Abstract: This invention reveals an uncured pneumatic tire which is comprised of a generally toroidal-shaped supporting carcass with an outer circumferential tread, two spaced beads, at least one ply extending from bead to bead, sidewalls extending radially from and connecting said tread to said beads, a sealant layer which is disposed inwardly from the supporting carcass, and an innerliner which is disposed inwardly from the sealant layer, wherein said circumferential tread is adapted to be ground-contacting, and wherein the sealant layer is comprised of polyisobutylene or a butyl rubber, wherein the polyisobutylene or the butyl rubber has a number average molecular weight which is within the range of 30,000 to 100,000.

Abstract: This invention discloses a technique for replenishing the level of sealant in self-sealing tires at the time that a puncture in the tire is being repaired or when the tire is being recapped. This technique provides the tire with its original level of self-sealing capabilities and will enhance the possibility of the tire remaining in service until it can be conveniently repaired. This method involves (1) injecting a liquid sealant formulation into the sealant layer of a self-sealing tire through at least one puncture hole therein, and (2) sealing the hole or holes in the supporting carcass and the innerliner of the tire. The sealant utilized is typically liquid polyisobutylene having a weight average molecular weight of 25,000 to 200,000. The sealant formulation used can optionally also contain a colorant or a pigment.

Abstract: A tire with a sensor attachment reservoir is provided. The tire includes a pair of bead areas, a sidewall extending from each respective bead area to a tread, a carcass extending toroidally between each of the bead areas, and an innerliner disposed inwardly of the carcass. A compound ring is secured to the innerliner, and the compound ring defines a reservoir upon being secured to the innerliner. A sensor adhesive is disposed in the reservoir and a sensor is secured to the tire innerliner by the sensor adhesive. A corresponding method of attaching a sensor to a tire is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising a tread portion, two bead portions, two sidewalls extending between the tread portion and the respective bead portions, an inner surface defining a tire cavity, a sealant material layer covering the inner surface radially below the tread portion within the tire cavity, and at least one noise dampening strip which is partially covering and attached to the sealant material on a radially inner side and along a circumferential direction of the sealant material layer. The sealant material layer has at least one plateau region supporting the noise dampening element and one or more bottom regions provided laterally beside the plateau region, and wherein the plateau region extends out of the bottom regions in a radially inner direction.

Abstract: An RFID tag for attaching to a tire consists of a first polyester layer, a second polyester layer adjacent the first polyester layer, the second polyester layer having an etched antenna and an RFID chip, and a third polyester layer adjacent the second polyester layer. The third polyester layer surrounds part of the first and second layers and is secured by heat to an innerliner of the tire.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method making a pneumatic tire, comprising the steps of: mixing a sealant composition comprising an elastomer, a filler, a diluent, a quinoid curing agent, an oxidant co-curative; and a cure modifier of formula 1: wherein R1 and R2 are independently H or C1 to C4 alkyl, or R1 and R2 taken together form a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group; R3 and R4 are independently H, —NH2, C1 to C4 alkyl, or —OR5 where R5 is C1 to C4 alkyl, with the proviso that when R1 and R2 are taken together to form a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group, R5 is C1 to C3 alkyl; applying the sealant composition to an inner surface of a cured tire; and curing the sealant composition.

Abstract: A self-inflating tire assembly includes an air tube mounted within a tire sidewall groove. The air tube is in contacting engagement with opposite angled groove surfaces surrounding the air tube. A segment of the air tube is flattened from an expanded diameter to a flat diameter by bending and compression of the groove in a rolling tire footprint to force air evacuated from the flattened segment along a tube air passageway. The sidewall groove extends into an annular, axially extending, sidewall surface such as an axially oriented surface of a tire chafer protrusion located in non-contacting relationship with the rim. The air tube is extruded from a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising: a diene based rubber; from 0.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method making a pneumatic tire, comprising the steps of: mixing a sealant composition comprising an elastomer, a filler, a diluent, a quinoid curing agent, an oxidant co-curative; and a cure modifier of formula 1: wherein R1 and R2 are independently H or C1 to C4 alkyl, or R1 and R2 taken together form a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group; R3 and R4 are independently H, —NH2, C1 to C4 alkyl, or —OR5 where R5 is C1 to C4 alkyl, with the proviso that when R1 and R2 are taken together to form a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group, R1 is C1 to C3 alkyl; applying the sealant composition to an inner surface of a cured tire; and curing the sealant composition.

Abstract: A tire with a sensor attachment reservoir is provided. The tire includes a pair of bead areas, a sidewall extending from each respective bead area to a tread, a carcass extending toroidally between each of the bead areas, and an innerliner disposed inwardly of the carcass. A compound ring is secured to the innerliner, and the compound ring defines a reservoir upon being secured to the innerliner. A sensor adhesive is disposed in the reservoir and a sensor is secured to the tire innerliner by the sensor adhesive. A corresponding method of attaching a sensor to a tire is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising a radially outer circumferential rubber tread disposed on a supporting carcass, an inner liner rubber layer radially inwardly disposed on the supporting carcass, and a sealant layer adhered to and disposed inwardly of the rubber inner liner layer as a radially inner surface of the tire, wherein the sealant layer comprises 100 parts by weight of elastomer comprising 5 to 10 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr) of butyl rubber, 10 to 25 phr of bromobutyl rubber, and 65 to 85 phr of polybutene: and from 0.05 to 2 phr of a polymeric amine.

Abstract: A self-inflating tire assembly includes an air tube mounted within a tire sidewall groove. The air tube is in contacting engagement with opposite angled groove surfaces surrounding the air tube. A segment of the air tube is flattened from an expanded diameter to a flat diameter by bending and compression of the groove in a rolling tire footprint to force air evacuated from the flattened segment along a tube air passageway. The sidewall groove extends into an annular, axially extending, sidewall surface such as an axially oriented surface of a tire chafer protrusion located in non-contacting relationship with the rim. The opposite groove surfaces comprise a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising: a diene based rubber; from 0.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising a sidewall component, the sidewall component including an air passageway extending at least partially about the circumference of the tire, the air passageway surrounded by and in fluid communication with a surface comprising a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising: a diene based rubber; from 0.25 to 5 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of rubber (phr), of a self-lubrication agent capable of migrating from the rubber composition to the groove surface and disposing on the groove surface as a liquid; and from 1 to 15 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of rubber (phr), of a vulcanization modifier for use in the second rubber composition include ?,?-bis(N,N?-dihydrocarbylthiocarbamamoyldithio)alkanes, bismaleimides, and biscitraconimides.

Abstract: A self-inflating tire assembly includes an air tube mounted within a tire sidewall groove. The air tube is in contacting engagement with opposite angled groove surfaces surrounding the air tube. A segment of the air tube is flattened from an expanded diameter to a flat diameter by bending and compression of the groove in a rolling tire footprint to force air evacuated from the flattened segment along a tube air passageway. The sidewall groove extends into an annular, axially extending, sidewall surface such as an axially oriented surface of a tire chafer protrusion located in non-contacting relationship with the rim. The air tube is extruded from a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising: a diene based rubber; from 0.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising a radially outer circumferential rubber tread disposed on a supporting carcass, an inner liner rubber layer radially inwardly disposed on the supporting carcass, and a sealant layer adhered to and disposed inwardly of the rubber inner liner layer as a radially inner surface of the tire, wherein the sealant layer comprises 100 parts by weight of elastomer comprising 5 to 10 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr) of butyl rubber, 10 to 25 phr of bromobutyl rubber, and 65 to 85 phr of polybutene: and from 0.05 to 2 phr of a polymeric amine.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire assembly includes: a tire having a pneumatic cavity; a rigid structure for facilitating operation of the tire assembly, the rigid structure being bonded to the tire by a layered thermoplastic material such that a stiffness gradient is created between the structure and the tire; first and second sidewalls extending respectively from first and second tire bead regions to a tire tread region, the first sidewall having at least one bending region operatively bending when radially within a rolling tire footprint; and a sidewall groove defined by groove walls positioned within the bending region of the first tire sidewall, the sidewall groove deforming segment by segment between a non-deformed state and a deformed, constricted state in response to bending of the bending region of the first sidewall while radially within the rolling tire footprint.

Abstract: A self-inflating tire assembly includes an air tube mounted within a tire sidewall groove. The air tube is in contacting engagement with opposite angled groove surfaces surrounding the air tube. A segment of the air tube is flattened from an expanded diameter to a flat diameter by bending and compression of the groove in a rolling tire footprint to force air evacuated from the flattened segment along a tube air passageway. The sidewall groove extends into an annular, axially extending, sidewall surface such as an axially oriented surface of a tire chafer protrusion located in non-contacting relationship with the rim. The opposite groove surfaces comprise a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising: a diene based rubber; from 0.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising a sidewall component, the sidewall component including an air passageway extending at least partially about the circumference of the tire, the air passageway surrounded by and in fluid communication with a surface comprising a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising: a diene based rubber; from 0.25 to 5 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of rubber (phr), of a self-lubrication agent capable of migrating from the rubber composition to the groove surface and disposing on the groove surface as a liquid; and from 1 to 15 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of rubber (phr), of a vulcanization modifier for use in the second rubber composition include ?,?-bis(N,N?-dihydrocarbylthiocarbamamoyldithio)alkanes, bismaleimides, and biscitraconimides.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire assembly includes: a tire having a pneumatic cavity; a rigid structure for facilitating operation of the tire assembly, the rigid structure being bonded to the tire by a layered thermoplastic material such that a stiffness gradient is created between the structure and the tire; first and second sidewalls extending respectively from first and second tire bead regions to a tire tread region, the first sidewall having at least one bending region operatively bending when radially within a rolling tire footprint; and a sidewall groove defined by groove walls positioned within the bending region of the first tire sidewall, the sidewall groove deforming segment by segment between a non-deformed state and a deformed, constricted state in response to bending of the bending region of the first sidewall while radially within the rolling tire footprint.

Abstract: A connector system and tire assembly includes an elongate integral air passageway contained within a flexible tire component of a tire carcass, the air passageway extending between an air inlet cavity and an air outlet cavity in the flexible tire component, and the air passageway extending at least a partial circumferential path around the tire carcass. A hollow dome-shaped inlet nut seats within the inlet cavity and a hollow dome-shaped outlet nut seats within the outlet cavity. The inlet nut couples to an air inlet device for conducting air external to the tire carcass into the inlet nut central chamber; and the outlet nut outward body side couples to a valve device positioned within the tire cavity.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire assembly includes a tire, a filter element disposed between a pneumatic cavity and atmosphere. The filter element has threads for securing to the pneumatic tire. First and second sidewalls extend respectively from first and second tire bead regions to a tire tread region. The first sidewall has a bending region operatively bending when radially within a rolling tire footprint. A sidewall groove defines groove walls positioned within the bending region of the first tire sidewall. The sidewall groove deforms in response to bending of the bending region of the first sidewall while radially within the rolling tire footprint. An air passageway is defined by the sidewall groove and deforms when radially within the rolling tire footprint.