Abstract: A monolithic non-pneumatic urethane tire for use on a wheel rim of the type having a pair of laterally spaced bead flanges formed with wheel rim side walls which extend upwardly from the bottom of the wheel rim is improved by providing a tire body with certain structural features and locating a tubular insert inside the tire body. The tire body has a circumferentially extending tunnel on its inside and includes side walls which converge outwardly to a thickened portion. The thickened portion forms a bead shoulder that seats on top of the bead flanges of the wheel rim and also includes a bead which extends downwardly into the wheel rim adjacent the side walls of the wheel rim. The tubular insert is a semiresilient hollow tube mounted within the tunnel of the tire body to maintain the bead portion of the tire body against the side walls of the wheel rim.

Abstract: A solid monolithic tire for use on a wheel rim can be improved by incorporating within the tire a circumferentially extending tunnel formed on the inside of the tire body. Further, the tire body has inclined side walls that converge outwardly to form a V-shaped cross section. The apex of this V-shaped cross section forms the tread portion of the tire. Each of the side walls of the tire terminate in a thickened portion which forms a bead shoulder capable of seating on the bead flanges of the wheel rim to which the tire is mounted. Extending down through the thickened portion of either side of the tire is a bead which has a lower bead wall on the portion most distal to the thickened portion. A bead cord extends circumferentially embedded within the bead near the lower bead wall. The process by which the tire is formed allows the bead cord to be positioned in its appropriate place within the bead.