Abstract: A tire tag protector is used to cover a tire tag on the inside of a pneumatic tire during a high-voltage, non-destructive test procedure. The tire tag protector includes a layer of dielectric and is configured to fit completely over the tire tag inside a pneumatic tire, the tire tag protector may also include a layer of conductive material. The tire tag protector is temporarily attached to the tire by an adhesive or by prongs that engage the tire tag. The tire tag protector prevents the high-voltage electrode used in the test procedure from snagging on the tire tag and prevents the sensitive electronic equipment of the tire tag from being damaged by the high-voltage test environment.

Abstract: An attachment between a monitoring device and an innerliner of a tire includes the use of an epoxy adhesive that bonds the monitoring device directly to the inner surface of the innerliner of the tire. The innerliner is first roughened in a manner that provides a roughened portion of the innerliner without removing the entire thickness of the innerliner. The entire thickness of the innerliner is not removed because the innerliner is preferably more than {fraction (1/16)} of an inch thick. The thickness of the innerliner allows the rigid cured epoxy to bond the monitoring device to the inner surface of the innerliner while allowing the innerliner to flex with the tire so as to not break the seal between the rigid epoxy and the innerliner. The monitoring device is preferably located at a low flex area of the tire to help avoid the problem of the innerliner flexing.

Abstract: A method of preparing a functionalized polymer comprising the steps of initiating the formation and propagation of an anionically-polymerized living polymer, and terminating the propagation of the living polymer by reacting the polymer with a terminating agent selected from the group of agents defined by the formulas (III), (IV), and (V) where C is a carbon atom, S is a sulfur atom, X is a halogen atom, R2 and R4 are independently selected from hydrogen and carbon-based moieties, and where the phenyl groups are selected from unsubstituted and substituted phenyl groups.