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 relates to a rubber composition comprising rubber, a first filler comprising a carbon-based inorganic compound, wherein the carbon-based inorganic compound comprises interconnected crystalline carbon nanofilaments and a second filler comprising silica. Said rubber composition can be used for coating wires or cords which are used for reinforcing rubber products such as tires. It can be used in tires such as in carcass plies, belt plies, ply strips and overlay plies. The present invention further relates to a pneumatic tire comprising said rubber composition.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention a wire coat rubber composition for a tire comprises from 70 phr to 100 phr of cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber, from 0 phr to 30 phr of solution styrene butadiene rubber, from 65 phr to 95 phr pre-silanized precipitated silica, from 0.1 phr to 5 phr of a cobalt salt, up to 15 phr carbon black, up to 10 phr of a resin, and up to 10 phr oil. Further the present invention is directed to a tire comprising such a wire coat composition.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention a wire coat rubber composition for a tire comprises from 70 phr to 100 phr of cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber, from 0 phr to 30 phr of solution styrene butadiene rubber, from 65 phr to 95 phr pre-silanized precipitated silica, from 0.1 phr to 5 phr of a cobalt salt, up to 15 phr carbon black, up to 10 phr of a resin, and up to 10 phr oil. Further the present invention is directed to a tire comprising such a wire coat composition.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a ply coat rubber composition for a tire ply comprises from 60 phr to 90 phr of natural rubber, from 10 phr to 40 phr of synthetic polyisoprene, from 30 phr to 80 phr of pre-silanized and precipitated silica, from 0.1 phr to 5 phr of a cobalt salt, up to 15 phr of carbon black, up to 5 phr of resin, and up to 8 phr of oil. Moreover, the invention is directed to a tire comprising such a rubber composition.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention a wire coat rubber composition for a tire comprises from 70 phr to 100 phr of cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber, from 0 phr to 30 phr of solution styrene butadiene rubber, from 65 phr to 95 phr pre-silanized precipitated silica, from 0.1 phr to 5 phr of a cobalt salt, up to 15 phr carbon black, up to 10 phr of a resin, and up to 10 phr oil. Further the present invention is directed to a tire comprising such a wire coat composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wire coat rubber composition for coating metal wires in a tire, the rubber composition comprising from 60 to 100 phr of natural rubber, from 0 to 40 phr of synthetic polyisoprene, from 40 to 70 phr of oxidized carbon black, up to 5 phr of a resin and up to 8 phr of oil. The present invention also relates to a tire comprising such a wire coat composition.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a ply coat rubber composition for a tire ply comprises from 60 phr to 90 phr of natural rubber, from 10 phr to 40 phr of synthetic polyisoprene, from 30 phr to 80 phr of pre-silanized and precipitated silica, from 0.1 phr to 5 phr of a cobalt salt, up to 15 phr of carbon black, up to 5 phr of resin, and up to 8 phr of oil. Moreover, the invention is directed to a tire comprising such a rubber 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: 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: An air maintenance tire and pump assembly comprising: a tire having two spaced inextensible beads; a ground contacting tread portion; a pair of individual sidewalls extending radially inward from the axial outer edges of said tread portion to join the respective beads; a supporting carcass for the tread portion and sidewalls; an innerliner disposed radially inward of the carcass, the innerliner having a innerliner surface facing an interior cavity of the tire; an elongate substantially annular air passageway enclosed within a bending region of the tire, the air passageway operatively closing and opening segment by segment as the bending region of the tire passes through a rolling tire footprint to pump air along the air passageway; an air inlet port assembly coupled to and in air flow communication with the air passageway at an inlet air passageway junction, the air inlet port assembly operable to channel inlet air from outside of the tire into the air passageway, the air inlet port assembly comprising a regu

Abstract: A tire assembly having: a tire having a tread portion and a pair of sidewalls extending radially inward from the tread portion to join with a respective bead; a supporting carcass for the tread portion and sidewalls; a pump passageway positioned within a bending region of the tire, the pump passageway being operative to open and close as the tire rotates; a valve assembly in fluid communication with the pump passageway; a pocket formed in the tire; a filter assembly mounted in the pocket, said filter assembly being in air flow communication with the valve assembly, wherein the pocket has an area larger than the area of the filter housing wherein the valve assembly has an inlet, wherein the filter assembly has an outlet, wherein a tube connects the filter outlet assembly to the inlet of the valve assembly; wherein the tube is made of a rubber composition having a shore D hardness greater than 40 as measured by ASTM-D2240.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of mounting a device to a tire comprising the following steps: buffing an inside surface of the tire, forming a rubber layer and a rubber extension on a mounting surface of the device, wherein the rubber extension extends past the support frame; applying rubber cement to the mounting surface and then affixing the mounting surface of the device to the inside surface; and then curing the rubber cement.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to a pneumatic rubber tire which contains an outer, annular, circular groove which contains a flexible tube bonded to the walls of the groove.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a tire assembly having: a tire having a tread portion and a pair of sidewalls extending radially inward from the tread portion to join with a respective bead; a supporting carcass for the tread portion and sidewalls; a pump passageway positioned within a bending region of the tire, the pump passageway being operative to open and close as the tire rotates; a valve assembly in fluid communication with the pump passageway; a pocket formed in the tire; a filter assembly mounted in the pocket, said filter assembly being in air flow communication with the valve assembly, wherein the pocket has an area larger than the area of the filter housing wherein the valve assembly has an inlet, wherein the filter assembly has an outlet, wherein a tube connects the filter outlet assembly to the inlet of the valve assembly; wherein the tube is made of a rubber composition having a shore D hardness greater than 40 as measured by ASTM-D2240.

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 opposite groove surfaces comprise a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising: a diene based rubber; from 0.

Abstract: A tire assembly includes a tire having a pneumatic cavity, first and second sidewalls, a sidewall groove, an air passageway, and a pressure regulator mounted to an inner surface of the pneumatic tire cavity. The pressure regulator controls air pressure within the pneumatic tire cavity. The first and second sidewalls extend respectively from first and second tire bead regions to a tire tread region. The first sidewall has at least one bending region operatively bending when circumferentially within a rolling tire footprint. The sidewall groove defining groove sidewalls positioned within the bending region of the first tire sidewall. The groove and air passageway deform segment by segment between a non-deformed state and a deformed, constricted state in response to the bending of the first sidewall bending region circumferentially within the rolling tire footprint.