Abstract: Particular embodiments of the present invention include a multi-stage tire tread having a plurality of wear layers, each said layer being located at a different depth of the tire tread, the tread including one or more tread elements including a contact surface and having a first wear layer and a second wear layer, wherein the second wear layer is located below the first wear layer. The tire tread also includes a longitudinal groove extending in a longitudinal direction within the second wear layer of the tread element, wherein said longitudinal groove becomes exposed after a depth of the first wear layer has been worn. The tire tread further includes one or more lateral grooves extending from the longitudinal groove in a lateral direction within the second wear layer of the tread element. The invention also provides a mold element for forming portions of the multi-stage tread.

Abstract: A bicycle tire comprising a carcass reinforcement, each edge of which is anchored in two beads by a turn-up around a bead core, each bead being continued radially by sidewalls which lead into a tread. Each of the bead cores is formed by winding a saturated non-wrapped metal cable made of filaments, the diameter of said cable being less than 1.5 mm and the diameter of the filaments being less than 0.25 mm.

Abstract: A tread for a tire provided with a pattern comprising a plurality of main grooves formed on each half of the tread on each side of a median plane X-X?, each of these main grooves, of mean width L, opening axially to the outside and extending axially inward as far as a distance from the median plane X-X? that is comprised between 2.5 and 10% of the width TW of the tread, these main grooves giving this tread a preferred direction of running, this tread further comprising a plurality of additional grooves comprising a first and a second end, the mean direction connecting the first and second ends forming, with the circumferential direction, a small angle A greater than zero degrees and at most equal to 20 degrees, this tread being characterized in that opening onto each main groove is at least one additional groove and in that the axially innermost end of each additional groove comes into contact with the road surface before the axially outermost end of the same additional groove.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a reinforcement from a thread laid down directly in its final location by projecting lengths of the thread onto a receiving surface (S). The apparatus has feed means for feeding thread from a source of thread, a rotary conduit (2) receiving the thread, thread-cutting device has a roller fixed with respect to the thread, and a moving cutter acting on the thread in collaboration with said roller so as, for each revolution of the rotary conduit, to release a length having a free end at the cutting means end. The apparatus also has a buffer positioned in the path of the free end so that, during the operation, the free end strikes the buffer before coming into contact with the receiving surface (S).

Abstract: Self-sealing elastomer composition that can in particular be used as puncture-resistant layer in an inflatable article, comprising at least 30 phr of a saturated thermoplastic stirene elastomer, at most 70 phr of an unsaturated thermoplastic stirene elastomer and more than 200 phr of an oil extender. Inflatable article, such as a tire, provided with a puncture-resistant layer comprising, as self-sealing composition, an elastomer composition according to the invention. Advantageously, the puncture-resistant layer is combined with an airtight layer, for example based on butyl rubber, so as to constitute, in the inflatable article, a puncture-resistant airtight laminate.

Abstract: Pre-alert device (1) for vehicle comprising an access (20) to data making it possible to define a journey, an access (10) to data relating to the pressure of at least one tyre of a vehicle provided to make said journey, a test module (30) specially adapted, on the basis of a set of criteria making it possible to detect pre-alert conditions according on the one hand to data relating to pressure and on the other hand to data relating to the defined journey, to generate a pre-alert condition when at least one of the alert triggering conditions is satisfied.

Abstract: Methods and a tire patch for repairing a damaged tire portion are provided. In one embodiment, such method includes the steps of: buffing an interior surface of the tire about a perimeter of the damaged tire portion to form a patch receiving surface, the interior surface being buffed to a depth sufficient to place a tire patch reinforcement of a tire patch a distance of approximately 3 millimeters or less from a damaged tire reinforcement; covering the damaged portion by applying a pre-assembled patch to the patch receiving surface along the interior surface of the tire, the tire patch sized to cover the damaged area, such patch including a reinforcement layer interposed between an air-impermeable layer and an adhesive layer, the adhesive layer being at least partially uncured for facilitating attachment of the repair patch to the tire; and, curing the patch to the tire.

Abstract: A locking system for a ring for mounting on a hub of a vehicle, the mounting ring being intended to receive a bead of a tire in an assembly for mounting the tire on the hub of a vehicle. The locking system comprises a locking ring and a polymeric insert.

Abstract: A method of estimating the transverse grip of a pair of tires intended to equip a two-wheeled vehicle by comparative analysis against another pair of tires. The tires are mounted on the vehicle in pairs, the vehicle is run in a circle of set radius until it attains the maximum speed with grip, and the mean speed and/or the mean cornering angle of the vehicle under steady state conditions and/or the mean lap time is/are determined.

Abstract: Directional tire tread having a rolling surface, this tread being provided with a plurality of incisions bounded by mutually opposing walls, each of said walls entering the rolling surface in such a way as to form an edge called the leading edge of an element of material, corresponding to the edge that enters the contact patch first, and an edge called the trailing edge of the same element of material, corresponding to the edge that enters the contact patch after the leading edge, each incision comprising at least one segment bounded by mutually opposing walls that make, with a direction perpendicular to the rolling surface passing through the intersection of the incision with the rolling surface, a negative average angle ? whose absolute value is less than 55°, this tread being characterized in that this segment of negative angle ? exits the rolling surface via an enlarged end portion bounded by mutually opposing first and second faces, the angles of the first face and second face being positive and not equa

Abstract: Particular embodiments of the present invention include a contoured tire tread, and a mold and method for forming the contoured tread. In a particular embodiment, a mold is provided for forming a contoured tread, the mold including a first mold member and a second mold member. The first and second mold members are reversibly displaceable from each other from a first, closed position in which the first and second members substantially enclose a mold cavity, to a second open position in which the first and second members are displaced from each other. The first mold member contains a mold cavity adapted to contain a polymeric material and having inner wall members and sipe-forming members. The first mold member having a contoured mold cavity bottom surface, and the second mold member having a contoured molding surface.

Abstract: A subject-matter of the present invention is a rubber composition intended for the manufacture of tyres or of tyre semi-finished products, based on at least one isoprene elastomer, an inorganic filler as reinforcing filler and a polyfunctional organosiloxane coupling agent capable of providing the bonding between the reinforcing inorganic filler and the isoprene elastomer, comprising per molecule, grafted to its silicon atoms, on the one hand at least one hydroxyl or hydrolysable functional group allowing it to be grafted to the reinforcing inorganic filler and, on the other hand, at least one group bearing at least one azodicarbonyl functional group —CO—N?N—CO— allowing it to be grafted to the isoprene elastomer.

Abstract: Stud (30) for a tire (10), the tire comprising a tread (20) made of rubber mix, the stud having an axis (A-A) and two axial ends and comprising: a first part (60) configured to come into contact with the ground when the stud is fitted to the tyre and the tyre is rolling along the ground, this first part being positioned at one of the axial ends of the stud; a head (70) configured to anchor the stud into the tread of the tyre, the head being positioned at the other axial end of the stud; and a body (80) connecting the said first part and the head of the stud, the mean diameter of the body being smaller than the mean diameter of the head of the stud, these diameters being measured at right angles to the axis of the stud; in which the head comprises at least one recess (100) opening onto the surface of the head, the recess being configured to be filled with rubber mix of the tread so as to provide additional anchorage for the stud in the tread.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for demolding a polymeric material from a mold are disclosed, the methods comprising the steps of placing a material within a mold, closing the mold, molding the material located within the mold, and opening the mold. The mold includes a demolding tool having a material-engaging portion that is in fluid communication with the mold portion, the demolding tool being reversibly disengagable from the first mold member. The demolding tool is disengagable from a resting position within the first mold member to translate from the first mold member the molded polymeric material associated with the material-engaging portion, thereby separating a portion of the molded polymeric material from the mold cavity. In particular embodiments, the material-engaging portion is a cavity. In other embodiments, the material-engaging portion is associated with one or more longitudinal members extending across a portion of the first mold member.