one second circumferentially-inextensible annular insert. The at least one additional portion comprises at least one third circumferentially-inextensible annular insert. The annular inserts are each formed by at least one elongated element extending in concentric turns.

Abstract: A multi-layer cable having an unsaturated outer layer, usable as a reinforcing element for a tire carcass reinforcement, comprising a core (C0) of diameter d0 surrounded by an intermediate layer (C1) of six or seven wires (M=6 or 7) of diameter d1 wound together in a helix at a pitch P1, this layer C1 itself being surrounded by an outer layer (C2) of N wires of diameter d2 wound together in a helix at a pitch P2, N being less by 1 to 3 than the maximum number Nmax of wires which can be wound in one layer about the layer C1, this cable being characterised in that it has the following characteristics (d0, d1, d2, p1 and p2 in mm):

Abstract: A tire having a radial carcass reinforcement covered radially on the outside by a crown reinforcement consisting of two working plies of reinforcement elements crossed over and making angles of between 10° and 45° with respect to the circumferential direction, the carcass reinforcement in its portion underneath the crown reinforcement being formed of cut reinforcement elements.

Abstract: Formation of a carcass ply takes place by laying down onto a toroidal support (11), a first and a second series of strip-like sections (13, 14) cut to size from a continuous strip-like element (2a) and each comprising longitudinal thread-like elements (15) incorporated into a layer of elastomer material (18). The sections (13) of the first series are sequentially disposed at some circumferential distance from each other, to form side portions (19) to the end flaps (19a) of which primary portions (4a) of respective bead-reinforcing structures (4) are applied. The sections (14) of the second series are each interposed in the space defined between two sections of the first series (13), with the respective end flaps (20a) overlapping the primary portions (4a) of the annular structures (4). Additional portions (24) of the annular structures are applied to the end flaps (20a) of the sections (14) belonging to the second series.

Abstract: The subject of the present invention is the use of cohesive, low-hysteresis compositions comprising small amounts of reinforcing fillers to produce profiled filing members arranged in the zones of the shoulder and the crown of tires in order to improve the life thereof.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire with an increased load carrying capacity (extended load index) but compatible with conventional, commercially available wheel rims, has a modified carcass plyline. The tire has a tread area, a carcass structure including two bead areas each comprising a bead, at least one cord-reinforced elastomeric ply extending between the two bead areas, and two sidewalls, one sidewall extending between the tread area and each bead area.

Abstract: Halogenated isobutylene-co-paramethylstyrene polymer, preferably brominated isobutylene-co-paramethylstyrene polymer (BIMS) and blends thereof, preferably blends of isobutylene based rubber, show improved heat resistance versus butyl inner tube compositions and retain the superior barrier properties of butyl inner tube compositions versus inner tube compositions with butyl/EP blends.

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 pneumatic tire comprises a tread rubber disposed radially outside a tread reinforcing belt, the tread rubber includes a radially outmost cap tread rubber and a radially inner base tread rubber, wherein the base tread rubber includes a central base tread rubber centered on the tire equator and a side base tread rubber disposed on each side of the central base tread rubber, and the tread rubber having one of the following hardness distributions (a) and (b): (a) the side base tread rubber is hardest in the tread rubber, and the cap tread rubber has a hardness of from 53 to 63 degrees, the central base tread rubber has a hardness of from 45 to 60 degrees, and the side base tread rubber has a hardness of from 65 to 75 degrees; (b) the side base tread rubber is softest in the tread rubber, and the cap tread rubber has a hardness of 60 to 80 degrees, the central base tread rubber has a hardness of from 65 to 75 degrees, and the side base tread rubber has a hardness of from 45 to 60 degrees.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer prepared by a process comprising reacting an elastomer containing at least one reactive halogen atom with a poly(R1(R2)ethylene-co-maleimide) in the presence of a compatibilizer that reduces surface tension between the elastomer and the poly(R1(R2) ethylene-co-maleimide) and in the presence of a Lewis base catalyst, where R1 is a monovalent organic group and R2 is hydrogen or a monovalent organic group.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having an excellent tire uniformity without air leakage is manufactured by laying a central innerliner, belt layers and tread rubber on an outer circumference of a shaping drum with an outer surface form being approximately the same as an inner surface form of a tire product, and laying an approximately ring-shaped sidewall assembly comprising a bead core provided with a bead filler, a side carcass layer, an outside innerliner and the like on each side face of the shaping drum without a step of expanding and deforming a green case into an approximately semi-circular form.

Abstract: A heavy duty radial tire comprises a carcass ply being turned up around bead cores form the axially inside to outside of the tire, a bead apex disposed between the carcass main portion and each turnup portion, the turnup portion extending radially outwardly beyond the radially outer end of the bead apex so that the turnup portion has a parallel part which is placed adjacent to and substantially in parallel with the main portion, and a chafer disposed in each bead portion and extending radially outwardly beyond the radially outer end of the bead apex along the axially outside of the turnup portion.

Abstract: A carcass ply producing apparatus for producing a carcass ply constituting a carcass layer of a tire comprises

Abstract: An elastomeric tire for mounting onto a rim that is manufactured by casting or molding methods to include an interior arch shaped cavity that is centered under the tire tread to have at least one hundred forty (140) degrees and not more than one hundred eighty (180) degrees of arc, and with the cavity arch duplicated around the tire exterior, below the tire tread. A uniform tire wall thickness is provided that is selected for a particular anticipated load as the tire will carry, the tire supporting the load in compression, and provides ride and wear characteristics are comparable to an appropriately pressurized pneumatic tire carrying a like load, and which tire of the invention interior arch shaped cavity can be pressurized to add to its inherent load supporting character to safely support even greater loads.

Abstract: A tire wheel for vehicles comprises a mounting rim which can be associated with a hub of a vehicle and is provided with two bead seats forming a cone, for engagement with corresponding beads of a tire, with its apex on said axis of rotation in a position axially outside said rim, a tire comprising a toroidal carcass provided with a crown portion connected to a pair of axially facing sidewalls terminating in beads for engagement with the corresponding bead seats formed on the rim, said tire having its maximum width in the region of said beads, and an inner tube inserted into the toroidal cavity defined between tire and rim, elastically expandable by means of the introduction of fluid under pressure into its internal volume, and provided with an inflating and deflating device inserted in the wall of said inner tube, without any element for connection to the environment outside the wheel, in particular passing through the wall of the rim.

Abstract: Rubber composites, for example pneumatic tipes, can be made using seamless, tubular reinforcement (14). By pulling socks of seamless tubular reinforcement over, for example, a tire building drum (10), spliceless carcass reinforcement (18) and spliceless belts (64) can be incorporated into tires. Methods of treating the spliceless tubular material, by drawing and by adhesive coating, enhance its strength and adhesion to rubber.

Abstract: A processable rubber stock is produced by the preparation of a silica-filled, vulcanized elastomeric compound comprising mixing an elastomer with an amorphous silica filler, from 0 to less than about 1% by weight based on said silica filter of bis[3-triethoxysilyl)propyl]tetrasulfide, an alkylalkoxysilane and a cure agent. A further processing aid comprising at least one of an ester of a fatty acid or an ester of a polyol is preferred. The elastomer is preferably a diene monomer homopolymer or a copolymer of at least one diene and at least one monovinyl aromatic monomer. By effecting vulcanization, a vulcanized elastomeric compound is produced containing good physical properties for use as tread stock for a pneumatic tire.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire wherein both end portions of at least one layer of a carcass layer are turned up around right and left bead cores from the inside to the outside of the tire, and at least two layers of belt layers formed by arranging reinforcing cords in such a fashion that their inclining directions with respect to a tire circumferential direction cross one another in mutually opposite directions between the layers are disposed on the outer circumferential side of the carcass layer of a tread portion. A carcass strength coefficient K defined by the formula (1) in the specification is 0.15 to 0.35 N/mm·kPa at portions on the tread portion center side of positions P which are away by 10% of a belt width of a belt layer having the second greatest width from both edges thereof towards its inside, and is 0.5 N/mm·kPa at portions from the positions P to the bead portions.

Abstract: The present invention provides silica-filled, vulcanized elastomeric compounds comprising an elastomer mixed with at least a silica filler, a processing aid, and a curing agent, and processes for the preparation of the same. Generally, the present invention provides processing aids which effectively reduce or replace the amount (i.e., about 10 percent by weight based upon the silica filler) of the processing aid bis[3-triethyoxysilyl)propyl]tetrasulfide (“Si69”) used in the production of silica-filled rubber stocks. These new processing aids include alkyl alkoxysilanes, fatty acid esters of hydrogenated and non-hydrogenated sugars and the polyoxyethylene derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof, with or without various non-reinforcing fillers such as mineral fillers. The processing aids do not hinder the physical properties of the compounds and have been found to be excellent substitutes for Si69.

Abstract: In a method of producing a tire tread provided with an electrically conductive layer arranged therein, an uncured high electrically conductive rubber ribbon for the formation of the electrically conductive layer is wound on a circumference of a tire material containing a high electrically conductive rubber layer as at least an outermost layer at a given height in a radial direction under the rotation of the tire material, and an uncured tread rubber is wound on the circumference of the tire material before or after the winding of the ribbon.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire primarily for, but not limited to, off-the-road vehicles, the tire having an inner diameter to outer diameter ratio of between 0.55-0.70.

Abstract: A tire casing, has an unvulcanized noncord reinforced subassembly 10A as an intermediate article of manufacture. The subassembly 10 has at least two components laminated to it. The components are selected from one or more of the component types consisting of a liner 50, sidewall 70, a chafer 60, a whitewall strip 80, a cover strip 90, and a gum shoulder strip 40. The subassembly 10A has a width (W) and a pair of ends 12,14, the distance between the ends 12,14 defining the subassembly length (L). Preferably, the components are laminated to one another and have common ends 12,14 that are spliced along a substantially flat plane (P). The flat plane (P) extends through the article across its axial width, preferably substantially perpendicular to the length of the subassembly. The flat plane (P) is inclined at an angle &thgr;, &thgr; being less than 90°, preferably about 80° relative to a radial normal plane (NP) passing through and perpendicular to the subassembly 10A.

Abstract: A polymer composition for a tire having an air permeation coefficient of 25×10−12 cc·cm/cm2·sec ·cmHg (at 30° C.) or less and a Young's modulus of 1 to 500 MPa, including (A) at least 10% by weight, based on the weight of the total polymer component, of at least one thermoplastic resin having an air permeation coefficient of not more than 25×10−12 cc·cm/cm2·sec·cmHg (at 30° C.) and a Young's modulus of more than 500 MPa and (B) at least 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the polymer component, of at least one elastomer component having an air permeation coefficient of more than 25×10−12 cc·cm/cm2·sec·cmHg (at 30° C.) and a Young's modulus of not more than 500 MPa, wherein the total amount (A)+(B) of the component (A) and the component (B) is not less than 30% by weight based on the weight of the total polymer component, and a pneumatic tire obtained therefrom.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprising a tread, wherein the rubber composition of the tread layer comprises 50 parts by weight or more of SBR in 100 parts by weight of the rubber component and, in an amount of 0.2 to 5.0 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the rubber component, a vulcanization accelerator represented by the following general formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 each independently represents an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms which may be linear, branched, or cyclic or an aryl group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms. The pneumatic tire shows excellent controllability at high speed.

Abstract: A radial tire when mounted on a rim and filled to normal inner pressure has a ratio of the upper cross-sectional height USH to the cross-sectional height SH between 0.50 and 0.59, a ratio of the lower cross-sectional height LSH to SH between 0.40 and 0.50, a rim width of more than 1.40 times the measuring rim width MRW but less than 1.45 MRW, an aspect ratio of less than 0.65, a beadfiller height of greater than 0.224 SH, and an angle between the tangent to the carcass line at a bead upper point B and a line extending in parallel with the rotation axis of the tire is less than 45°.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having simplified structure and improved properties has mono-ply carcass having ply turn-ups closely wrapped around the bead hoop and extended to underlie breaker edges and the carcass cord angle in crown region is substantially radial at 85°-90° to the circumferential direction whereas in the sidewall region the cord angles of the main carcass ply portion and the turn-up portion are at a lower angle of 65°-85° and are crossed with respect to each other.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a carcass structure for vehicle tires includes the steps of making at least one carcass ply by deposition of elongated sections circumferentially distributed on a toroidal support and applying annular reinforcing structures to a region close to inner circumferential edges of the at least one carcass ply. Each of the elongated sections extends in a U-shaped configuration around a cross-sectional outline of the toroidal support to define two side portions mutually spaced apart in an axial direction and one crown portion extending at a radially outer position between the side portions. Each of the elongated sections is laid down substantially in a plane parallelly offset relative to a meridian plane of the toroidal support. A related carcass structure and tire are also disclosed.

Abstract: At least one carcass ply is formed by depositing a strip element, comprising longitudinal thread elements incorporated into a layer of elastomer material, onto a toroidal support. Deposition of the strip element takes place in alternated deposition sections, each comprising two radially-extending side portions and a crown portion extending at a radially external position. The side portions of each deposition section are at least partly overlapped with side portions belonging to an adjacent deposition section. Associated with the carcass ply are an anchoring element. A belt structure, a tread band, and sidewalls are combined with the thus-formed carcass structure to define a tire to be submitted to a vulcanization step.

Abstract: The tire reinforcing member of the present invention comprises (a) at least one composite layer comprising a rubber composition and steel cords, and, optionally, (b) at least one rubber composition layer comprising a rubber composition, which adjoins to the composite layer. A basic inorganic filler is compounded into at least one rubber composition layer which constitutes the tire reinforcing member. The tire reinforcing member greatly enhances the endurance of a pneumatic tire by dramatically improving the resistance to loss of steel cord-to-coating rubber adhesion without affecting the initial adhesion.

Abstract: A heavy duty radial tire which comprises a tread portion, a pair of sidewall portions, a pair of bead portions, a carcass extending between the bead portions and composed of a single ply of steel cords arranged radially at an angle of from 70 to 90 degrees with respect to the tire equator, and a belt disposed radially outside the carcass in the tread portion and composed of two cross plies of steel cords laid parallel with each other at an angle of from 0 to 45 degrees with respect to the tire equator, wherein in at least the central part of the tread portion having 50% of the axial width of the belt, the total amount of steel in the belt plies being in the range of from 6 to 10 times the steel amount in the carcass ply, and the thickness of rubber between the radially adjacent belt cords and carcass cords is in the range of from 0.7 to 3.0 mm. Preferably, the two belt plies are made of substantially the same amount of steel in the central part.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire for passenger car comprises a radial carcass comprised of at least one rubberized carcass ply containing organic fiber cords therein, and a belt comprised of plural belt layers, wherein at least one carcass ply has a cut-out zone in its crown portion and a carcass supporting layer is arranged adjacent to the cut-out zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to the preparation of a rubber composition containing starch/plasticizer composite reinforcement, together with at least one additional reinforcing filler, through the utilization of a combination of an organosilane disulfide compound mixed with a rubber composition in a preparatory, non-productive, mixing stage(s) followed by adding an organosilane polysulfide compound in a subsequent, productive, mixing stage. The invention further relates to the resulting rubber composition and use thereof in rubber products, including tires.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a pair of axially spaced bead portions with a bead core, and a carcass comprising a main portion extending from one of the bead cores to the other. In a state that the tire is mounted on a standard rim and inflated to a standard pressure but loaded with no tire load, a carcass line inclination angle &agr; is set in the range of not more than 20 degrees. The carcass line inclination angle &agr; is defined as an angle with respect to the tire radial direction, of a straight line (X) drawn between a first point (P1) and a second point (P2). The first point (P1) is an intersecting point between an axial line (K2) passing a bead heel point, and a tangent to a carcass line at a radial height of the radial center of the bead core. The second point (P2) is a point on the carcass line at a radial height of a flange of the standard rim. The carcass line is a thickness center line of the carcass main portion.