Abstract: The invention relates to the preparation of a rubber composition containing starch/plasticizer composite reinforcement, together with at least one additional reinforcing filler, through the utilization of a combination of an organosilane disulfide compound mixed with a rubber composition in a preparatory, non-productive, mixing stage(s) followed by adding an organosilane polysulfide compound in a subsequent, productive, mixing stage. The invention further relates to the resulting rubber composition and use thereof in rubber products, including tires.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial ply runflat tire 1000 for a vehicle has a tread 1012, a carcass 1022 comprising at least one radial ply 1030 and two sidewalls 1016 each reinforced by a circumferentially disposed crescent-shaped wedge insert. Each insert has an elastomeric porous section 1042 embedded in an elastomeric stiffer layer 1044 of the insert 1040. When the tire is normally inflated, the porous section 1042, and hence the insert as a whole, is flexible, thereby providing comfortable driving characteristics. Under runflat (deflated tire) conditions, the pores in the porous section 1042 collapse, and the porous section 1042 stiffens, and hence the insert as a whole becomes stiff enough to support the load of the vehicle.

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 heterogeneous silica/carbon black-filled rubber compound and a process for making the same. The rubber compound has improved (lower) electrical resistivity compared to homogeneous silica-filled rubber compounds. The process comprises (a) intimately dispersing from 30 to 60 phr of a silica filler and 5 to 80 phr of a carbon black in a first rubber to form a first nonproductive compound; (b) intimately dispersing curatives in said first nonproductive compound to form a first productive compound; (c) separately intimately dispersing from 20 to 100 phr of a silica filler in a second rubber, which is different from said first rubber, to form a second nonproductive compound; and (d) intimately dispersing curatives in said second nonproductive compound to form a second productive compound; and (e) mixing said first productive compound with said second productive compound to form a heterogeneous silica/carbon black-filled rubber compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire having a layer comprised of a starch/plasticizer composite for prevention, or retardation, of air permeation from its inner chamber into the remainder of the tire.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire with a chafer rubber composition positioned around at least a portion of the tire's bead component, where the chafer is intended for contacting a rigid rim of a wheel on which it is intended that the tire be mounted. In such assembly, the chafer becomes an interface between the tire bead portion and the rim. For this invention, the chafer is a matrix composition composed of at least one elastomer where the matrix composition contains a dispersed micro inclusion made of a particulate, high molecular weight thermoplastic polymer.

Abstract: The invention relates to the preparation of a rubber composition containing starch/plasticizer composite reinforcement, together with at least one additional reinforcing filler, through the utilization of a combination of an organosilane disulfide compound mixed with a rubber composition in a preparatory, non-productive, mixing stage(s) followed by adding an organosilane polysulfide compound in a subsequent, productive, mixing stage. The invention further relates to the resulting rubber composition and use thereof in rubber products, including tires.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having a sidewall component of an EPDM-based rubber composition prepared with specified precipitated silica reinforcement and an organosilane disulfide material. In one aspect, such rubber composition may be exclusive of carbon black and may thereby be of color other than black.

Abstract: The invention relates to the preparation of a rubber composition containing starch/plasticizer composite reinforcement, together with at least one additional reinforcing filler, through the utilization of a combination of an organosilane disulfide compound mixed with a rubber composition in a preparatory, non-productive, mixing stage(s) followed by adding an organosilane polysulfide compound in a subsequent, productive, mixing stage. The invention further relates to the resulting rubber composition and use thereof in rubber products, including tires.

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 tire 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 containing a dispersion of an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene and a dispersion of a starch composite.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heterogeneous silica/carbon black-filled rubber compound and a process for making the same. The rubber compound has improved (lower) electrical resistivity compared to homogeneous silica-filled rubber compounds. The process comprises(a) intimately dispersing from 30 to 60 phr of a silica filler and 5 to 80 phr of a carbon black in a first rubber to form a first nonproductive compound;(b) intimately dispersing curatives in said first nonproductive compound to form a first productive compound;(c) separately intimately dispersing from 20 to 100 phr of a silica filler in a second rubber, which is different from said first rubber, to form a second nonproductive compound; and(d) intimately dispersing curatives in said second nonproductive compound to form a second productive compound; and(e) mixing said first productive compound with said second productive compound to form a heterogeneous silica/carbon black-filled rubber compound.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire with a rubber tread of a cap/base construction wherein the tread cap is designed to be ground-contacting, wherein the tread base underlies said tread cap, is not intended to be ground-contacting, and is a matrix composition composed of at least one elastomer where the matrix composition contains a dispersed micro inclusion made of a particulate, high molecular weight thermoplastic polymer and wherein the tread cap is composed of a blend of elastomers without such micro inclusion.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tire with a rubber tread reinforced with silica and containing one or more additives designed to aid ice traction for the tread. Such additive is selected from at least one of (i) at least one organic fiber having hydroxyl groups on the surface thereof selected from cellulose fibers and wood fibers and (ii) small, hollow, spherical ceramic particles having silanol groups on the surface thereof. The rubber is composed of at least one or more diene-based sulfur vulcanizable elastomers having a Tg of less than -30.degree. C. and containing silica as predominant particulate reinforcement and other traditional rubber compound ingredients. In particular, a coupler is used to couple the silica as well as the said additive(s) to the elastomer(s) in the tire tread composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rubber composition containing a starch/plasticizer composite 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.The starch/plasticizer composite can be a composite of starch and plasticizer such as, for example, poly(ethylenevinyl alcohol) and/or cellulose acetate or any suitable plasticizer which results in such starch/plasticizer composite having a melting point below that of the starch alone, and particularly below about 160.degree. C., and to thereby enable the starch to be more processable with conventional elastomer composition processing equipment.