Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to methods for characterizing a multi-layered tire tread. In one example, a method comprises providing a first rubber composition having a first refractive index and providing a second rubber composition having a second refractive index. The method further comprises determining a difference between the first refractive index and the second refractive index and comparing the difference to a threshold refractive index. In addition, the method comprises adding a refractive index modifier to the first rubber composition and/or second rubber composition in case the comparison provides that the difference is lower than the threshold refractive index, so that the difference is greater than, or equal to, the threshold refractive index.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to a tire tread production line and a method for manufacturing a tire tread. The production line comprises a coextruder, a THz sensor and a controller operatively connected to the coextruder and to the THz sensor. The THz sensor is configured to irradiate the multi-layer tire tread extrudate with THz electromagnetic radiation, and receive a response of the multi-layer tire tread extrudate to the THz electromagnetic radiation. The controller is configured to operate the coextruder based on the response of the multi-layer tire tread extrudate to the THz electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a tire comprising a belt portion and a tread portion radially outward of the belt portion, wherein the tread portion comprises a radially outer tread layer for contacting the road when driving and a radially inner tread layer arranged between the radially outer tread layer and the belt portion, wherein the radially outer tread layer comprises a first rubber composition having a first shear storage modulus G?1 and the radially inner tread layer comprises a second rubber composition having a second shear storage modulus G?2, wherein the second shear storage modulus G?2 is between 3 MPa and 9 MPa higher than the first shear storage modulus G?1, and wherein the first shear storage modulus G?1 ranges from 1 MPa to 3 MPa and the second shear storage modulus G?2 ranges from 4 MPa to 12 MPa.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to methods for characterizing a multi-layered tire tread. In one example, a method comprises providing a first rubber composition having a first refractive index and providing a second rubber composition having a second refractive index. The method further comprises determining a difference between the first refractive index and the second refractive index and comparing the difference to a threshold refractive index. In addition, the method comprises adding a refractive index modifier to the first rubber composition and/or second rubber composition in case the comparison provides that the difference is lower than the threshold refractive index, so that the difference is greater than, or equal to, the threshold refractive index.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to a tire that includes a shoulder wedge arranged in a shoulder portion of the tire between the sidewall and the belt package, the shoulder wedge being at least partially inserted between the belt package and the carcass ply. The tread includes a tread chimney component extending from the shoulder wedge to the rolling surface. The overlay coat of the tire's belt package, the tread band except for the tread chimney component, the tread base and the tire sidewall are made from non-conductive rubber. A conductive path between the rolling surface and the rim is provided across the tread chimney component, the shoulder wedge, the carcass ply and the chafer portion.

Abstract: A rubber composition comprising 50 phr to 100 phr of a styrene butadiene rubber; 0 phr to 50 phr of at least one diene based rubber; 95 phr to 200 phr of filler comprising i) 50 phr to 100 phr of silica, ii) 40 phr to 70 phr of carbon black and iii) 5 phr to 30 phr of an inorganic metal hydroxide; 40 phr to 80 phr of plasticizer comprising a hydrocarbon resin having a softening point within a range of 80° C. and 130° C.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a non-vulcanized rubber composition which is comprised of (1) 90 phr to 100 phr cis 1,4-polyisoprene; (2) 10 phr to 40 phr of pre-silanized precipitated silica; (3) 10 phr to 40 phr of carbon black, (4) 0.1 phr to 5 phr of a cobalt salt, and (5) 1 phr to 15 phr of a resinous reaction product of a methylene donor composition and a methylene acceptor composition. Moreover, the present invention is directed to a tire or tire component comprising the cured rubber composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rubber composition comprising 10 phr to 100 phr of at least one partially saturated elastomer comprising repeat units, wherein at most 15% of all repeat units of the elastomer comprise a double bond; 0 phr to 90 phr of at least one diene based elastomer; 40 phr to 200 phr of at least one filler; and at least 5 phr of aluminum hydroxide.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rubber composition comprising: 70 phr to 100 phr of at least one styrene butadiene rubber, 0 phr to 30 phr of at least one further diene-based rubber, from 40 phr to 200 phr of at least one filler, at least 5 phr of aluminum hydroxide, and at least 10 phr of at least one hydrocarbon resin selected from one or more of DCPD resins, CPD resins, and C5 resins. Furthermore, the present invention is directed to a tire comprising such a rubber composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rubber composition comprising 70 phr to 100 phr of at least one styrene butadiene rubber, 0 phr to 30 phr of at least one further diene-based rubber, from 40 phr to 200 phr of at least one filler, at least 5 phr of aluminum hydroxide, and at least 0.5 phr of a rosin based resin. Moreover, the present invention is directed to a tire comprising such a rubber composition.

Abstract: In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a rubber composition comprising 70 phr to 100 phr of styrene butadiene rubber including a first styrene butadiene rubber having a glass transition temperature within a range of ?49° C. to ?15° C. and a second styrene butadiene rubber having a glass transition temperature within a range of ?50° C. to ?89° C. Moreover, the rubber composition comprises 10 phr to 30 phr of one or more of natural rubber and synthetic polyisoprene rubber, 40 phr to 70 phr of silica, and 10 phr to 40 phr of at least one hydrocarbon resin selected from one or more of C5 resins, CPD resins, DCPD resins, C9 modified C5 resins, C9 modified CPD resins, and C9 modified DCPD resins. In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a tire comprising a tire tread with the aforementioned 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: A method for forming a composite tread is described, wherein the method includes the steps of selecting a first tread compound having a first desired tread property, and selecting a second tread compound having a second desired property, forming a tread by winding a dual layer strip having a first layer formed of the first tread compound and a second layer formed of the second compound, wherein the tread has a first and second zone, wherein each zone is formed by spirally winding the dual layer strip, wherein the first zone is formed of a dual layer strip having a strip ratio of the volumetric proportion of the first compound to the second compound used to form the dual layer strip, wherein the second zone has a different strip ratio than the first zone by varying the volumetric proportion of the first compound to the second compound.

Abstract: A tire having a tread, wherein the tread has an outer shoulder region and an inner shoulder region, wherein each shoulder region is formed from a dual layer strip having a first layer formed of a first compound, and a second layer formed of a second compound, wherein the dual layer strip has a strip ratio of % first compound/% second compound, wherein the outer shoulder region has a strip ratio in the range of 70-95% of the first compound/5-30% of the second compound.

Abstract: In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a tire comprising a belt portion and a tread portion radially outward of the belt portion, wherein the tread portion comprises a radially outer tread layer for contacting the road when driving and a radially inner tread layer arranged between the radially outer tread layer and the belt portion, wherein the radially outer tread layer comprises a first rubber composition having a first shear storage modulus G?1 and the radially inner tread layer comprises a second rubber composition having a second shear storage modulus G?2, wherein the second shear storage modulus G?2 is between 3 MPa and 9 MPa higher than the first shear storage modulus G?1, and wherein the first shear storage modulus G?1 ranges from 1 MPa to 3 MPa and the second shear storage modulus G?2 ranges from 4 MPa to 12 MPa.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a non-vulcanized rubber composition which is comprised of (1) 90 phr to 100 phr cis 1,4-polyisoprene; (2) 10 phr to 40 phr of pre-silanized precipitated silica; (3) 10 phr to 40 phr of carbon black, (4) 0.1 phr to 5 phr of a cobalt salt, and (5) 1 phr to 15 phr of a resinous reaction product of a methylene donor composition and a methylene acceptor composition. Moreover, the present invention is directed to a tire or tire component comprising the cured rubber composition.

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: 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.