Abstract: A wrap-around toeguard 18 for a pneumatic tire 10 has a carcass ply 12 or plies 12, 14 with a locked tie-in construction. Each wrap-around toeguard 18 is a non cord reinforced elastomeric unitary strip wound 360.degree. in a singular annular bead. The wrap-around toeguard cord reinforced unitary strip 18 can be formed of a single elastomeric composition having a shore hardness D of greater than 40. Alternatively the wrap-around toeguard may additionally include an apex portion 29 and a chafer portion 27 along with the toeguard portion 28, each portion 27, 29 being co-extruded or otherwise hot formed and shaped with the toeguard portion 28 to form the unitary strip 18 and can have distinct elastomeric composition relative to the toeguard portion 28.

Abstract: A wrap-around toeguard 18 for a pneumatic tire 10 has a carcass ply 12 or plies 12, 14 with a locked tie-in construction. Each wrap-around toeguard 18 is a non cord reinforced elastomeric unitary strip wound 360.degree. in a singular annular bead. The wrap-around toeguard cord reinforced unitary strip 18 can be formed of a single elastomeric composition having a shore hardness D of greater than 40. Alternatively the wrap-around toeguard may additionally include an apex portion 29 and a chafer portion 27 along with the toeguard portion 28, each portion 27, 29 being co-extruded or otherwise hot formed and shaped with the toeguard portion 28 to form the unitary strip 18 and can have distinct elastomeric composition relative to the toeguard portion 28.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire 10 has a carcass ply 12 or plies 12, 14 with a locked tie-in construction and a wrap-around toeguard 18. Each wrap-around toeguard 18 is a non cord reinforced elastomeric unitary strip wound 360 degree in a singular annular bead. The wrap-around toeguard cord reinforced unitary strip 18 can be formed of a single elastomeric composition having a shore hardness D of greater than 40. Alternatively the wrap-around toeguard may additionally include an apex portion 29 and a chafer portion 27 along with the toeguard portion 28, each portion 27, 29 being co-extruded or otherwise hot formed and shaped with the toeguard portion 28 to form the unitary strip 18 and can have distinct elastomeric composition relative to the toeguard portion 28.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to self-healing materials and use thereof for extending the lifespan of a tire. The self-healing material includes a rubber healing agent, e.g., sulfur, encapsulated by a coating material, e.g., polypropylene, defining a microcapsule. The self-healing materials are processed with rubbery polymers to provide a rubber compound suitable for use in a tire. The microcapsule coating material is selected to prevent release of the healing agent during the processing steps of the rubber compound, such as can occur through melting or softening of the coating material, and to release the healing agent, e.g., via melting or softening, at a desired temperature greater than a tire's running temperature. Release of the healing agent can help repair damage to local polymeric structure, such as broken cross-links, by reacting with the surrounding rubber. In this way, that area of the rubber compound can be reinforced, thereby prolonging the life of the tire.

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 silica reinforced rubber composition and to pneumatic tires having treads comprised of the silica reinforced rubber compositions.The silica reinforced rubber composition comprises at least one elastomer, silica, a silica coupler, a hydrophobating agent and, optionally, carbon black.