Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a carcass and a belt reinforcement structure. The carcass has one ply of parallel cords extending proximately to bead portions. The belt reinforcement structure is disposed radially outside of the carcass. The belt reinforcement structure includes an overlay ply. The overlay ply includes a strip of parallel cords wound spirally and circumferentially from a first axially outer side of the overlay ply to a second axially outer side of the overlay ply. The distance between corresponding parts of adjacent strip windings defines a winding pitch. The winding pitch of the strip changes in an axially inward direction of the pneumatic tire towards the equatorial plane of the pneumatic tire such that the winding pitch in a central region of the belt reinforcement structure is increased relative to respective first and second axially outer sides of the overlay ply on each side of the equatorial plane of the pneumatic tire.

Abstract: A tire carcass has one or more radially inner ply components extending around an annular bead member to a ply turnup portion, the ply turnup portion extending radially outward from the bead member to a ply turnup end. A carcass barrier layer component is positioned axially inward from and adjacent to the ply component and an electronic tag device is embedded within the tire carcass between the barrier layer component and the ply component in a lower sidewall region of the tire carcass. The electronic tag is positioned at a radial tag distance from a lower sidewall toe location greater than 10 percent of the tire section height distance from the lower sidewall toe location. A radial tag distance is preferred within 15 percent and less than 35 percent of the tire section height as measured with reference to the lower sidewall toe location. The tag is transmission-operative when embedded within the tire carcass between the barrier layer component and the ply component during green tire construction.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire with an improved balance between noise reduction and hydroplaning resistance as the tread wears. The tread of the pneumatic tire includes skewed tread blocks having walls that, as the tread wears, change the character of the lateral and circumferential channels in the tire footprint to better optimize noise reduction and hydroplaning resistance.