Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for preparing a resin-extended rubber by mixing at least one thermoplastic resin with a resin-rubber-solvent cement comprising at least one conjugated diene monomer-containing rubber and the resin-extended rubber resulting from such processes. Also disclosed is a resin-extended rubber-solvent-cement comprising at least one conjugated diene monomer-containing rubber, at least one non-polar solvent, and at least one thermoplastic resin as well as a rubber composition comprising a resin-extended rubber.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are tire tread rubber compositions made of specified ingredients including an elastomer component including at least one styrene-butadiene rubber with a silica-reactive functional group and at least one non-functionalized styrene-butadiene rubber, a filler component including reinforcing silica filler and carbon black, hydrocarbon resin, liquid plasticizer (which includes a low molecular weight styrene-butadiene rubber), and a cure package. Also disclosed are a tire including a road-contacting tread comprising the tire tread rubber composition and methods for providing a tire with a road-contacting tread which tire has balanced wet performance, rolling resistance and concerning performance, the method comprising using the tire tread rubber composition in the road-contacting tread.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are tires having a tread with improved stiffness made from a rubber composition of specified ingredients including an elastomer component, a resin component including a terpene phenol resin having a specified hydroxyl value and a DCPD-based resin, a filler component including reinforcing silica filler and carbon black, optionally a liquid plasticizer, and a cure package. Also disclosed are methods for improving the stiffness of a tire tread by using a resin component comprising a terpene phenol resin having a specified hydroxyl value and a DCPD-based resin in a rubber composition comprising an elastomer component, a filler component including reinforcing silica filler and carbon black, optionally a liquid plasticizer, and a cure package.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire includes an inner ring having an axis of rotation and an outer ring coaxial with the inner ring. The non-pneumatic tire further includes support structure extending from the inner ring to the outer ring and a circumferential tread extending about the outer ring. The circumferential tread includes a band layer constructed of a single material and a tread rubber layer directly attached to the band layer.

Abstract: Methods for producing a polymer-containing coating upon a cured tire inner liner using a coating composition of specified composition are provided. Also provided are methods for producing a tire comprising a cured inner liner (with a polymer-containing coating upon its radially inward-facing surface) and at least one component positioned radially inward of the cured inner liner. Tires containing a cured inner liner (with a polymer-containing coating upon its radially inward-facing surface) and at least one component positioned radially inward of the cured inner liner are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are rubber compositions comprising bio-oil produced by a recombinant cell. Also disclosed are methods of controlling the variability of fatty acid content in bio-oil containing rubber compositions or tires comprising at least one component incorporating the bio-oil containing rubber composition, and a method of providing a bio-oil-containing tire with a reduced carbon footprint.

Abstract: A coated rubber composition includes a rubber composition coated with a liquid refresh agent selected from the group consisting of one or more liquid terpenes, limonene, carvone, pinene, pine needle oil, citral, orange oil, C9-C15 aliphatics, C9-C15 cycloaliphatics, ethyl lactate, dipentene, 1,8-cineole, eucalyptol, citronellol, geraniol, citronellene, terpinen-4-ol, and combinations thereof. A method of application and a coated rubber composition are also disclosed.

Abstract: A rim assembly for a non-pneumatic tire has at least two rim components including: a first rim component having a first rim flange and a first lip, and a second rim component having a second rim flange and a second lip. The rim assembly further includes a plurality of lateral rim component support structures configured to extend through a plurality of openings of a tire support structure. The rim assembly also includes a first plurality of fasteners securing the plurality of lateral rim component support structures to the first rim flange, and a second plurality of fasteners securing the plurality of lateral rim component support structures to the second rim flange.

Abstract: A tire includes at least one annular structure configured to interface with a wheel. The tire also includes a circumferential tread disposed in a crown region of the tire and an intermediate elastomeric layer having a conductive bleeder cord. The conductive bleeder cord extends from the annular structure to at least a middle third of a tread width and includes a metallic component that conducts electric charge and a textile component that permits gas evacuation.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method enables vehicle tire wear prediction based on minimal input data points. Information is aggregated in a hierarchical data structure regarding historical tread values for multiple tires, and respective values associated with the historical tread values for each of multiple parameters that are hierarchically defined from highest to lowest levels. A current tire tread value is provided from a sensor associated with a first tire, and respective values associated with the current tire tread value are provided for each of the multiple hierarchically defined parameters. The current tire tread value is matched with information from the hierarchical data structure corresponding to matching values for one or more of the hierarchically defined parameters having at least a predetermined threshold number of available tread values, and a tire wear rate is predicted for the first tire based at least in part on the matched information from the hierarchical data structure.

Abstract: A noise damper includes an open cell foam having a circumferential first tier and an interposed circumferential second tier including blocks and voids. The first tier has a radial height that is 3.0-8.0% of a section height and a first axial width. The second tier has a radial height that is 3.0-12.0% of a section height and a second axial width. The blocks span 10-30% of the second tier's inner circumference and the voids span 70-90% of the second tier's inner circumference.

Abstract: A rim assembly for a tire includes an outer rim having an outer annular surface and an inner surface. The rim assembly also has an inner rim with an outer surface, wherein the inner surface of the outer rim has a first plurality of axial grooves that define a first plurality of axial ridges. The outer surface of the inner rim has a second plurality of axial grooves that define a second plurality of axial ridges. The second plurality of axial grooves have a cross-sectional geometry corresponding to a cross-sectional geometry of the first plurality of axial ridges, and the second plurality of axial ridges have a cross-sectional geometry corresponding to a cross-sectional geometry of the first plurality of axial grooves.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a tire having a three-dimensional tire sipe are disclosed. In one embodiment, a tire sipe used in a tire is provided, the tire sipe comprising: a radially inner sipe taper portion having a radially inner sipe width W3 and a radially inner sipe transition width W4, wherein the radially inner sipe width W3 is greater than the radially inner sipe transition width W4; a radially outer sipe taper portion having a radially outer sipe width W1 and a radially outer sipe transition width W2, wherein the radially outer sipe width W1 is greater than the radially outer sipe transition width W2; and a sipe radially central portion having a plurality of individual sipe radially angled portions oriented in a zig-zag pattern, wherein the sipe radially central portion is oriented radially between the radially inner sipe taper portion and the radially outer sipe taper portion.

Abstract: Tires and tire components are provided having improved fire properties, as well as the vulcanizable compositions for making the tires and tire components. A vulcanizable composition is provided that includes at least one vulcanizable polymer, a curative, a halogenated hydrocarbon, and expandable graphite. The tires and tire components have improved properties including one or more of improved flame retardancy, reduced smoke density and/or toxicity, and reduced heat release.