Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided which includes an outer circumferential rubber tread and a supporting carcass. A rubber inner liner is disposed inwardly from the supporting carcass. A built-in sealant layer is situated adjacent to an innermost removable barrier layer and disposed inwardly from the rubber inner liner. The built-in sealant layer provides self-sealing properties to the pneumatic tire. The pneumatic tire, with its innermost removable barrier layer, keeps the sealant layer from sticking to a tire-building apparatus during tire assembly and, after curing of the assembled tire, is eventually removed to permit gas from the built-in sealant layer to become part of the tire's inflation air to prevent or reduce instances of inner liner blister formation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tire having a rubber tread of a lug and groove configuration wherein at least a portion of surface of the grooves is comprised of an elastomeric layer having a repellent property.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having a rubber tread comprised of cap/base construction where the tread cap layer provides the running surface of the tread and the tread base layer underlies the tread cap layer and thereby provides a transition between the tread cap layer and the tire carcass. For this invention, the tread cap layer is comprised of a plurality of individual circumferential load-bearing zones of rubber compositions, which exhibit graduated physical properties, and which extend from the outer running surface of the tread cap layer radially inward to said tread base layer. In one aspect, the zoned rubber tread cap layer and rubber tread base layer are co-extruded together to form a unit as an integral tread rubber composite.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a pneumatic tire having a built-in sealant layer, before cure, includes an unvulcanized pneumatic tire assembly having an outer circumferential rubber tread and a supporting carcass. A precursor sealant layer is situated between the supporting carcass and an innermost rubber inner liner. The precursor sealant layer includes a non-flowing polyurethane composition that is neither gel-like nor tacky and is self-supporting. The precursor sealant layer, during curing of the unvulcanized pneumatic tire assembly, thermally degrades so as to provide a gel-like and tacky, self-healing polyurethane composition which defines the built-in sealant layer. The resulting tire, with its innermost polyurethane composition, allows for elimination or reduction in blister formation by reducing or elimination the amount of gases typically given off by organoperoxide-butyl based sealant layers, such as when the tire is at its running temperature. Consequently, the thickness of the inner liner may be reduced.

Abstract: This invention relates to preparation of precipitated silica-containing EPDM based rubber compositions and their use as components of articles of manufacture such as, for example, tires and industrial products. Such preparation relies upon phase mixing of EPDM based rubber compositions which contain particulate reinforcement, such as for example precipitated silica, which may optionally include exfoliated clay reinforcement, to create an enhanced EPDM rubber composition. In one aspect, the invention relates to a pneumatic rubber tire with a visible outer sidewall rubber layer comprised of such rubber composition.

Abstract: This invention is based upon the concept of modifying the surface of silica with a metal, such as titanium or zirconium, which will catalyze silanol condensation reactions on the surface of the silica. The utilization of such metalated silica as a filler in rubber compositions results in improved polymer filler interaction and in turn improved physical properties. For instance, such surface metalated siliceous fillers can be used in tire tread compounds to attain improved rolling resistance and treadwear without compromising traction characteristics. The present invention more specifically discloses a tire having a tread comprising (1) a rubbery polymer, (2) a silica coupling agent, and (3) a surface metalated siliceous filler.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having a built-in sealant layer and its preparation. In one embodiment, the pneumatic tire includes an outer circumferential rubber tread and a supporting carcass. An optional rubber inner liner is disposed inwardly from the supporting carcass. A built-in sealant layer is disposed inwardly from the rubber inner liner. The built-in sealant layer provides self-sealing properties to the pneumatic tire. A gas permeable layer is situated adjacent an innermost rubber inner liner and the built-in sealant layer. The innermost rubber inner liner has a plurality of spaced apart openings extending therethrough, which are covered by the gas permeable layer. The tire, with its innermost inner liner with holes and the gas permeable layer, allows for elimination or reduction in blister formation in the tire by permitting gas from the built-in sealant layer to escape.

Abstract: A pneumatic rubber tire having an integral rubber innerliner containing anchored hollow glass microspheres.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic rubber tire having an integral innerliner of a sulfur cured rubber composition. The innerliner rubber composition is comprised of at least one elastomer selected from bromobutyl rubber and chlorobutyl rubber which also contains a dispersion therein of ethylene vinyl alcohol polymer.

Abstract: A method of producing a tire including mixing in a non-productive phase at least one elastomer with a polyamide having a melting temperature of less than 180° C. The polyamide is allowed to heat to at least its melting temperature. During the productive phase, at least one curing agent is added to the elastomeric composition. The curing agent may be a sulfur containing curing agent and/or a non-sulfur containing curing agent. The elastomeric composition may optionally include a crystalline EPDM elastomer. The resulting compositions may then be formed into a tire component which may be built into a tire and cured.

Abstract: This invention is based upon the concept of modifying the surface of silica with a metal, such as titanium or zirconium, which will catalyze silanol condensation reactions on the surface of the silica. In other words, modifying the surface of silica with titanium or zirconium provides a catalyst for the silanol condensation reaction between the silica surface and silane coupling agents used in silica filled compounds. The utilization of such metalated silica as a filler in rubber compositions results in improved polymer filler interaction and in turn improved physical properties. For instance, such surface metalated siliceous fillers can be used in tire tread compounds to attain improved rolling resistance and treadwear without compromising traction characteristics. The present invention more specifically discloses an elastomeric composition which is comprised of (1) a rubbery polymer, (2) a silica coupling agent, and (3) a surface metalated siliceous filler.

Abstract: Pneumatic rubber tire with an outer, circumferential tread comprised of specialized cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber based silica/carbon black reinforced rubber composition.

Abstract: This invention is based upon the concept of modifying the surface of silica with a metal, such as titanium or zirconium, which will catalyze silanol condensation reactions on the surface of the silica. In other words, modifying the surface of silica with titanium or zirconium provides a catalyst for the silanol condensation reaction between the silica surface and silane coupling agents used in silica filled compounds. The utilization of such metalated silica as a filler in rubber compositions results in improved polymer filler interaction and in turn improved physical properties. For instance, such surface metalated siliceous fillers can be used in tire tread compounds to attain improved rolling resistance and treadwear without compromising traction characteristics. The present invention more specifically discloses an elastomeric composition which is comprised of (1) a rubbery polymer, (2) a silica coupling agent, and (3) a surface metalated siliceous filler.

Abstract: This invention relates to preparation of precipitated silica-containing EPDM based rubber compositions and their use as components of articles of manufacture such as, for example, tires and industrial products. Such preparation relies upon phase mixing of EPDM based rubber compositions which contain particulate reinforcement, such as for example precipitated silica, which may optionally include exfoliated clay reinforcement, to create an enhanced EPDM rubber composition. In one aspect, the invention relates to a pneumatic rubber tire with a visible outer sidewall rubber layer comprised of such rubber composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having a circumferential tread of a cap/base configuration composed of an outer tread rubber cap layer with a running surface of the tread and an underlying tread rubber base layer, wherein said tread cap layer is composed of two longitudinal adjacent zones, namely a primary tread cap zone and a minor lateral outboard control element (zone). The primary tread cap zone and the lateral outboard tread cap element provide a significant gradation of cold dynamic storage moduli (G?) at ?25° C. and hot tan delta values at 100° C., yet similar warm dynamic storage moduli (G?) at 60° C. The primary tread cap zone and lateral outboard control tread cap element are load bearing in the sense of extending from the running surface of the tread radially inward to the unitary (non-zoned) tread base rubber layer. The zoned rubber tread cap layer and unitary rubber tread base layer are an integral tread composite in a sense of being co-extruded.

Abstract: Pneumatic rubber tire with an outer, circumferential tread comprised of specialized cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber based silica/carbon black reinforced rubber composition.

Abstract: Pneumatic rubber tire with an outer, circumferential tread comprised of a cis 1,4-polybutadiene-rich and silica-rich rubber composition which contains specified elastomers with spatially defined glass transition temperatures, in conjunction with silica and specified carbon black reinforcement.

Abstract: A tire with a built in sealant comprising: sidewalls, a supporting tire carcass comprised of one or more layers of ply, a pair of beads, and an outer circumferential tread, wherein the sidewalls extend radially inward from the axial outer edges of the tread portion to join the respective beads, and a layer of sealant disposed between the inner liner and a cover layer, the carcass of the tire has a radially innermost layer, wherein the sealant is located over said gas permeable liner, and has a first outer edge and a second outer edge, wherein on each side of said sealant adjoining with the first outer edge and the second outer edge is two or more layers of butyl rubber inner liner.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising at least one component, the at least one component comprising a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising from about 50 to about 100 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer, of a vinylpyridine-styrene-butadiene (VPSBR) elastomer comprising units derived from monomers comprising styrene, 1,3-butadiene, and vinylpyridine monomers which have the structural formula: wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a straight chain or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, wherein the VPSBR comprises from about 0.1 to about 8 percent by weight of vinylpyridine monomer; from 0 to about 50 phr of at least one additional diene-based elastomer; from about 5 to about 15 phr of an at least partially exfoliated clay; and from about 1 to about 40 phr of a polyoctenamer.

Abstract: A tire including a carcass, at least two bead regions having a pair of axially spaced beads around which are wrapped turn-up ends, reinforced carcass plies wrapped around the pair of beads, at least one belt structure and tread disposed over the carcass plies, sidewalls disposed between the beads and the tread, at least two apexes, wherein the apexes are a main body of the carcass and the turn-up ends, an EMT insert, and at least one belt overlay; wherein at least one of the group consisting of the apexes, the EMT insert, and the at least one belt overlay contain chopped carbon fibers.