Abstract: A method of forecasting the comfort performance in a vehicle equipped with a test mounted assembly in a selected position, traveling at speed V over smooth ground, with a maximum speed Vmax, by establishing a vehicle transfer function where the assembly has a tire with N substantially identical irregularities on its circumference, regularly distributed to excite the vehicle in a range of frequencies, measuring the forces at the wheel center, and multiplying the forces by the vehicle transfer function to forecast the noise and vibrations.

Abstract: A monohydroxysilane polysulfide of the formula: in which the radicals R, which may be identical or different, are hydrocarbon groups preferably comprising from 1 to 15 carbon atoms; the radicals R′, which may be identical or different, are divalent linking groups preferably comprising from 1 to 18 carbon atoms; x is greater than or equal to 2. This hydroxysilane is in particular a bis-(propyidimethylsilanol) polysulfide. A process for obtaining such a hydroxysilane by alcoholysis and/or hydrolysis of a halogenated organosilane, followed by a sulfuration stage. Use of this hydroxysilane as a coupling agent.

Abstract: The present invention is a pneumatic tire and wheel system comprising: a wheel including a rim; mechanically secured to which is an annular insert and a pneumatic tire including an interior space; and a lubricant release system for release of lubricant into the interior space of the tire. The lubricant release system comprises: a sensor for sensing tire conditions; a transmitter for sending a first signal to; a computer for assessing the signal and sending a second signal to; an actuator mechanically secured to the wheel. The actuator includes: a receiver for receiving the signal; a reservoir for containing lubricant; an expulsion mechanism for expelling lubricant; and a power source for powering the expulsion mechanism.

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).