Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rubber composition comprising: a functionalized elastomer comprising a polymeric backbone chain derived from a monomer comprising at least one conjugated diene monomer and optionally at least one vinyl aromatic monomer; and a functional group bonded to the backbone chain, the functional group comprising a multidentate ligand capable of complexing with a metal ion; and an encapsulated metal salt. The invention is further directed to a pneumatic runflat tire comprising a sidewall insert, the insert comprising the rubber composition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a blended rubber composition directly onto a tire building drum or core is described. The method includes the steps of extruding a first rubber compound through a main extruder and a main gear pump. A second rubber compound is extruded through a second extruder and into a second gear pump. The output from the second gear pump is fed into the main extruder. The ratio of the first compound to the second compound is varied by adjusting the speed of the main gear pump and the speed of the second gear pump. A continuous strip of rubber formed of said first compound and said second compound is layed directly onto a tire building machine to form a first layer of rubber having a first blend ratio. The speed of the main gear pump and the second gear pump is adjusted to obtain a second blend ratio of said first compound to said second compound, and then a strip of rubber formed of said second blend ratio is applied to the tire building drum or core.

Abstract: A carcass ply for a pneumatic tire in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of load bearing cords calendered within a polymer matrix and a plurality of gas bleeder cords for moving gas away from an interface of the load bearing cords and the polymer matrix. The plurality of gas bleeder cords also function to conduct electrical charge from a belt structure of the pneumatic tire to a bead portion of the pneumatic tire.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having a tread comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising, expressed as parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), (A) 30 to 70 phr of a first styrene-butadiene rubber, (B) 20 to 60 phr of a second styrene-butadiene rubber, (C) 5 to 20 phr of cis-1,4 polybutadiene having a Tg of from ?110° C. to ?90° C.; (D) 30 to 60 phr of processing oil; (E) 5 to 20 phr of carbon black having an Iodine absorption ranging from 130 to 210 g/kg according to ASTM D-1510 and an oil absorption ranging from 110 to 140 cc/100 g according to ASTM D-2414; (F) 80 to 130 phr of silica; (G) 0.5 to 20 phr of a sulfur containing organosilicon compound; and (H) 5 to 20 phr of resin.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having a tread comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising, (A) 10 to 40 phr of a polybutadiene rubber having a microstructure comprised of about 96 to about 98 percent cis 1,4-isomeric units, about 1 to about 3 percent trans 1,4-isomeric units and about 0.3 to about 1 percent vinyl 1,2-content; Mn ranging from about 230,000 to about 250,000 with a heterogeneity index ranging from about 1.5/1 to about 2/1, and a Tg ranging from about ?104 to about ?109° C.; (B) 60 to 90 phr of a solution polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber functionalized with an alkoxysilane group and a primary amine group; (C) 60 to 100 phr of silica having a CTAB of between 40 and 525 m2/g, a BET of between 45 and 550 m2/g; and (D) less than 5 phr of carbon black.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial ply runflat tire is described. The tire has a carcass structure having at least one radial carcass ply, two bead regions, two sidewalls, each sidewall having an upper sidewall portion that connects to the shoulders and being reinforced by an insert, a belt structure between the tread and the carcass, and an air impermeable inner liner formed of a butyl rubber located radially inward of the carcass structure wherein the air impermeable inner liner extends from a first shoulder region to a second shoulder underneath the crown portion of the tire, and does not extend from the shoulder to the bead portion of the tire.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a self-supporting tire. More specifically, the tire has a carcass, a tread, and a belt reinforcing structure located radially outward of the carcass and radially inward of the tread. The carcass is comprised of a reinforcing ply structure extending between a pair of bead portions, a pair of sidewalls, each sidewall located radially outward of one of the pair of bead portions, and a pair of inserts located in each sidewall. A first insert and second insert are located between the innerliner and the ply.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having a rubber tread of a cap/base construction comprising an outer rubber tread cap layer containing an outer running surface and an underlying rubber tread base layer; wherein said tread cap layer comprises at least two circumferential, longitudinal rubber tread cap zones; wherein said tread cap zones individually extend from said tread cap running surface radially inward to said tread base layer; wherein said at least two tread cap zones comprises a first tread cap zone and a second tread cap zone adjacent to the first tread cap zone; the first tread cap zone and the second tread cap zone each independently comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising at least one component, the at least one component comprising a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising: from 70 to 90 phr of a styrene-butadiene rubber functionalized with an alkoxysilane group and at least one of a primary amine group and thiol group; from 10 to 30 phr of at least one additional diene based elastomer; from 60 to 100 phr of precipitated silica; from 1 to 10 phr of a polyoctenamer; from 5 to 25 phr of a starch/plasticizer composite; and from 10 to 20 phr of a tackifying resin.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having a tread comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising, expressed as parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), (A) 30 to 70 phr of a first styrene-butadiene rubber, wherein the first styrene-butadiene rubber is i) a solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber with a bound styrene content of from 30 to 50 percent by weight, a vinyl 1,2 content of from 10 to 40 percent by weight based on the rubber weight, and a Tg of from about ?40° C. to about —20° C.; or ii) an emulsion-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber with a bound styrene content of from 30 to 50 percent by weight, and a Tg of from about ?40° C. to about ?20° C.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising a ground contacting tread, the tread comprising a rubber composition comprising a solution polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber having a bound styrene content of at least 36 percent by weight and a vinyl 1,2 content of less than 25 percent by weight; optionally, at least one additional diene based rubber; silica; a sulfur donor; a sulfenamide accelerator; at least one secondary accelerator selected from the group consisting of guanidines, dithiocarbamates and thiurams; and an ?,?-bis(N,N?-dihydrocarbylthiocarbamamoyldithio)alkane; wherein the zinc content of the rubber composition is less than 0.5 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr) as Zn metal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a self-supporting tire. More specifically, the tire has a carcass, a tread, and a belt reinforcing structure located radially outward of the carcass and radially inward of the tread. The carcass is comprised of a reinforcing ply structure extending between a pair of bead portions, a pair of sidewalls, each sidewall located radially outward of one of the pair of bead portions, and a pair of inserts located in each sidewall. A first insert and second insert are located between the innerliner and the ply.