Abstract: Methods for producing a polymer-containing coating upon a cured tire inner liner using a coating composition of specified composition are provided. Also provided are methods for producing a tire comprising a cured inner liner (with a polymer-containing coating upon its radially inward-facing surface) and at least one component positioned radially inward of the cured inner liner. Tires containing a cured inner liner (with a polymer-containing coating upon its radially inward-facing surface) and at least one component positioned radially inward of the cured inner liner are also disclosed.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire includes an inner ring having an axis of rotation and an outer ring coaxial with the inner ring. The non-pneumatic tire further includes support structure extending from the inner ring to the outer ring and a circumferential tread extending about the outer ring. The circumferential tread includes a shear element. The shear element includes a lower shim layer of solid material, an upper shim layer of solid material, and an elastic layer disposed between the lower shim layer and the upper shim layer. The elastic layer has a higher elasticity than the lower shim layer and the upper shim layer.

Abstract: A method of making a tire tread includes providing a sheet of material and forming the sheet of material into a cylinder, such that a first edge of the sheet of material contacts a second edge of the sheet of material. The method also includes welding the first edge to the second edge to form a welded joint of a seamed cylinder, and providing tread rubber about the seamed cylinder.

Abstract: A tire sealant layer comprising a rubber portion with an upper surface and a lower surface, and a barrier layer upon the lower surface of the rubber portion is disclosed. The rubber portion comprises a mixture of 100 parts of at least one rubber, 90-500 parts of at least one tackifier, optionally one or more extenders, optionally at least one hydroscopic substance, and a cure package. Also disclosed is a process for producing a sealant layer-tire inner liner combination as well as a sealant layer-containing tire and related processes involving the sealant layer-containing tire.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire and method of forming a non-pneumatic tire. The non-pneumatic tire includes a lower ring having a first diameter and an upper ring having a second diameter greater than the first diameter. The upper ring is substantially coaxial with the lower ring. A plurality of spokes extend between and interconnect the lower ring and the upper ring. The plurality of spokes have a tension stiffness of greater than or equal to 11 and less than or equal to 150 N/mm°, and a compression stiffness of greater than or equal to 11 and less than or equal to 100 N/mm°.

Abstract: A tire including a decoupling groove is provided, the tire comprising: a body, a shoulder, a tread surface including at least one decoupling groove extending radially inwardly into the body from the tread surface, and a plurality of parallel sipes, wherein the decoupling groove is oriented adjacent to the shoulder, wherein the decoupling groove is defined by an axially outer groove sidewall and an axially inner groove sidewall, has a width W1, and has a centerline, wherein the plurality of parallel sipes extend axially into the inner groove sidewall, wherein the decoupling groove has a radially inner groove base defined by a curvilinear base surface, has a width W2, and has a center, wherein the width W2 is greater than the width W1, and wherein a centerline of the decoupling groove intersects the center of the groove base.

Abstract: Methods for producing a polymer-containing coating upon a cured tire inner liner using a coating composition of specified composition are provided. Also provided are methods for producing a tire comprising a cured inner liner (with a polymer-containing coating upon its radially inward-facing surface) and at least one component positioned radially inward of the cured inner liner. Tires containing a cured inner liner (with a polymer-containing coating upon its radially inward-facing surface) and at least one component positioned radially inward of the cured inner liner are also disclosed.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire includes a lower ring having a first diameter and an upper ring having a second diameter greater than the first diameter. The upper ring is substantially coaxial with the lower ring. Support structure connects the lower ring to the upper ring. At least one of the lower ring, the upper ring, and the support structure includes a fiber metal laminate having at least one metal foil layer and at least one fiber and resin combination layer.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire includes an inner ring having an axis of rotation and an outer ring coaxial with the inner ring. The non-pneumatic tire further includes support structure extending from the inner ring to the outer ring and a circumferential tread extending about the outer ring. The circumferential tread includes a band layer constructed of a single material and a tread rubber layer directly attached to the band layer.

Abstract: Methods for treating a cured inner liner as well as treated, cured inner liners resulting from such methods are disclosed. Also disclosed are tires containing the treated inner liners. The methods include treatment of the lower surface of inner liner surface with a rubber-containing liquid to produce a rubber-containing film thereupon.

Abstract: Processes for producing a sealant layer-tire inner liner combination as well as a sealant layer-containing tire and related processes involving the sealant layer-containing tire are disclosed. The sealant layer is adhered to the tire inner liner, has a thickness of 2-8 mm and comprises 100 parts of at least one rubber, 300-500 phr of at least one tackifier, optionally one or more extenders, optionally at least one hydroscopic substance, and a cure package.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire includes an inner ring having an axis of rotation and an outer ring coaxial with the inner ring. The non-pneumatic tire further includes support structure extending from the inner ring to the outer ring and a circumferential tread extending about the outer ring. The circumferential tread includes a band layer constructed of a single material and a tread rubber layer directly attached to the band layer. The band layer has a first face and a second face opposite the first face, and a first axial edge and a second axial edge, the first and second axial edges spacing the first face from the second face. At least one of the first edge and the second edge has a geometry that provides the band layer with a nonrectangular cross section.

Abstract: Methods for producing a polymer-containing coating upon a cured tire inner liner using a coating composition of specified composition are provided. Also provided are methods for producing a tire comprising a cured inner liner (with a polymer-containing coating upon its radially inward-facing surface) and at least one component positioned radially inward of the cured inner liner. Tires containing a cured inner liner (with a polymer-containing coating upon its radially inward-facing surface) and at least one component positioned radially inward of the cured inner liner are also disclosed.

Abstract: A noise damper includes an open cell foam having a circumferential first tier and an interposed circumferential second tier including blocks and voids. The first tier has a radial height that is 3.0-8.0% of a section height and a first axial width. The second tier has a radial height that is 3.0-12.0% of a section height and a second axial width. The blocks span 10-30% of the second tier's inner circumference and the voids span 70-90% of the second tier's inner circumference.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic and method of making a non-pneumatic tire. The non-pneumatic tire includes a lower ring having a first diameter and an upper ring having a second diameter greater than the first diameter. The upper ring is substantially coaxial with he lower ring. A support structure extends between the lower ring and the upper ring. The support structure includes a first face and a second face opposite the first face, a first axial edge and a second axial edge. The first and second axial edges space the first face rom the second face. At least one of the first edge and the second edge may have a geometry that provides the support structure with a nonrectangular cross section. At least one of the first face and the second face may have a surface roughness of less than 25 microns. The support structure may be free from orthogonal axial edges.

Abstract: Processes for producing a sealant layer-tire inner liner combination as well as a sealant layer-containing tire and related processes involving the sealant layer-containing tire are disclosed. The sealant layer is adhered to the tire inner liner, has a thickness of 2-8 mm and comprises 100 parts of at least one rubber, 90-500 phr of at least one tackifier, optionally one or more extenders, optionally at least one hydroscopic substance, and a cure package.

Abstract: Methods for treating a cured inner liner as well as treated, cured inner liners resulting from such methods are disclosed. Also disclosed are tires containing the treated inner liners. The methods include treatment of the lower surface of inner liner surface with a rubber-containing liquid to produce a rubber-containing film thereupon.

Abstract: A motor vehicle tire is disclosed with a pair of post-cure run-flat inserts, each of the pair of post-cure run-flat inserts is disposed within a tire cavity between a shoulder region and a respective upper sidewall region of the tire. The tire further includes a cylindrical sidewall defining an interior cylindrical cavity, each of the cylindrical sidewall and the interior cylindrical cavity extending 360 degrees about a rotational axis of the tire, the cylindrical sidewall having an exterior surface contacting a radially inner surface of an inner liner between the shoulder region and the respective upper sidewall region during a normal inflation condition of the tire.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an approach for monitoring a tire for a puncture based on a change in a voltage established based on a resistance of a material disposed within the tire. In one example, the material is a conductive material layer. In another example, the material is a resistive strip. The systems and methods described herein can monitor for a change in an established voltage over time that is a function of parameters including the resistance of the conductive material layer or the resistive strip, and an applied voltage, to provide an indication of the change in the resistance in the material. The change in resistance of the material can be indicative of the puncture within the tire. The systems and methods described herein can alert a vehicle operator of the puncture within the tire.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire includes an inner ring having an axis of rotation and an outer ring coaxial with the inner ring. The non-pneumatic tire further includes support structure extending from the inner ring to the outer ring and a circumferential tread extending about the outer ring. The circumferential tread includes a shear element. The shear element includes a lower shim layer of solid material, an upper shim layer of solid material, and an elastic layer disposed between the lower shim layer and the upper shim layer. The elastic layer has a higher elasticity than the lower shim layer and the upper shim layer.