Abstract: This invention relates to pneumatic radial tires which exhibit improved rolling resistance (provide better fuel economy) and improved performance characteristics. More particularly, this invention relates to the structure of radial ply tires for heavy load vehicles such as trucks, buses, and the like. It is based upon that finding that a defined profile of the outer surface of the sidewall portion can lead to a tire with reduced rolling resistance and a reduced generation of heat. The reduction in rolling resistance is obtained by a specific shaping of the bead portion of the tire which allows a bead mass reduction with an acceptable trade-off with regard to bead durability.

Abstract: In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a rubber composition comprising 70 phr to 95 phr of styrene butadiene rubber comprising at least 5 phr of a first styrene butadiene rubber having a glass transition temperature within a range of ?49° C. to ?15° C. and at least 45 phr of a second styrene butadiene rubber having a glass transition temperature within a range of ?50° C. to ?89° C., wherein the rubber composition comprises more of the second styrene butadiene rubber than of the first styrene butadiene rubber. Moreover, the rubber composition comprises 5 phr to 30 phr of one or more of natural rubber and synthetic polyisoprene; 135 phr to 200 phr of silica; and at least 55 phr of at least one hydrocarbon resin comprising at least one terpene resin having a glass transition temperature of at least 30° C.

Abstract: A system is provided for cleaning a drive over reader sensor component. The system includes a drive over reader that in turn includes a housing. At least one sensor component is mounted in a wall of the housing, and a lens of the sensor component is mounted on the wall. The lens is disposed at an angle from about 5 degrees to about 10 degrees relative to a vertical plane of the drive over reader. A fluid nozzle may optionally be mounted to the housing near the lens and oriented at the lens. When employed, the nozzle is fluidly connected to a source of liquid and sprays the lens with the liquid when flow of the liquid is actuated. A method for cleaning a drive over reader sensor component is also provided.

Abstract: A tire longitudinal stiffness estimation system includes an electronic communication system disposed on a vehicle. A sensor is disposed on the vehicle in communication with the electronic communication system, and a processor is accessible through the electronic communication system. The sensor measures parameters associated with the vehicle and communicates data for the parameters to the processor. A mu slip curve generator receives the parameters to generate a mu slip curve in real time from the data. An extraction module extracts raw data from a linear portion of the mu slip curve. A denoising module de-noises the raw data from the mu slip curve by determining a vector for the raw data, an orientation of the vector, and a heading of the vector. The denoising module generates de-noised data, and a stiffness calculator receives the de-noised data and generates a longitudinal stiffness estimate for the tire.

Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system includes a first tire mounted on a first end of an axle and a second tire mounted on a second end of the axle. A first sensor is mounted on the first tire for measuring a pressure, and a second sensor is mounted on the second tire for measuring a pressure. The system includes means for transmitting measured pressure data from the first sensor and the second sensor to a processor. A tire pressure model is executed on the processor, and includes an aggregator that accumulates the measured pressure data from the first sensor and the second sensor. A noise filter filters sensor noise and generates filtered pressure data from the measured tire pressure data. A detection module receives the filtered pressure data and determines when a leak occurs in one of the tires. A leak notification is generated when the leak occurs.

Abstract: A method for forming a composite apex, the method comprising the steps of: forming a coextruded strip of a first compound and a second compound, wherein the second compound is a compound different than the first compound, wherein the apex is formed from winding the coextruded strip while varying the ratio of the first compound to the second compound.

Abstract: The subject invention is based upon the unexpected discovery that the use of a very specific combination of hydrophobating silanes and sulfur crosslinkable silanes can be used to attain outstanding performance characteristics in silica reinforced rubber formulations. More specifically, these rubber formulations provide a highly desirable combination of both improved abrasion characteristics and reduced hysteresis without compromising other important rubber characteristics. The present invention more specifically discloses a sulfur cured rubber formulation which is the reaction product of (1) at least one rubbery polymer, (2) sulfur, (3) silica, (4) 2 phf to 12 phf of a hydrophobating silane, and (5) 0.5 phf to 3 phf of a crosslinkable silane. The weight ratio of the hydrophobating silane to the crosslinkable silane will typically be within the range of about 2:1 to about 20:1.

Abstract: This invention relates to tire tread wear monitoring. A sacrificial magnet portion is arranged in a tread of the tire so that it undergoes wear along with the tread and generates a useful magnetic field signal indicative of remaining tread thickness. With a magnetic field sensor arranged on or in the tire, an overall magnetic field signal is measured, which includes the useful magnetic field signal, and a superimposed interfering magnetic field signal generated by magnetizable material contained in the tire. A non-sacrificial magnet portion is used to saturate the magnetizable material at least locally so as to make the interfering magnetic field signal sensed by the magnetic field sensor substantially independent of the useful magnetic field signal sensed by the magnetic field sensor. Further aspects of the invention relate to tires, e.g., vehicle tires, featuring a tire tread wear monitoring system.

Abstract: A shear band for a tire includes an annular first, radially outer fabric layer extending circumferentially around the tire; and an annular second, radially inner fabric layer extending circumferentially around the tire. The shear band is formed from a single shear band strip helically wound circumferentially and axially with a first edge of the shear band strip. The first edge of the shear band strip has a first extension flap for engaging an opposite second edge of the shear band strip. The first extension flap is continuously secured to the opposite second edge linearly along the opposite second edge of the shear band strip.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a process for manufacturing a tread molding element configured to mold at least a portion of a tire tread, the process comprising the steps of modeling a three-dimensional shape of a tread molding element through a modeling program that can be recognized by a 3D printer; providing one or more plastic compositions comprising one or more thermoplastic polymers having a melting point of at least 180° C.; forming a tread molding element by 3D printing from the one or more plastic compositions; and optionally annealing the tread molding element.