Abstract: A method for making a knotless bead bundle, a bead bundle made according to the method, and a tire made using the knotless bead bundle are provided. In the method a bead ring is made using a plurality of annular turns of wire as is conventional in the art, and the annular turns of wire are wrapped with cord, tape, or other conventional wrapping material which is held on the bead ring without using knots. The wrap is held on the bead ring by using a tie down area that is made by forming a loop in the wrapping material, holding the loop in place by a number of close turns of wrap on the bead ring while leaving a first end of the wrapping material free, wrapping the bead ring 360.degree. around the ring, passing a second end of the wrapping material through the loop, closing the loop by pulling the first end of the wrapping material whereby closing the loop pulls the second end of the wrapping material under the close turns of wrapping material.

Abstract: Tire bead members (10) have radially superposed layers (11,12,13,14) of fibers (15) embedded in a polymeric matrix (16). Interposed between the layers (11,12,13,14) of composite material are thin layers (17,18,19) of a material that is not adhered to both of the adjacent layers (11,12;12,13;13,14) of composite material. Tires employing said bead members are also disclosed.