Abstract: A radial ply pneumatic tire is provided with a tread reinforcement including a first layer of at least one ply of tire cord fabric wherein the cords have a high modulus of elasticity. A second layer which overlies said first layer is at least one composite ply of tire cord fabric including a central strip of steel cords oriented at an angle of from 60.degree. to 90.degree. with the equatorial plane of the pneumatic tire, and two lateral strips abutting the central strip having cords formed from material possessing a low modulus of elasticity.

Abstract: A tire tread pattern wherein all the ribs have a continuous structure in the circumferential direction, and more or less transverse notches provided in a given rib extend a predetermined distance beyond the center-line of that rib from a circumferential edge thereof.

Abstract: A pneumatic vehicle tire having a tread provided with profiled ribs extending continuously in the circumferential direction, and with circumferential continuous grooves which separate the profiled ribs from each other. A plurality of meandering profiled ribs are provided, and their laterally outer side edges have obtuse-angled serrations or toothing. Inwardly, these ribs are provided with linearly extending blind grooves which are oriented at an angle to the circumferential direction. Block-rib parts are formed with an inclined gable embodiment. Furthermore, the circumferential grooves have a zig-zag shape.

Abstract: A reinforcement belt for a pneumatic tire includes at least three superpositioned plies of filiform elements. A first ply having two free lateral edges has at least one lateral edge portion folded over to create a skirt with the balance of the first ply forming a main portion having an axial width substantially equal to the axial width of the reinforcement belt. The filiform elements in this first ply are of aromatic polyamide composition and have a high modulus of elasticity. A second ply extends parallel to the first ply over an axial distance at least equal to the axial spacing of the two free lateral edges of the first ply. The filiform elements in the second ply may be either of aromatic polyamide or steel composition. A third ply of filiform elements of steel extends into the median zone of the belt and has an axial width which is less than, equal to or greater than the distance separating the free edges of the first ply. Various orientations of the plies are disclosed.

Abstract: A heavy duty pneumatic tire is provided with bead cores having polygonal cross-sectional configurations. The bead cores are composed of a multiplicity of wires arranged in densely superpositioned parallel layers which are situated on conical generating lines whose common axis coincide with the horizontal axis of the pneumatic tire and whose angles of opening are approximately 10.degree.. The axially innermost and axially outermost wires in specified radially inner and radially outer layers lie on centerlines forming angles within selected ranges with the conical lines.

Abstract: A method of making a belted, radial ply tire in a single stage is disclosed wherein a body layer is formed from one or more body plies of cord fabric which are wound around a tire building drum in such a manner that the cords extend parallel to the axis of the building drum. At least a pair of breaker plies of cord fabric are wrapped around the body plies to create a breaker layer with the cords in each breaker ply being oppositely disposed in adjacent plies, extending parallel to one another within each breaker ply and forming a bias angle of from about 50.degree. to about 70.degree. with a circumferential line corresponding to the crown centerline of the completed tire. A strip of high soft stretch reinforcing tape is wrapped helically over the breaker layer at an angle of substantially 90.degree. to a plane including the axis of the body layer to form a 0.degree. cap band preparatory to securing a tread slab over the breaker layer, completing the raw carcass.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a reinforcing belt which includes a first ply of cords formed from a synthetic material having a high modulus of elasticity and a second ply of metallic cords. The first ply has a width substantially equal to the width of the tread of the tire. The second ply has a width between one-fourth and three-fourths of the width of the tread. The second ply reinforces the median region of the tread. Each cord of the first ply intersects the median equatorial plane of the tire at a first angle of from 14.degree. to 30.degree.; each cord of the second ply intersects the median equatorial plane of the tire at a second angle of from 22.degree. to 32.degree.. The second angle is opposite in direction from the first angle. At least one strip of cords formed from a synthetic material having a low modulus of elongation overlaps an edge region of the second ply. The foregoing abstract is not to be taken as a complete exposition of the present invention.

Abstract: The pneumatic tire has a reinforcing belt that is asymmetric with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire. The reinforcing belt includes a ply folded to form confronting main and auxiliary portions, with the fold being situated at an axially internal edge of the tire. Other embodiments of the reinforcing belt include a supplementary ply preferably positioned adjacent the auxiliary ply.Further embodiments of the tire include a tread having sculpture characteristics that differ from the axially internal side of the equatorial plane to the axially external side thereof, with provision for the reinforcement belt to be of lesser diameter at an axially external edge of the tire than at an axially internal edge thereof.

Abstract: An inner tube assembly for a pneumatic tire, comprising a primary annular tube, a secondary annular tube surrounding the primary annular tube, an annular primary tube-restraining band interpositioned between the primary and secondary tubes, and valves intercommuncating the primary and secondary tubes with one another, is disclosed. The foregoing abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having an improved heel structure includes a two element rubber filler assembly extending from a bead core toward the tread, generally decreasing in thickness in a direction away from the bead core. One of the filler elements is reinforced rubber having a Shore A hardness between 85.degree.-93.degree. whereas the other filler element, in mutual contact with the first, is nonreinforced rubber having a Shore A hardness between 70.degree. to 95.degree.. The contact surface between the two filler elements forms an oblique angle with the equatorial plane of the tire.

Abstract: A raw pneumatic tire carcass having an uncured, elastomeric, annular body and an uncured, elastomeric, liner superposed upon and affixed to the internal surface of the body, is disclosed. The liner in one form thereof includes bead-communicating recesses for venting fluid from between the liner and an inflatable bladder used in a mold for effecting inflation of the body and liner from a cylinder to a torus. The liner in the latter form is constituted of an appropriate thermoplastic material which, when engaged and inflated by a smooth surface of the bladder and vulcanized, undergoes a transformation in which the recesses gradually disappear substantially and are transformed into a correspondingly smooth surface. A second form of the liner (which is preferably incorporated as part of the first said form of the liner) is represented by a convexity on at least one surface of the liner.

Abstract: A pneumatic vehicle tire having a run-flat capability and a hub adapted for use with such a tire are disclosed. The tire includes a carcass, a tread overlying the crown region of the carcass, sidewalls overlying the lateral portions of the carcass, the sidewalls terminating in respective beads at their radially inwardmost ends and merging into the tread at their radially outwardmost ends and an annulus of elastomeric material positioned between the inner surfaces of the beads for maintaining the beads in firm contact with the hub. Each of the sidewalls has an annular groove formed therein between its inwardmost and outwardmost ends for establishing the flexure zone of the tire and thereby controlling the folding point of the tire upon its deflation. The hub includes a rigid annulus, a first annular flange extending from one side of the annulus and permanently attached thereto and the second annular flange extending from the other side of the annulus, the second flange being removably attached to the annulus.

Abstract: The pneumatic tire incorporates a reinforcement belt comprising two superposed median plies of metallic material and two laterally disposed marginal plies of nonmetallic material. The marginal plies are folded to form superposed flaps, with the corresponding flaps of each marginal ply being substantially aligned.In all embodiments of the invention at least one pair of corresponding opposite, laterally disposed flaps align with one of the median plies. In at least one embodiment of the invention the second pair of opposite, laterally disposed flaps align with the second median ply. In other embodiments of the invention the second pair of opposite, laterally disposed flaps overlap the terminal ends of the second median ply. And in still further embodiments of the invention the second pair of opposite, laterally disposed flaps are positioned radially outward or radially inward of the second median ply.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having improved speed, stability and cornering characteristics is disclosed. The tire is formed with an annular, axially extending protuberance or bulge formed in the shoulder region on each side of the tire and also has, between the carcass and tread thereof, a reinforcing breaker or belt whose width is wider than that of the rolling contact surface of the tread with the ground and whose lateral sides correspondingly extend into the axially extending protuberances. The radially external surface of the tread and the axially outward protuberance, as viewed when the tire is mounted on a vehicle, are connected along an uninterrupted, convex profile.

Abstract: A belted pneumatic tire is disclosed in which an annular protuberance projects axially from the buttress region on each side of the tire. The protuberances are positioned radially inward of the tire tread and the lateral edges of the belt or breaker extend into the protuberances such that the breaker edges are removed from the vicinity of the tread-ground contact patch to thereby improve uniformity and edge separation problems. A relatively wide breaker having a low cross-sectional curvature is also utilized to thereby provide firm support to the tread and consequent improved performance characteristics.

Abstract: A raw pneumatic tire carcass having an uncured, elastomeric, annular body and an uncured, elastomeric, liner superposed upon and affixed to the internal surface of the body, is disclosed. The liner in one form thereof includes bead-communicating recesses for venting fluid from between the liner and an inflatable bladder used in a mold for effecting inflation of the body and liner from a cylinder to a torus. The liner in the latter form is constituted of an appropriate thermoplastic material which, when engaged and inflated by a smooth surface of the bladder and vulcanized, undergoes a transformation in which the recessess gradually disappear substantially and are transformed into a correspondingly smooth surface. A second form of the liner (which is preferably incorporated as part of the first said form of the liner) is represented by a convexity on at least one surface of the liner.

Abstract: A belted pneumatic tire is disclosed in which an annular protuberance projects axially from the buttress region on each side of the tire. The protuberances are positioned radially inward of the tire tread and the lateral edges of the belt or breaker extend into the protuberances such that the breaker edges are removed from the vicinity of the tread-ground contact patch to thereby improve uniformity and edge separation problems. A relatively wide breaker having a low cross-sectional curvature is also utilized to thereby provide firm support to the tread and consequent improved performance characteristics.

Abstract: The pneumatic tire incorporates a reinforcement belt comprising two superposed median plies of metallic material and two laterally disposed marginal plies of nonmetallic material. The marginal plies are folded to form superposed flaps, with the corresponding flaps of each marginal ply being substantially aligned.In all embodiments of the invention at least one pair of corresponding opposite, laterally disposed flaps align with one of the median plies. In at least one embodiment of the invention the second pair of opposite, laterally disposed flaps align with the second median ply. In other embodiments of the invention the second pair of opposite, laterally disposed flaps overlap the terminal ends of the second median ply. And in still further embodiments of the invention the second pair of opposite, laterally disposed flaps are positioned radially outward or radially inward of the second median ply.