Abstract: A system is provided for automatically adjusting the air pressure of a tire based on variations in loading to improve tread wear. For a particular loading of the tire, the system provides for the determination of a preferred air pressure setting designed to minimize tread wear. This preferred air pressure, Pp, is determined from an analysis of the longitudinal stresses that occur within the contact patch of the tread.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a self-sealing elastomer composition, said process comprising the following steps: a masterbatch, comprising at least one diene elastomer and more than 30 phr of a hydrocarbon resin, is firstly manufactured by compounding these various components in a mixer at a temperature or up to a temperature called the “hot compounding” temperature which is above the softening point of the hydrocarbon resin; and then at least one crosslinking system is incorporated into the masterbatch thus prepared, by compounding everything in the same mixer or in a different mixer, at a temperature or up to a temperature which is kept below 100° C., in order to obtain said self-sealing composition.

Abstract: A tire tread that comprises a rubber composition based on an elastomer matrix that comprises more than 50% by weight of at least one butyl rubber, on a reinforcing filler and on a plasticizing system that comprises at least one polybutene oil having a glass transition temperature below ?75° C. A tire comprising such a tread has a good compromise between the wet grip performance and the rolling resistance performance.

Abstract: A method of forming a tire that includes providing a mold configured to mold a tire tread and having a sipe-forming element, spaced apart inwardly from an outermost molding surface, that includes a knife edge oriented towards the outermost molding surface and a submerged void-forming portion extending from the knife edge, arranging an uncured tire tread within the mold, molding the tire tread arranged within the mold, and demolding the tire tread from the mold such that the sipe-forming element forms a sipe by the knife edge (48) lacerating a thickness of the tire tread as the sipe-forming element is pulled in a direction toward the outermost molding surface and forms a submerged void arranged below the sipe within the tire tread. A tire including a sipe (30) and a submerged void (32) as described above is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the synthesis of a novel diene polymer with a high content of phosphorus-based functions by radical grafting of a polyphosphorus-based polymer bearing a chain-end thiol function onto a diene polymer according to the following steps: a) bringing together, with stirring, at least one diene polymer in solution and at least one polyphosphorus-based polymer bearing a chain-end thiol function in solution, b) heating the homogeneous reaction mixture obtained in the previous step to the grafting reaction temperature, and c) adding the radical initiator concomitantly with either of steps a) and b) or once the grafting reaction temperature has been reached.

Abstract: The reinforcing element (34) has a cross-section with a flattened overall shape having an aspect ratio greater than or equal to 5 and extending in a main direction (Z1). It comprises a lateral edge (46) made of a polymeric composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer, the lateral edge (46) extending in a general direction substantially parallel to the main direction. The reinforcing element (34) is such that R=(Uc?U1)/Uc>11%, where Uc is the average value of the microhardness of the reinforcing element (34) measured in its central part, and U1 is the average value of the microhardness of the reinforcing element (34) measured at its lateral edge (36). The lateral edge (46) does not have any ridges.

Abstract: A rubber composition for manufacturing tyres includes one or more diene elastomers, one or more reinforcing fillers, and a vulcanization system. The vulcanization system includes one or more thiazoline compounds chosen from compounds of formula I and compounds of formula II: Certain specific thiazoline derivatives are described.

Abstract: A rubber composition, which can be used for manufacturing tires, is based on one or more diene elastomers, on one or more reinforcing fillers, and on a crosslinking system. The rubber composition includes particles of one or more thermoplastic materials chosen from thermoplastic materials with melting or softening points varying from 80° C. to 300° C. The rubber composition also includes one or more compatibilizing agents chosen from block copolymers that includes at least one diene elastomer block and at least one thermoplastic block compatible with the one or more thermoplastic materials.

Abstract: The tire tread has a ground-contact surface and a main groove, secondary grooves; and blocks. The blocks are each provided with an upper surface, front-surface side walls, side-surface side walls, front-surface edges formed in positions where the upper surface intersects the front-surface side walls and side-surface edges formed in positions where the upper surface intersects the side-surface side walls. The blocks each have a reinforcement section with an average thickness of t and an elastic modulus (Ef) higher than the elastic modulus (Et) of a rubber composition forming the tread. An undulating section with ridge sections and a valley section is formed in the front-surface side wall. The undulating section is provided so as to form at least a portion of the at least one front-surface side wall having the reinforcement section provided thereto, and so as to form at least a portion of the reinforcement section.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a chimeric polypeptide comprising several polypeptide domains, which is capable of being secreted in association with membrane vesicles and in particular exosomes. The present invention also concerns a polypeptide constituted by one of said domains for the secretion of a peptide or polypeptide of interest in association with membrane vesicles and in particular exosomes. The invention also concerns the use of polypeptides of the invention and of polynucleotides coding for said polypeptides for the production of immunogenic compositions based on exosomes or based on DNA or for screening protein interactions.

Abstract: Vehicle rim for mounting of a tire, comprising: an axially central part (20) comprising a disc; two lateral parts (31, 32), at least one of the lateral parts being separate from the axially central part, each of the lateral parts having a rim seat to receive a bead of a tire, the axially central part and the two lateral parts being made from a rigid matrix; an intermediate part (41, 42) that forms the only mechanical link between the axially central part and each lateral part that is separate from the axially central part, this intermediate part being made of a flexible matrix, the Young's modulus of uniaxial extension of the flexible matrix being greater than and equal to 50 MPa and less than or equal to 400 MPa; wherein the Young's modulus of uniaxial extension of the rigid matrix is greater than or equal to 5 GPa.

Abstract: A tire the tread of which contains at least three circumferential grooves, having at least three radially superposed layers of elastomeric compounds. A first elastomeric compound constituting the first layer forming the radially outer part of the tread has a maximum value of tan(?)max, greater than 0.110, a second elastomeric compound constituting the second layer radially on the inside has a tan(?)max at least 10% lower than the first elastomeric compound, the radially innermost third layer of the tread consists of at least two first parts and of at least three second parts axially, each one in contact with at least one of the at least two first parts, the at least two first parts axially centered on a radial plane passing through one of the at least three circumferential grooves consisting of the second compound and the at least three second parts consisting of a third elastomeric compound having a maximum value of tan(?), denoted tan(?)max, at least 10% lower than the second elastomeric compound.

Abstract: Cutting device for cutting a reinforcing ply (N) formed of a set of portions of thread, of given length, coated in a rubber compound, laid parallel to one another and making a given theoretical angle (a) with the longitudinal direction of the ply, characterized in that it includes a first element able, without proceeding to cut the said ply (N), to estimate the actual angle of the threads with the longitudinal direction (XX?) of the device and a second element able to cut the ply (N) at the actual angle (a+da) estimated by the first element.

Abstract: A tire is described that includes a casing defining a cavity and equipped to receive an object, such as an electronic circuit, for example, through use of a two-part attachment, such as a touch-close attachment, of which a first part is fixed to a wall of the casing and a second part can be joined to the first part when placed in contact with the first part to keep the object on the casing in a service position. The first part of the attachment includes connection elements that are an integral part of the wall of the casing of the tire. The connection elements allow these two parts to have freedom to move relative to each other, thereby limiting the transmission of stresses, which affect the wall of the tire, to the object. The connection elements may be loops of flexible thread formed by the extremities of turns of a coiled thread integrated into the wall of the tire during the tire's manufacture.

Abstract: A tread for a tire, this tread having a tread surface intended to come into contact with a road surface and comprising at least one groove of width W and of depth P delimited by two walls facing one another, these walls being joined together by a groove bottom, at least one groove comprising at least one flexible device for at least partially closing this groove as it passes through the contact patch, each flexible device comprising at least one blade of a suitable thickness that allows it to flex under the effect of a circulation of liquid, this blade being borne by a wall delimiting the groove, each blade of thickness E being bounded by a bottom wall facing the bottom of the groove, an end wall facing the other wall of the groove and a contact wall intended to come into contact with the road surface and lateral walls spaced apart by a distance equal to the thickness E of the blade, this tread being such that the bottom wall of the blade comprises a first part referred to as connection part and a second part