Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising at least one component comprising a rubber composition comprising a diene based elastomer and an inorganic negative thermal expansion (NTE) filler comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of metal tungstates, metal phosphates, metal molybdates, metal vanadates, and metal arsenates, wherein the inorganic filler has a negative coefficient of thermal expansion in at least part of the temperature range of 0° C. to 200° C.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial ply tire incorporating a crown reinforcing structure comprises at least one reinforcing hoop located approximately on the equatorial plane and disposed radially inward of the tread and radially outward of the carcass structure. The hoop is surrounded or encased by a layer of elastomeric transition material providing a flexible structural connection between the hoop and the adjacent carcass structure and belt structure. The hoop may have a substantially lenticular shape, or a complex shape with two thickened sections or lobes connected by a thin waist-like section, or a shape and a location that is asymmetric with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire, and may be made by winding a thin strip of material such as UHMWPE in an elastomeric matrix. The hoop may replace the belt structure of the tire.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire is capable of operation during underinflated condition and the construction of sidewalls are configured to compensate for negative cambers acting upon the tire. The inboard side of the tire is softened in comparison to the outboard side of the tire. This is achieved by either forming an asymmetrical tire in either the tire profile or the internal construction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rubber composition which contains starch/plasticizer composite, precipitated silica and carbon black reinforcement together with a coupling agent wherein the coupling agent is an organosilane polysulfide having an average of from about 2 to about 2.6 connecting sulfur atoms in its polysulfidic bridge. The invention provides for a chemical reaction between a coupling agent and silica which is substantially decoupled from a reaction between a coupling agent and starch/plasticizer to form a filler reinforcement network in situ within the elastomer host followed by a subsequent phase mixing of the carbon black therewith. The invention further relates to the resulting rubber composition and articles of manufacture, including tires, having at least one component comprised of said rubber composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to treatment of yarns for use in reinforcement of rubber products. Such treatment comprises application to the yarn of an aqueous emulsion of polyester and/or epoxy adhesive, or an aqueous alkaline dispersion of rubber latex and resorcinol-formaldehyde resin adhesive, wherein said adhesive contains a minor amount of particulate, water insoluble starch composite of starch and water insoluble plasticizer therefor. Such yarns may be in a form of a cord comprised of a plurality of yarns. The invention further relates to such treated yarns. The invention additionally relates to such treated yarns and a composite of rubber and said treated yarns. The invention additionally relates to an article of manufacture such, as for example, a rubber tire, having at least one component comprised of said composite.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pneumatic run-flat tire. The tire has at least one carcass reinforcing ply, at least one pair of sidewall wedge inserts, and a belt reinforcing structure. The belt reinforcing structure is formed from at least a pair of cross cord belt reinforcing plies. Located radially outward of the carcass reinforcing ply is a porous elastomeric layer. The porous elastomeric layer has a porosity level of 20 to 80%, preferably 40–70%, of the total volume of the porous elastomeric layer.

Abstract: A self-supporting pneumatic tire, capable of continued operation during under-inflation conditions, has at least one insert located in each tire sidewall. Forming the interior surface of the self-supporting tire is a stiffening layer of material having characteristics similar to that of the insert. In the tread region of the tire, and radially inward of the innermost carcass layer, and possibly in the interior bead region of the tire, is a partial inner liner layer of the bromobutyl rubber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rubber composition which contains starch/plasticizer composite, precipitated silica and carbon black reinforcement together with a coupling agent wherein the coupling agent is an organosilane polysulfide having an average of from about 2 to about 2.6 connecting sulfur atoms in its polysulfidic bridge. The invention provides for a chemical reaction between a coupling agent and silica which is substantially decoupled from a reaction between a coupling agent and starch/plasticizer to form a filler reinforcement network in situ within the elastomer host followed by a subsequent phase mixing of the carbon black therewith. The invention further relates to the resulting rubber composition and articles of manufacture, including tires, having at least one component comprised of said rubber composition.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a rubber component comprised of (A) 100 parts by weight (phr) of a rubber containing olefinic unsaturation; (B) from 0 to 100 phr of a filler selected from carbon black and silica; and (C) from 5 to 50 phr of a starch/plasticizer composite and a rubber gel selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene gel, styrene butadiene gel, acrylonitrile-butadiene gel, chloroprene gel, natural rubber gel, and mixtures thereof, wherein the weight ratio of starch/composite to rubber gel is from about 10:1 to about 1:10.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial ply tire (86, 104) having a tread (106), a carcass (96, 108) with two sidewalls (88a, 88b, 116a, 116b), a radial ply structure (98, 110), and a belt structure (103, 117) located radially between the tread and the radial ply structure. Each sidewall is reinforced with at least one wedge insert (89a, 89b, 118a, 118b, 120a, 120b) which comprises alternating regions (90a, 90b, 122a, 122b) of flexible material and layers (91a, 91b, 124a, 124b) of stiffer material. The layer (91a, 91b, 124a, 124b) of stiffer material constrain the lateral expansion of the wedge insert (89a, 89b, 118a, 118b, 120a, 120b) during runflat operation to provide good riding comfort during normal inflation operation and good sidewall reinforcement during runflat operation.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a rubber component comprised of

Abstract: A self-supporting pneumatic tire, capable of continued operation during under-inflation conditions, has at least one insert located in each tire sidewall. Forming the interior surface of the self-supporting tire is a stiffening layer of material having characteristics similar to that of the insert. In the tread region of the tire, and radially inward of the innermost carcass layer, and possibly in the interior bead region of the tire, is a partial inner liner layer of the bromobutyl rubber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rubber composition containing at least one diene-based elastomer, a starch/plasticizer composite and an adduct of maleic anhydride and polybutadiene, and to pneumatic tires having at least one component comprised of such rubber composition. Such tire component can be, for example, its circumferential tread or other component of the tire.

Abstract: The invention relates to treatment of yarns for use in reinforcement of rubber products. Such treatment comprises application to the yarn of an aqueous emulsion of polyester and/or epoxy adhesive, or an aqueous alkaline dispersion of rubber latex and resorcinol-formaldehyde resin adhesive, wherein said adhesive contains a minor amount of particulate, water insoluble starch composite of starch and water insoluble plasticizer therefor. Such yarns may be in a form of a cord comprised of a plurality of yarns. The invention further relates to such treated yarns. The invention additionally relates to such treated yarns and a composite of rubber and said treated yarns. The invention additionally relates to an article of manufacture such, as for example, a rubber tire, having at least one component comprised of said composite.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rubber stock for bead wire compounds comprising (A) based on 100 parts by weight of rubber (1) from about 5 to about 40 weight percent of a carboxylated acrylonitrile-diene rubber having an acrylonitrile content ranging from about 15 to 45 percent by weight; and (2) from about 60 to about 95 weight percent of a non-carboxylated rubber selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene rubber, styrene-isoprene-butadiene rubber, styrene-isoprene rubber, isoprene-butadiene rubber and mixtures thereof; (B) from about 0.1 to about 10 phr of a methylene acceptor; and (C) from about 0.1 to about 10 phr of a methylene donor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rubber composition comprised of a functionalized elastomer which contains a dispersion of a starch/plasticizer composite and coupling agent and to pneumatic tires having at least one component comprised of such rubber composition. The rubber composition may also contain one or more additional elastomers and may contain at least one particulate reinforcing agent selected from, for example, precipitated silica aggregates, carbon black and carbon black which contains silica domains on its surface. Such tire component can be, for example, its circumferential tread or other component of the tire.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rubber composition which contains starch/plasticizer composite, precipitated silica and carbon black reinforcement together with a coupling agent wherein the coupling agent is an organosilane polysulfide having an average of from about 2 to about 2.6 connecting sulfur atoms in its polysulfidic bridge. The invention provides for a chemical reaction between a coupling agent and silica which is substantially decoupled from a reaction between a coupling agent and starch/plasticizer to form a filler reinforcement network in situ within the elastomer host followed by a subsequent phase mixing of the carbon black therewith. The invention further relates to the resulting rubber composition and articles of manufacture, including tires, having at least one component comprised of said rubber composition.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a sidewall rubber insert axially inward of at least one carcass ply. Such insert may, for example, be an apex extending radially outward from the bead core region of the tire into the sidewall. Alternatively, it may be positioned higher in the sidewall portion of the tire and away from the bead core. Such insert is a rubber composition containg a dispersion of an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene and a dispersion of a starch composite.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic tire with a toroidal shaped tire carcass having sidewalls and a tread. The tire carcass terminates at opposite bead regions for mounting on a tire rim. The tire has at least one of the sidewalls having a circumferentially extending continuous groove, and a non-rubber inlay ring secured within the continuous groove of the sidewall(s) to form a rim flange protector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rubber stock for bead wire compounds comprising