Abstract: In a first aspect of the present invention, a tire tread is provided, the tread comprising a tread cap comprising a first rubber compound for contacting the road when driving, at least one circumferential groove reinforcement forming at least one of the grooves in the tread cap, the groove reinforcement comprising a second rubber compound for reinforcing an area adjacent the grooves formed by the groove reinforcement, wherein the groove reinforcement comprises for at least one of the grooves formed by the groove reinforcement two groove sidewall layers, each sidewall layer extending from the outer radial surface of the unworn tread down into the direction of the bottom of the groove formed by the groove reinforcement and wherein each sidewall layer has an essentially uniform thickness along its length, and wherein the groove reinforcement comprises a groove support portion forming a bottom portion of the groove and having a radially inner base side as well as a radially outer top side, wherein the groove supp

Abstract: A method for forming a composite tread, the method comprising the steps of forming a coextruded strip of a first compound and a second compound, wherein the first compound is a tread compound, and the second compound is formed from a high-wear compound, wherein the tread is formed from winding the coextruded strip onto the tire building drum while varying the ratio of the first compound to the second compound.

Abstract: The method of this invention provides a simple and inexpensive method for manufacturing self-sealing pneumatic rubber tires of the tubeless type having a higher degree of uniformity than can be made utilizing conventional manufacturing procedures that are currently being practiced. In the practice of this invention a low viscosity sealant formulation, which would ordinarily be difficult to handle and build into an uncured tire, is encapsulated in a stiff rubber formulation. This makes it relatively easy to build the sealant layer into the tire since the low viscosity sealant formulation is contained with the more rigid solid material. The low viscosity sealant material requires little and preferably no depolymerization to act effectively as a sealant. Accordingly, it does not need to be depolymerized with a peroxide which causes off-gassing and the resultant tire uniformity and balance issues normally associated with polymer break down.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of modified vegetable oils in rubber compositions and in tires.

Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system monitors the pressure in at least one tire supporting a vehicle. The system includes at least one sensor mounted on the tire for measuring a pressure and a temperature of the tire. Transmission means transmit the measured pressure data and temperature data to a processor, and a tire pressure model is executed on the processor. The tire pressure model includes a driving event extractor to extract cold pressure data from the measured pressure data, and a temperature compensator to generate a compensated cold tire pressure from the cold pressure data. A noise filter filters sensor noise and generates a filtered cold tire pressure from the compensated cold tire pressure. A detection module receives the filtered cold tire pressure and determines an air pressure leak rate of the tire, and a leak notification corresponding to the air pressure leak rate is generated.

Abstract: A rubber composition comprising 50 phr to 100 phr of a styrene butadiene rubber; 0 phr to 50 phr of at least one diene based rubber; 95 phr to 200 phr of filler comprising i) 50 phr to 100 phr of silica, ii) 40 phr to 70 phr of carbon black and iii) 5 phr to 30 phr of an inorganic metal hydroxide; 40 phr to 80 phr of plasticizer comprising a hydrocarbon resin having a softening point within a range of 80° C. and 130° C.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a rubber composition comprising at least rubber, and reinforcement materials, the reinforcement materials comprising silica particles and Kraft lignin nanoparticles, wherein the phr ratio between the silica particles and Kraft lignin nanoparticles is ranging between 3 and 20; wherein the Kraft lignin nanoparticles have an average diameter size ranging between 10 and 100 nm as determined by scanning electron microscopy; and wherein the Kraft lignin nanoparticles have a glass transition temperature of at least 150° C. as determined by Differential Scanning Calorimetry.

Abstract: A tire wear state estimation system includes a first sensor unit that is mounted on a tire and includes a footprint centerline length measurement sensor. A second sensor unit is mounted on the tire and includes a shoulder length measurement sensor. At least one of the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit includes a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and electronic memory capacity for storing tire identification information. A processor is in electronic communication with the sensor units and receives the measured centerline length, the measured pressure, the measured temperature, the identification information, and the measured shoulder length. The identification information is correlated to tire construction data. An analysis module stored on the processor receives the measured values, the identification information, and the tire construction data as inputs. The analysis module includes a prediction model that generates an estimated wear state for the tire from the inputs.

Abstract: A self-inflating tire assembly includes an air tube mounted within a tire sidewall groove. The air tube is in contacting engagement with opposite angled groove surfaces surrounding the air tube. A segment of the air tube is flattened from an expanded diameter to a flat diameter by bending and compression of the groove in a rolling tire footprint to force air evacuated from the flattened segment along a tube air passageway. The sidewall groove extends into an annular, axially extending, sidewall surface such as an axially oriented surface of a tire chafer protrusion located in non-contacting relationship with the rim. The air tube is extruded from a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising: a diene based rubber; from 0.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming an apex or an apex in combination with a bead, the method comprising the steps of: winding a strip of rubber onto a rotatable platen to form an apex, wherein the rotatable platen may further include a radially expandable bead chuck for supporting a bead. The rotatable platen may optionally include a nonstick coating such as titanium nitride and optionally include one or more radially oriented bars. The optional one or more radially oriented bars may be movable into a first position flush with the outer surface of the platen, and movable into a second position that preferably is nonflush and protrudes from the outer surface of the platen. The rotatable platen is further optionally retractable from the bead chuck to facilitate removal of the apex from the apparatus.

Abstract: A tire and wheel assembly includes a tire, a circular hub member for securing to a rotatable axle of a vehicle, the rim piece having a first annular ring flange for engaging the tire, a rim piece for engaging the hub member, a second annular ring flange for engaging the tire, and a plurality of cylindrical shafts for each axially engaging the first annular ring flange at one axial end of each of the shafts and the second annular ring flange at another opposite axial end of each of the shafts.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a tire layer (e.g., tire tread or carcass layer) having a rubber composition including a pyrazolone-based compound in combination with reinforcing filler material and optionally a processing aid, and tires using the same, that provides desirable tire performance properties, such as improvements in tear strength without negatively impacting stiffness or hysteresis. In one embodiment, the tire layer includes a rubber composition having an elastomer (e.g., natural or isoprene rubber), a pyrazolone-based compound, reinforcing filler selected from carbon black only, carbon black/silica blends only, or graphene, functionalized graphene, carbon nanotubes, functionalized carbon nanotubes or mixtures thereof further optionally with carbon black, and an optional processing aid, such as a metal glycerolate, in desirable amounts to provide enhanced tear strength without negatively impacting stiffness or hysteresis.

Abstract: A vulcanizable rubber composition comprises an interpenetrating or ionic network (IPN)-promoting resin. The resin comprises side chain functional groups along the resin backbone, which, in the presence of an additive material, form the connections that make up the IPN. In one embodiment, such material is ZnO. A method for forming the rubber composition comprises, in a productive step, mixing the product of the non-productive step, the zinc oxide, and a resin derived from maleic anhydride. The zinc oxide and the resin are simultaneously added to the composition during the productive mixing stage. The rubber composition can be cured and incorporated in a tire component, such as, a tread.

Abstract: An integrated tread wear sensor and tire pressure monitoring system sensor unit container for a tire includes a tread wear sensor plug and a sensor container. The tread wear sensor plug includes a cylindrical projection extending through an opening formed in a selected tread element of the tire. A flange extends outwardly from the projection and includes a contact surface that is mounted to an innerliner of the tire. A conductive wire is disposed in the tread wear sensor plug and includes proximal ends disposed in the flange and a distal end disposed near a radially outer surface of the projection. The sensor container includes a wall extending radially from the flange of the tread wear sensor plug and terminating in a lip. A container cavity is defined by the flange, the wall, and the lip, and receives a tire pressure monitoring system sensor.