Abstract: A tire is molded in a mold having elements movable to bring the mold into an open or into a closed position. The mold includes first and second sidewall mold plates and tread mold segments capable of forming a mold cavity. The segments are radially. The process comprises: bringing the mold from an open position into a first intermediate position wherein the segments remain separated radially from the tire by a radial clearance; creating an axial clearance between the tire and the first or second sidewall mold plate so as to bring the mold into a second intermediate position; drawing a vacuum on the mold cavity while the mold is in the second position; bringing the mold from the second position into the first position by axially moving the first or second sidewall mold plate; and moving the segments radially inwardly and bringing the mold into the closed position.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tire with high performance tread of rubber composition for promoting tread durability and traction. For such purpose, a tread rubber composition is provided which contains a high Tg solvent solution polymerization prepared styrene/butadiene elastomer (SSBR) together with precipitated silica reinforcement and traction resin. The invention includes extension of the uncured high Tg SSBR by triglyceride vegetable oil instead of petroleum based oil.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pneumatic tires comprising a dual-layer tread made of a first layer comprising a first tread compound having a first tread property and a second layer comprising a second tread compound having a second tread property.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for a process for manufacturing a tread molding element configured to mold at least a portion of a tire tread, the process comprising the following successive steps of providing a first tread molding element that can be a 3D-printed element made of a plastic composition A; forming a reverse mold of the first tread molding element, wherein the reverse mold is made of a plastic composition B comprising one or more elastomers; heating the reverse mold to a temperature above 50° C. when the first tread molding element is a 3D-printed element made of a plastic composition A; and casting a second tread molding element from the reverse mold to obtain a second tread molding element; wherein the second tread molding element is made from a plastic composition C comprising one or more thermosetting resins.

Abstract: An irregular wear detection system for a tire supporting a vehicle includes a sensor unit mounted on the tire. The sensor unit includes a footprint centerline length measurement sensor to measure a centerline length of a footprint of the tire. A processor is in electronic communication with the sensor unit and receives a plurality of measured centerline lengths over time. An analysis module is stored on the processor and receives the measured centerline lengths as inputs. The analysis module detects irregular wear of the tire from the measured footprint centerline lengths. An irregular wear determination is generated by the analysis module when the measured footprint centerline lengths remain the same or increase.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a tire having a tread comprising two shoulder portions and a center portion axially between the two shoulder portions, wherein at least one of the shoulder portions comprises a first rubber composition and the center portion comprises a second rubber composition different from said first rubber composition. The first rubber composition has a shear storage modulus which is at least 10% lower than the shear storage modulus of the second rubber composition, and the second rubber composition has a glass transition temperature which is at least 5% higher than the glass transition temperature of the first rubber composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rubber composition for a truck tire, the rubber composition comprising 70 phr to 95 phr of polyisoprene, and 5 phr to 30 phr of a solution polymerized styrene butadiene rubber having a glass transition temperature of less than ?40° C. which is functionalized for the coupling to silica. Furthermore, the rubber composition comprises 40 phr to 80 phr of a filler comprising predominantly silica. Moreover, the present invention is directed to a truck tire comprising the rubber composition and to a truck comprising such a tire.

Abstract: A tire mold having moveable elements displaceable to bring the tire mold into an open or into a closed position. The mold comprises upper and lower side members; a plurality of mold segments defining a mold cavity; a vacuum device for removing gas from the mold cavity; and sealing means with closing seal members configured to cooperate with associated cooperating surfaces for sealing the mold cavity by contact with each other. The one or more closing seal members and the associated cooperating surfaces are moveable relative to each other upon displacement of the one or more moveable elements. Said one or more closing seal members are placed in a position in which they are facing their associated cooperating surfaces without contacting them both in a partial closure position of the tire mold and in the closed position of the tire mold when the vacuum device is not activated.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a functionalized elastomer comprising the reaction product of a living anionic elastomeric polymer and a polymerization terminator of formula (1) where the substituent structures are further defined.

Abstract: Path specific rolling resistance is determined in a method including: receiving, from a first source, first rolling resistance data of a first set of road surface portions of a corresponding first set of times; receiving, from a second source, second rolling resistance data of a second set of road surface portions of a corresponding second set of times; determining, using any of the first rolling resistance data and the second rolling resistance data, a path specific rolling resistance for a given path including one or more of the road surface portions selected from the first and second set of road surface portions; and providing at least one target vehicle with the path specific rolling resistance or a derivative of the path specific rolling resistance.

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: Described herein are conductive rubber compositions including a rubber component and one or more electrically conductive carbon compounds. In another aspect, the conductive rubber compositions can be prepared by first adding the one or more conductive carbon components into the polymer phase, thereby creating a filler network in the continuous polymer phase in the finished product. In a further aspect, the conductive carbon component can be or include one or more of the following: carbon black, a short carbon fiber, graphite powder, or graphene powder. Following mixing, the conductive rubber compositions can optionally be vulcanized. The conductive rubber compositions have good mechanical properties and electrical resistivity and can be processed using existing equipment.

Abstract: A tire replacement forecasting system includes a tire supporting a vehicle. A sensor unit is mounted on the tire and includes a footprint centerline length measurement sensor and a pressure sensor. A processor is in electronic communication with the sensor unit and receives the measured centerline length and the measured pressure. An electronic vehicle network transmits selected vehicle parameters to the processor. A wear state predictor is stored on the processor and receives the measured centerline length, the measured pressure, and the selected vehicle parameters to generate an estimated wear state of the tire. A forecasting model is stored on the processor and receives multiple estimated wear states of the tire, and predicts future wear states of the tire. A forecast tire replacement date is generated by the forecasting model when the predicted future wear states of the tire are estimated to pass a predetermined wear threshold.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread; a bead region, a sidewall; a bead core; a first apex; an apex-extension; a carcass; a chafer and a second apex. The second apex is positioned between a rim flange protector and the first apex or the extension. The carcass includes a first ply turned-up around the bead core to form a first turnup portion extending along the first apex and the extension and terminating radially inwardly from the radially outward end of the extension. The carcass may include a second ply turned-up, between the bead core and the first ply, around the bead core to form a second turnup portion, the second turnup portion extending along the axially outer side of the first apex. Alternatively, the carcass may include a second ply parting from the first ply at the extension and extending along the extension and the turnup portion of the first ply.

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 second 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: A system cures and manufactures a partially-cured tire assembly. The system includes a plurality of elongate spacer members for maintaining corresponding a uniform cavity tension in the partially-cured tire assembly, each spacer member including a first longitudinal body member axially opposed to a second longitudinal body member, two cam bolts for adjusting a radial gap between the first longitudinal body member and the second longitudinal body member, and two springs each attached to the first body member and the second body member for maintaining a radial compressive force against the cam bolts; a first annular curing platen for securing spacer members relative to each other; and a second annular curing platen for securing spacer members relative to each other.