Abstract: A run flat safety support ring intended to be mounted on a wheel rim inside a tire equipping a vehicle for supporting the tire tread in case of loss of inflation pressure has a generally cylindrical crown intended to come in contact with the interior of the tire tread in the event of the loss of inflation pressure, but has a clearance from the tire tread interior at normal pressure. The ring also has an annular body located radially inward of the crown, the annular body comprising a grid of continuous reinforcement composite.

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 is directed to a runflat tire having at least one of its components comprising the radial carcass ply, the underlay, the overlay, the bead inserts or the chippers, reinforced with polyester cords having a polyepoxide disposed on its surface. The polyester cord is formed by first obtaining a cord through twisting together a plurality of polyester yarns, secondly treating the cord with an aqueous dispersion comprising a polyepoxide, and thirdly treating the cord with an aqueous RFL dispersion comprising a resorcinol-formaldehyde resin, a styrene-butadiene copolymer latex, a vinylpyridine-styrene-butadiene terpolymer latex, and a blocked isocyanate.

Abstract: A run flat safety support ring intended to be mounted on a wheel rim inside a tire equipping a vehicle for supporting the tire tread in case of loss of inflation pressure has a generally cylindrical crown intended to come in contact with the interior of the tire tread in the event of the loss of inflation pressure, but has a clearance from the tire tread interior at normal pressure. The ring also has an annular body located radially inward of the crown, the annular body comprising a grid of continuous reinforcement 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: 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: 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: The present invention is directed to a runflat tire having at least one of its components comprising the radial carcass ply, the underlay, the overlay, the bead inserts or the chippers, reinforced with polyester cords having a polyepoxide disposed on its surface. The polyester cord is formed by first obtaining a cord through twisting together a plurality of polyester yarns, secondly treating the cord with an aqueous dispersion comprising a polyepoxide, and thirdly treating the cord with an aqueous RFL dispersion comprising a resorcinol-formaldehyde resin, a styrene-butadiene copolymer latex, a vinylpyridine-styrene-butadiene terpolymer latex, and a blocked isocyanate.

Abstract: The present invention is a crown-stiffening underlay structure comprised of a flat strip of elastomeric material reinforced with essentially inextensible cords. The cord-reinforced flat strip is wrapped helically around the green tire carcass prior to blowup into the characteristic toroidal shape of a tire carcass. In one embodiment, the underlay structure is disposed between breakers and the radial ply structure. In another embodiment, the underlay is disposed between the radial ply structure and the innerliner. In another embodiment, the afore described underlay structure has an additional and structurally contiguous beam made of elastomeric material.

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 is a crown-stiffening underlay structure comprised of a flat strip of elastomeric material reinforced with essentially inextensible cords. The cord-reinforced flat strip is wrapped helically around the green tire carcass prior to blowup into the characteristic toroidal shape of a tire carcass. In one embodiment, the underlay structure is disposed between breakers and the radial ply structure. In another embodiment, the underlay is disposed between the radial ply structure and the innerliner. In another embodiment, the afore described underlay structure has an additional and structurally contiguous beam made of elastomeric material.

Abstract: The present invention is a crown-stiffening underlay structure comprised of a flat strip of elastomeric material reinforced with essentially inextensible cords. The cord-reinforced flat strip is wrapped helically around the green tire carcass prior to blowup into the characteristic toroidal shape of a tire carcass. In one embodiment, the underlay structure is disposed between breakers and the radial ply structure. In another embodiment, the underlay is disposed between the radial ply structure and the innerliner. In another embodiment, the afore described underlay structure has an additional and structurally contiguous beam made of elastomeric material.

Abstract: The present invention is a crown-stiffening underlay structure comprised of a flat strip of elastomeric material reinforced with essentially inextensible cords. The cord-reinforced flat strip is wrapped helically around the green tire carcass prior to blowup into the characteristic toroidal shape of a tire carcass. In one embodiment, the underlay structure is disposed between breakers and the radial ply structure. In another embodiment, the underlay is disposed between the radial ply structure and the innerliner. In another embodiment, the afore described underlay structure has an additional and structurally contiguous beam made of elastomeric material.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire bead area construction for improved chafer cracking resistance during run-flat (uninflated) tire operation comprises a chafer reinforcement fabric component that is positioned at the surface of the chafer wherever it may contact the wheel rim flange during normal tire operation, and especially during uninflated tire operation. The fabric component may be anchored by extending it around the bead. The fabric component may replace the toeguard, thereby further reinforcing and protecting the bead area by extending the chafer reinforcement fabric component along the surfaces of the bead area wherever surfaces of the tire can contact the wheel rim and rim flange during mounting of the tire and during operation of the tire.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a radial ply tire (230) with a tread (232) subdivided transversely into a central portion (250) having central ribs (260a,260b), shoulder portions (254a, 254b) having shoulder ribs (270a,270b) and intermediate portions (252a, 252b) having intermediate ribs between the central portion and the shoulder portions. The tread has intermediate grooves (262a,262b) between the central ribs and the intermediate ribs (266a,266b) and shoulder decoupling grooves (264a,264b) between the intermediate ribs and the shoulder ribs (270a,270b). The shoulder decoupling grooves having a depth (D1) being less than the intermediate decoupling grooves whereby the footprint width of the tread surface can expand from first width (NLFPW) under normal load to a second width (HLFPW) under heavy load.

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: A pneumatic tire with an increased load carrying capacity (extended load index) but compatible with conventional, commercially available wheel rims, has a modified carcass ply line. The pneumatic tire (746) has a tread area (712) and a carcass structure (728) including two bead areas (750a,750b), at least one cord-reinforced elastomeric ply (730) extending through sidewalls (726a,726) between the bead areas (750a,750b) and the tread area (712), and a belt structure (718) between the tread area (712) and the carcass structure (728). The tire (746) has bead areas (750a,750b) containing a triangular shaped beads so that the ply line (PL′″) that causes the bead areas to better secure the tire to the rim during high stress conditions.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire with an increased load carrying capacity (extended load index) but compatible with conventional, commercially available wheel rims, has a modified carcass plyline. The tire has a tread area, a carcass structure including two bead areas each comprising a bead, at least one cord-reinforced elastomeric ply extending between the two bead areas, and two sidewalls, one sidewall extending between the tread area and each bead area.

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.