Abstract: A tire tread comprising an elongated tread strip of tire tread compound of high resistivity having a transverse width (TR) and, within the transverse width (TR) at least one longitudinally extending conducting strip of low resistivity tire compound with a volume resistivity less than 10.sup.8 ohm-cm, the at least one conducting strip extending from the top to the bottom surface of a tread strip.

Abstract: A method of detecting a deflated tire on a vehicle by rotating each tire of the vehicle, providing one wheel speed sensor for each of the tires, detecting the angular velocity speed of the tires by the wheel speed sensors, comparing the rolling radii of the tires by means of comparing angular velocity speed signals from wheel speed sensors characterized by calculating an error value (DEL') whereDEL'=?(C1+C4)/2-(C2+C3)/2!.times.100/(C1+C2+C3+C4)/4where C1, C2, C3 and C4 are angular velocity values for left-hand front, right-hand front, left-hand rear, and right-hand rear wheels of the vehicle respectively, determining a correction factor (LAT), calculating a corrected error value (DEL) whereDEL=DEL'-LAT.times.Awherein A is a vehicle related constant, and operating a tire warning indicator provided in the vehicle to indicate that at least one tire is deflated when the magnitude of the corrected error value (DEL) is sensed in the range of 0.05 to 0.5.

Abstract: A motorcycle tire having in its normally inflated condition a camber value C/L of between 0.5 and 0.7 and having a maximum axial width between edges of a ground contacting tread wherein in axial cross-section the tread comprises two tread rubber components of different rubber compounds joined by a scarf joint, the scarf joint having a width less than the width of the tread and having an intertread ply comprising reinforcing cords interposed between the two tread rubber components.

Abstract: A motorcycle tire comprises a tread reinforced between its edges by a breaker assembly and having in its normally inflated fitted condition a camber value C/L of between 0.5 to 0.7, a reinforcing carcass ply of rubber covered cords radially inside the breaker assembly and extending between two bead regions and wrapped in each bead region around an annular bead core to form carcass ply turn-ups, and tire sidewalls between the tread edges and bead regions, wherein under the tread is disposed radially inward of the breaker assembly a secondary carcass ply of rubber covered cords and between the carcass ply and the secondary carcass ply is disposed a rubber member extending from tread edge to tread edge.

Abstract: A method for producing a bladder includes shaping a mass of crude rubber containing an oil component into a specified bladder shape by a mold; vulcanizing the shaped bladder in the mold; removing the vulcanized bladder from the mold; placing the vulcanized bladder in an environment having a high temperature to keep the vulcanized bladder in the high temperature for a specified time to remove the oil component from the vulcanized bladder; and coating an outer surface of the oil component-removed bladder with a separating agent layer.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire for a vehicle comprises a carcass ply extending between two bead regions and passing through a tread region which extends between two tread contact edges, a tread region reinforcing breaker radially outwards of the carcass in the tread region and a ground contacting tread surface curved in the axial direction wherein the curvature of the outer tread surface when the tire is mounted on its design wheel rim and normally inflated has a continuously decreasing radius from a point P which is at a distance SP in the axial direction from the tire circumferential center line equal to 20% of the distance from the tread center to the adjacent tread contact edge.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire for a vehicle comprises a carcass ply extending between two bead regions and passing through a tread region which extends between two tread contact edges, a tread region reinforcing breaker radially outwards of the carcass in the tread region and a ground contacting tread surface curved in the axial direction wherein the outer surface of the widest breaker ply when the tire is mounted in its design wheel rim and normally inflated has a curved shape in the tire axial direction and has a continuously decreasing radius from a point B to the adjacent edge of the breaker wherein point B is at a distance SP in the axial direction from the tire circumferential centerline equal to 20% of the distance from the tread center to the adjacent tread contact edge.

Abstract: A rubber composition for a tire is provided which is excellent in wet grip performance on a wet road surface and in fuel saving performance. A tire tread and a tire which include such a rubber composition are also provided.

Abstract: A method of detecting a deflated tire on a vehicle by comparing the rolling radii of the tires by comparing angular velocity speed signals C1, C2, C3, and C4 from wheel speed sensors, one on each wheel, comprising the steps of: calculating in normal driving an error value DEL' by processing the four angular velocity speed signals C1-C4 and expressing the result as a percentage of the mean of the sums, DEL'=(C1+C4-C2-C3).times.50/((C1+C2+C3+C4)/4); sensing when the magnitude of the error value DEL' is in the range 0.05 to 0.5 and when it is carrying out the step of deciding which tire is apparently deflated by comparison of the angular velocity speed signals C1-C4 with each other, calculating a wheel error value DEL'FAC(W) for each wheel W produced with the deflated tire by the method for DEL' in normal driving, where DEL'FAC=(C1+C4-C2-C3).times.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for taking up a narrow sheet member which is a tire component in which disordered winding by detecting a difference between a delivery velocity and a takeup velocity of the narrow sheet member using a dancer member, and by controlling a drive motor of a bobbin using the detected signal in such a way that the takeup velocity and the delivery velocity are equal to each other.

Abstract: A radial tire for a four wheeled vehicle comprising a reinforced carcass ply extending between two bead regions through sidewall regions to a tread region and a reinforcing breaker disposed in the tread region extending circumferentially around the tire radially outside the carcass ply wherein the tread region is substantially curved in cross-section and has a camber value C/L of between 0.25 to 0.75. The breaker includes at least two plies of reinforcing fabric, a narrower breaker ply which is radially innermost and a wider breaker ply which is radially outermost, and each of the breaker plies except the outermost ply has adjacent to each of its lateral edges a circumferentially extending support strip which extends laterally outward from the edge of the breaker ply to at least the lateral position of the edge of the widest breaker ply.

Abstract: A method for forming a shock resistant tool comprising reinforcing fiber used as a reinforcing material and cyclopentadiene resin used as matrix resin by reaction injection molding method. Cyclopentadiene resin is superior in shock resistant performance and has a low melt viscosity, thus allowing fiber to be contained in the shock resistant tool at a high percentage.

Abstract: An all season pneumatic tire under the present invention has at the tread section two main grooves which divide the tread width into three tread regions and which are formed substantially, in circumferential direction and in continuation. The distance (GD) between the aforementioned two main grooves, when the maximum width of the tire is TW, is expressed as 0.2TW.ltoreq.GD.ltoreq.0.5TW. Further, the width (GW) of each major groove is expressed as 0.02TW.ltoreq.GW.ltoreq.0.07TW. Further, each of the aforementioned major groove has jogs (JW) shifted tread-width-wise by an amount the same as or smaller than the groove width (GW), said jog width (JW) being expressed as 0.5 mm.ltoreq.JW.ltoreq.GW, and is formed substantially, in circumferential direction, and in continuation.

Abstract: A bead locking apparatus includes bead support segments disposed in an annular arrangement at each of the axially opposite ends of a building drum mounted on a rotary shaft, the support segments being movable outward or inward radially of the drum, an elastic ring fitted in an annular recess formed in the outer periphery of the annular arrangement of segments, a segment drive device for moving the bead support segments radially outward, and a device for radially expanding the elastic ring independently of the segments. The bead is first primarily locked by the elastic ring and then secondarily locked by the support segments.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a tire and wheel rim assembly for a vehicle. The tire comprises a pair of bead regions each reinforced by a bead core characterized by at least one bead portion of the tire having an additional hardened retention zone positioned axially inwards of and integral with the main bead portion, the retention zone having an axially inner tip or toe substantially inwards of the main bead portion and the construction of the bead between the bead core and tip providing substantial resistance to compressive forces therebetween.

Abstract: A tubeless radial tire for heavy duty use which comprises a pair of symmetrically shaped bead cores disposed one in each of the bead portions, a radial carcass having cords extending between the bead portions and turned up around the bead cores, and a belt layer disposed radially outside the carcass and inside a tread, wherein in each bead portion, the carcass is provided with a profile such that the inclination thereof at a point (P) located at the same axial position as the geometric center of the bead core is 45 to 53 degrees with respect to the axial direction of the tire when the tire is mounted on a regular rim and inflated to a pressure of 0.5 kgf/sq.cm.

Abstract: The green tire manufacturing apparatus includes an unwinding apparatus for unwinding a tire component in web form wound on a reel; a transfer apparatus for transferring the unwound tire component longitudinally through a first conveyor located upstream and a second conveyor located downstream, wherein the first and the second conveyors are drivable independently; a cutter device located on the first conveyor and intended to cut the tire component at a predetermined angle slanted against the transferring direction; a separating apparatus located between the first and second conveyors and intended to separate the downstream cut portion of the tire component from the upstream subsequent tire component portions; a guide pan apparatus for guiding the cut component portion with giving widthwise positioning thereof; and a green tire building drum on which the tire component cut in a predetermined length is supplied from the guide pan apparatus and attached thereon.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming an annular product features in such arrangement that, around a drum shaft sheathing over a main shaft, tapering structures each having axial slidability are provided, and in response to a slide move of the tapering structure, drum segments are each radially expanded or retracted. A stopper for controlling a slide move of the tapering structure is provided and an axial position of the stopper is regulated by a motor through a ball screw mechanism disposed in the main shaft. Thereby, settings and changes of a circumferential length of the drum which determines the length of the annular product are easily made and can be made with great certainty.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a tire for mounting on the wheel rim of a vehicle. The tire comprises a pair of bead portions each reinforced by a bead hoop, at least one bead portion of the tire having an additional retention zone positioned axially inwards of and integral with the main bead portion, the retention zone having an axially inner tip or toe substantially inwards of the main bead portion and the construction of the bead portion and the additional retention zone between the bead hoop and tip providing substantial resistance to compressive forces therebetween. The portion between the bead hoop and the tip can include reinforcement and can comprise an elastomeric material having a hardness of 80 to 95 degrees I. R. H. The tip is formed from an elastomeric material having a set property at 70.degree. C. of greater than 40% so that when the tip is fitted to a wheel rim having sharp teeth in the region contacted by the tip, the material of the tip engages the teeth.