Abstract: This invention relates to a pneumatic rubber tire which contains at least one electrically conductive cord extending from an external outer surface of its wheel-rim mounting surface rubber component to an internal electrically conductive tread base layer rubber component to provide a path of least electrical resistance, namely an electrically conductive path, between the outer tire wheel-rim mounting surface and the internal tire tread base layer. The electrically conductive cord is comprised of at least one electrically conductive metal filament (e.g. metal filament, carbon fiber or combination of metal filament and carbon fiber) spirally wound around a centrally disposed core of at least one organic fiber.

Abstract: This invention relates to pneumatic tires having a sidewall which contains at least one internal annular rubber insert. In particular, this invention relates to pneumatic tires which rely upon internal pneumatic air pressure and to pneumatic tires which conventionally rely upon internal pneumatic air pressure but which have a capability of running for extended distances without any significant internal air pressure, namely ambient atmospheric air pressure, depending somewhat upon the positioning and configuration of the sidewall insert. At least one of said rubber sidewall inserts is composed of two segments, namely a radially inner rubber segment and a radially outer rubber segment. The inner rubber segment and outer rubber segment have significantly different modulus and hardness physical properties. A portion of the segments overlap each other.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tire having an electrically non-conductive tread which contains an electrically conductive rubber strip which extends through at least a portion of the tread to its running surface in a wave configured shape, and therefore not a continuous straight line within said tread, in which at least a portion of the rubber strip is in a shape of, for example, a substantially sinusoidal, cycloidal and/or zigzag form, to thereby provide a mechanical self-locking configuration between tread segments through which the rubber strip extends and divides. In particular, said tread is composed of a cap/base configuration. The outer cap layer is of a relatively electrically non-conductive rubber composition having a running surface intended to be ground-contacting. The tread base layer, underlying the tread cap layer, is of a relatively electrically conductive rubber composition and is not normally intended to be ground-contacting.

Abstract: This invention relates to a pneumatic rubber tire which contains at least one electrically conductive cord extending between its bead portion and its tread portion to provide a path of least electrical resistance. The electrically conductive cord is comprised of at least one electrically conductive metal filament spirally wound around a centrally disposed core of at least one organic fiber. The electrically conductive cord extends from a rubber component in a bead portion of the tire which is relatively electrically conductive to a rubber component in the tread portion of the tire which is relatively electrically conductive in a manner that said electrically conductive cord does not extend to, and therefore is exclusive of, an outer surface of the tire. An electrically conductive path is thereby provided between a mounting surface of the tire in its bead region to a running surface of the tire tread.