Abstract: A sound absorber for insertion into a pneumatic tire is composed of a support strip attached to the rim of the wheel on which the tire is mounted and a system or network of flexible fibers attached to the mounting strip and extending in the radial direction of the tire.

Abstract: A center split, segmented mold for curing a complete tire is provided, comprising a mold container top containing a top mold sidewall plate and a plurality of top tread segments disposed generally equidistant from a central axis and adjacently abutting each other when the mold is in a closed position; and a mold container bottom containing a bottom mold sidewall plate and a plurality of bottom tread segments disposed generally equidistant from the axis and adjacently abutting each other when the mold is in a closed position. Each of the top and bottom tread segments are resiliently biased toward the mold centerline by spring mechanisms, and are slidably coupled to respective frustoconical surfaces of the mold container, such that vertical movement of the mold container top along the axis from a closed position to an open position is translated into outward radial movement of the top and bottom tread segments away from the axis.

Abstract: A tire with reduced tread noise includes a tread having a plurality of base pitches arranged about the circumference of the tire in at least one pitch sequence. Each base pitch in the pitch sequence has a tread geometry defined by a plurality of load-supporting tread blocks separated or interrupted by grooves and/or sipes. The base pitches in the pitch sequence have different tread geometries to reduce the noise of the tire on the road surface. The grooves and/or sipes in each base pitch have common end points along the leading and trailing edges of the base pitches such that the grooves and/or sipes are continuous across the boundary between adjacent base pitches in the pitch sequence. Likewise, the grooves and/or sipes in each base pitch in one rib or row in the tire can have common end points along the edge between a base pitch in an adjacent rib or row, such that the grooves and/or sipes are continuous in the lateral direction as well.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided, comprising a substantially toroidal carcass cord layer applied to an inner liner, a tread portion surrounding a circumferential portion of the carcass cord layer and including at least one reinforcement belt, a left sidewall portion surrounding a left side of the carcass cord layer and extending from a left side of the tread portion, and a right sidewall portion surrounding a right side of the carcass cord layer and extending from a right side of the tread portion. Left and right bead portions extend, respectively, from the left and right sidewall portions, each of the bead portions including a reinforcing bead.

Abstract: A tire with reduced tire noise includes a tread having a plurality of base pitches placed about the circumference of the tire in at least one circumferential section. According to one aspect of the invention, the base pitches have three different pitch lengths which form a pitch sequence around the circumference of the tire in each circumferential section. The base pitches are arranged such that the transitions between the base pitches with the smallest pitch lengths to the base pitches with the largest pitch lengths are between about 15% and 30% of the total number of transitions between base pitches of different lengths in the pitch sequence. Additionally, the smallest and largest base pitches each comprise between about 35% and 40% of the total number of base pitches around the circumference of the tire. The above factors, when coupled with no more than three consecutive base pitches having the same pitch length being arranged adjacent one another, provide a tread with reduced tire noise.

Abstract: A tire tread has a plurality of base pitches arranged in at least two circumferential sections around the tire. The base pitches have at least two different pitch lengths and include a plurality of load-supporting tread blocks. The different pitch lengths of the base pitches form a pitch sequence in each circumferential section of the tire. The pitch sequences in the sections are arranged such that the noise produced by the base pitches in the tire tread is a low level, distributed noise to reduce the noise produced by the tire when the tire is in use.

Abstract: The present invention provides an emulsion polymerization synthetic isoprene-styrene/butadiene rubber for use in improved tire tread compositions is provided. The improved composition is a blend of a 1,4 cis-polyisoprene such as natural rubber and a synthetic rubber produced by emulsion polymerization which synthetic rubber includes isoprene and either styrene or butadiene or both styrene and butadiene. The tire tread composition has an excellent balance of good wear resistance and low rolling resistance as well as a low T.sub.g and good traction. These improved qualities for tire tread compositions have heretofore been unavailable in rubbers utilizing emulsion polymers, and have been achievable only with tire compositions including synthetic rubbers that are produced by solution polymerization.

Abstract: An ultrasonic cutting system for stock material temporarily bonds the stock material to an anvil incorporated in a processing table and cuts the stock material at a low angle with an ultrasonic cutting tool. The ultrasonic cutting tool is mounted on a carriage assembly which traverses the width of the stock material. The ultrasonic cutting tool includes a cutting blade mechanically coupled thereto. The cutting blade resonates in response to ultrasonic energy travelling axially therealong. As the carriage assembly moves across the stock material, the stock material is first adhesively bonded or secured to the anvil by at least two rollers. The rollers are mounted on the carriage assembly at a position slightly ahead of the cutting blade. The rollers apply pressure in a downward direction on the stock material to temporarily bond the material to the anvil and to prevent it from moving or vibrating during the cutting process.

Abstract: A method for simultaneously correcting excessive radial force variations and excessive lateral force variations in a pneumatic tire is provided. The method includes the steps of indexing the tire tread into a series of circumferential increments I(n), and obtaining a series of radial force measurements corresponding to these increments and a series of lateral force measurements corresponding to these increments. A radial grind component R.sub.$GR (n), a first lateral grind component L.sup.1.sub.$GR (n), and a second lateral grind component L.sup.2.sub.$GR (n) are generated for each of the increments I(n). These grind components represent the amount of material removal necessary to correct for either excessive radial force variations or excessive lateral force variations in the tire. The grind components R.sub.$GR (n), L.sup.1.sub.$GR (n), and L.sup.2.sub.$GR (n) are used to generate first and second radial/lateral grind components R/L.sup.1.sub.$GR (n) and R/L.sup.2.sub.