Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having a tread comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising, based on 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), (A) from about 45 to about 100 phr of a low-cis polybutadiene having a vinyl-1,2 content ranging from 5 to 30 percent and a Tg ranging from ?95° C. to ?70° C.; (B) from about 0 to about 40 phr of a solution polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber having a glass transition temperature (Tg) ranging from ?85° C. to ?50° C.; (C) from 0 to 30 phr of natural rubber or synthetic polyisoprene; (D) from 0 to 20 phr of a process oil; (E) from 55 to 80 phr of a resin having an aromatic hydrogen content ranging from 3 to 30 mole percent, the resin having a Tg greater than 30° C.; and (F) from 110 to 160 phr of silica.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel functionalized vegetable oils, a method of making the oils, their use in rubber compositions, and their use in tires.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tire tread comprising a tread cap comprising at least one tread cap rubber compound, at least three circumferential grooves, wherein at least portions of the sidewalls and the bottom of each of said grooves are formed by a circumferential groove reinforcement, and wherein a first groove reinforcement of a groove laterally next to the equatorial plane of the tire comprises a first reinforcement rubber compound which has a higher hardness than the tread cap rubber compound, and wherein a second groove reinforcement of a groove with a larger lateral distance to the equatorial plane of the tire than the first groove, comprises a second reinforcement rubber compound which has a higher hardness than the tread cap rubber compound and a lower hardness than the second reinforcement rubber compound.

Abstract: A system is provided for estimating a tread depth of a tire supporting a vehicle. The tire includes a pair of sidewalls that extend to a circumferential tread. The system includes a drive over reader, which includes a housing. At least one sensor is mounted in the housing to generate an image of the tire, which may be an image of the tire footprint or an image of the tread along a lateral line or section, and the tread depth is determined from the image. At least one piezoelectric actuator is mounted on the housing and is electrically connected to the at least one sensor to actuate the at least one sensor. A method for estimating a tread depth of a tire supporting a vehicle is also provided.

Abstract: A tire including a tread wear indicator is provided. The tire includes a pair of sidewalls, in which each sidewall extends from a respective bead area to a tread. The tread includes a plurality of main circumferential grooves, in which the main circumferential grooves are disposed in and proximate an axial center area of the tread. At least one shallow groove is formed in the tread, and each shallow groove includes a depth relative to the surface of the tread that is less than a depth of each of the main circumferential grooves. A primary tread wear indicator is disposed in at least one of the main circumferential grooves, and a secondary tread wear indicator is disposed in the shallow groove.

Abstract: A system compensates a drive over reader tire pressure measurement. The system includes a drive over reader, which includes a sensor array. A pressure indication is determined for each tire in a group of tires by the drive over reader. A recommended cold pressure for the tires is provided. An adjusted recommended pressure for the tires is determined from the pressure indication and the recommended cold pressure, and accounts for temperature effects on the tires. An adjusted low pressure threshold is set at a predetermined level below the adjusted recommended pressure. A notice is generated by the drive over reader for each tire that includes an adjusted recommended pressure below the adjusted low pressure threshold.

Abstract: A method and system to determine a selected service response for servicing a damaged portion of a vehicle using a vehicle technician system. The selected service response is based upon a digital media file acquired with the vehicle technician system and representative of the damaged portion of the vehicle. The digital media file is communicated from the vehicle technician system to an authority such as a vehicle owner. The communication may be indirectly through an intermediary such as a vehicle service management system. Inasmuch as the digital media file is inherently unbiased, the authority evaluates the digital media file when considering the appropriate service, such as repairing or replacing a damaged part. The authority then selects a selected service response based at least in part on the digital media file and the selected service response is thereafter applied to the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of making a functionalized elastomer, comprising the step of polymerizing a conjugated diene monomer in the presence of a lanthanide-based coordination polymerization catalyst activated with a functionalized aluminum reagent of formula 1 where R is a linear or branched alkane group containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and R1 is phenylene, or a linear or branched alkane diyl group containing 2 to 10 carbon atoms, or a combination of one or more phenylene groups and one or more linear or branched alkane diyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; Q is of formula 2 where R5, R6 and R7 are independently a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms or a group of formula 3 where R3 and R4 are independently phenyl or a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or R3 and R4 taken together with the nitrogen atom represent a nitrogen containing heterocyclic group containing from 4 to 12 carbon atoms; or R5, R6 and R7 taken