Abstract: An innerliner for tubeless tires is comprised of at least one barrier layer such as poly(vinylidene chloride) or ethylene--vinyl alcohol copolymer film with each barrier layer sandwiched between two layers of an elastomeric material adhering to the rubber stock employed in the carcass of the tire. The innerliner has the advantage of imparting equal or better air retention properties to the tire with a substantial reduction in the thickness and weight relative to conventional halobutyl rubber innerliners.

Abstract: The adhesion of fibrous polymeric aromatic amide reinforcing material to rubber stock is improved by treating the fibrous material with an aliphatic sulfonylazide having the general formula R(Cl).sub.x (SO.sub.2 N.sub.3).sub.y, where R is an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing at least 5 carbon atoms, y is from about 1 to about 4 and x is from 0 up to about 2y; heating the treated fibrous material at a temperature and for a period of time sufficient to decompose substantially all the sulfonylazide groups; then coating the resulting material with an adhesive; and finally, embedding the coated material into rubber stock which is then vulcanized.