Abstract: A tire includes a tread portion, a pair of opposing sidewall portions, and a pair of shoulder portions each arranged between the tread portion and one of the sidewall portions, wherein at least on one side of the tire the sidewall and shoulder portions comprise at least a first rubber compound and a second rubber compound, the second rubber compound having a material composition different from that of the first rubber compound.

Abstract: A tire includes a tread portion, a pair of opposing sidewall portions, and a pair of shoulder portions each arranged between the tread portion and one of the sidewall portions, wherein at least on one side of the tire the sidewall and shoulder portions comprise at least a first rubber compound and a second rubber compound, the second rubber compound having a material composition different from that of the first rubber compound.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process of preparing a nanocomposite comprised of an elastomer and at least partially exfoliated, intercalated water-swellable clay, comprising the steps of (A) forming a first blend of water-swelled clay and anionic polymer particle emulsion by blending: (1) an aqueous mixture comprised of water and a multilayered water-swellable clay, exclusive of an intercalant for said clay, wherein said water-swellable clay is comprised of a plurality of stacked platelets with water-expanded galleries between said platelets, wherein said galleries contain naturally occurring cationic ion exchangeable ions therein; and (2) an elastomer latex comprising an elastomer selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic polyisoprene, polybutadiene, and styrene-butadiene rubber; (B) blending with said first blend an aqueous mixture comprised of water and from 1 to 5 percent by weight of a polar polymer selected from the group consisting of hydroxyethylcellulose, carboxym