Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising at least one component, the at least one component comprising a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising: at least one diene based elastomer; and from 1 to 30 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), of a particulate composite comprising ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, an inorganic filler, and a network of interconnecting pores communicating throughout the particulate composite, the pores constituting at least 35 percent by volume of the particulate composite.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire having a pair of spaced apart bead components, a connecting carcass between said bead components, and a rubber chafer positioned around at least a portion of each of said bead components and intended for contacting a rigid rim of a wheel, wherein said chafer comprises an outer skin layer intended for contacting the rigid rim and an inner core layer disposed radially inward of the skin layer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising at least one component, the at least one component comprising a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising: at least one diene based elastomer; an alkylalkoxysilane of formula I wherein R1 is exclusive of sulfur and is an alkyl group of 1 to 18 carbon atoms or an aryl group of 6 to 18 carbon atoms, and R2, R3 and R4 are independently alkyl of 1 to 8 carbon atoms; and a silicone T resin.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of conducting static electricity in a pneumatic tire, comprising the steps of mixing a rubber compound comprising at least one diene based rubber, from 60 to 150 phr of precipitated silica, less than 40 phr of carbon black, and from 1 to 10 phr of carbon nanotubes having a length of at least 5 microns; forming a tire tread from the rubber compound; and including the tire tread in the tire; wherein the volume resistivity of the tire tread is less than 1×109 ohm-cm as measured by ASTM D257-98.

Abstract: A tire has an axis of rotation. The tire includes two sidewalls extending radially outward and a tread disposed radially outward of the two sidewalls and interconnecting the two sidewalls. The tread includes a main portion comprising a first compound and a reinforcing structure comprising a second compound having reinforcing short fibers oriented between ?20 degrees to +20 degrees to a circumferential direction of the tread. The main portion of the tread includes at least one circumferential groove separating circumferential ribs. Each circumferential groove has two sides and a base therebetween. The reinforcing structure includes a layer of the second compound secured to the sides of each circumferential groove.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire having a pair of spaced apart bead components, a connecting carcass between said bead components, and a rubber chafer positioned around at least a portion of each of said bead components and intended for contacting a rigid rim of a wheel, wherein said chafer comprises an outer skin layer intended for contacting the rigid rim and an inner core layer disposed radially inward of the skin layer.

Abstract: A pneumatic run-flat tire, the tire comprising at least one carcass reinforcing ply, at least one pair of sidewall wedge inserts, and a belt reinforcing structure, the belt reinforcing structure comprising at least a pair of cross cord belt reinforcing plies, the tire being characterized by at least one pair of elastomeric layers each located radially inward of the at least one carcass reinforcing ply and radially outward of each of the sidewall wedge inserts; the elastomeric layers extending from axially inward of an edge of the belt reinforcing structure to at least a midpoint of a sidewall, the elastomeric layers comprising a rubber composition comprising: 100 parts by weight of natural rubber; from 20 to 30 phr of silica and exclusive of carbon black; and from 0 to 20 phr of polyoctenamer.