Abstract: A tire comprising a circumferential tread, a circumferential tread, at least one circumferential belt, at least one carcass ply, a pair of sidewalls, and a pair of bead portions. Each of the bead portions comprising a bead core, a bead filler, a toe region, a heel region, a ledge region, and a flange region. The ledge region is provided between the toe region and the heel region, wherein the ledge region comprises at least one circumferentially continuous groove. The flange region each extending circumferentially about the tire, the flange region provided radially above the ledge region, wherein the flange region comprises at least one circumferentially continuous groove.

Abstract: An apparatus is configured to receive a tire having at least two bead portions, including a first bead portion and a second bead portion. The apparatus includes a plurality of members configured to engage the first bead portion of the tire, at least one expander configured to move the plurality of members outward, and a rotating device configured to rotate the plurality of members about an axis of the tire.

Abstract: A tire comprising a circumferential tread, a circumferential tread, at least one circumferential belt, at least one carcass ply, a pair of sidewalls, and a pair of bead portions. Each of the bead portions comprising a bead core, a bead filler, a toe region, a heel region, a ledge region, and a flange region. The ledge region is provided between the toe region and the heel region, wherein the ledge region comprises at least one circumferentially continuous groove. The flange region each extending circumferentially about the tire, the flange region provided radially above the ledge region, wherein the flange region comprises at least one circumferentially continuous groove.

Abstract: A method of developing a set of input forces used to analyze tire wear includes the steps of characterizing a wear course by driving a vehicle over the wear course and measuring data related to a plurality of forces experienced by the vehicle. A vehicle characterization model for a target vehicle having at least one tire is developed. The vehicle characterization model is used to calculate force data that represents the forces that would be experienced by at least one tire of the characterized vehicle if the characterized vehicle were driven over the characterized wear test course in the first vehicle configuration. The force data is then used to analyze tire wear using a computer prediction technique or by running an indoor wear test on the tire.

Abstract: A method for changing the residual aligning torque (RAT) of a pneumatic tire by forming angled sipes in certain of the tread blocks in at least a pair of circumferentially extending ribs, each rib being located on an opposite side of the mid-circumferential plane of the tire. The sipes in the tread blocks in one of the ribs are formed at an inclined angle opposite to the inclined angle of the sipes in the tread blocks in the opposite rib. The RAT can also be changed by varying the depth and width of the opposed angled sipes.

Abstract: A method for indoor wear testing tires includes the steps of characterizing a vehicle and a wear test course and combining the characterized data to create input data for an indoor wear test machine. The input data allows the indoor wear test machine to accurately simulate an outdoor wear test course for the characterized vehicle. The method allows multiple wear test courses to be used with a single characterized vehicle and allows a single wear test course to be used with multiple characterized vehicles. The method allows tires to be wear tested in relatively short time periods in the controlled environment of the indoor laboratory. In addition, the method is relatively easy to set up and perform.

Abstract: The invention improves tire flat spotting by providing a bead assembly that has bead filler elements disposed outside the body cords so that the turn up portion of the ply of body cords is disposed immediately back against the main portion of the ply of body cords above the bead core. This carcass structure increases the stiffness of the lower sidewall and decreases the flat spotting experience by the tire. In one embodiment of the invention, a reinforcing ply is wrapped around the bead filler elements to further increases the stiffness of the lower sidewall. In another embodiment, a bead filler element is disposed inside the body cords so that an air pocket is not formed in the carcass during the manufacturing process.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread pattern having circumferential and lateral grooves forming a plurality of circumferentially extending ribs, each rib having a plurality of tread blocks. A plurality of tie bars extend circumferentially across certain of the lateral grooves between adjacent tread blocks in at least two of the ribs which are located equally opposite of a mid-circumferential plane of the tire. The tie bars have a pair of sidewalls and a sloped top surface with the slope of the top surface in one of the ribs being opposite to the slope of the tie bars in the other rib to generate a residual aligning torque (RAT) on the tire.

Abstract: A monitoring device and patch combination used to monitor the conditions of a pneumatic tire having an innerliner includes a monitoring device and patch. The monitoring device includes a first connection element that is connected to the monitoring device. The patch includes an antenna that is connected to a second connection element. In one embodiment of the invention, the first connection element is in the form of a socket while the second connection element is in the form of a plug. The connection elements allow the monitoring device and patch to be separately fabricated and the direct physical connection between the antenna and the monitoring device to be formed when the combination is connected to the innerliner of the tire. In another embodiment, a plug extends from the bottom of an encapsulated monitoring device and is aligned with a socket on the patch. The connection between the plug and the socket occurs automatically when the encapsulated monitoring device is aligned with and connected to the patch.

Abstract: A system (10) for measuring the dynamic orientation of the plane of a wheel (12) on a vehicle (14). The system (10) includes a test surface (16) which rotates with the wheel (12) and a orientation-determining device (18) which is unattached to the vehicle (14). The test surface (16) is positioned in a plane corresponding to the plane of the wheel (12) and the orientation-determining device (18) determines the orientation of the plane of the test surface (12) at a specific point of time while the vehicle is being driven. A processor (20) receives output signals from the orientation-determining device (18) and converts the output signals into data corresponding to the orientation of the wheel plane for the specific instant in time.

Abstract: A method for indoor wear testing tires includes the steps of characterizing a vehicle and a wear test course and combining the characterized data to create input data for an indoor wear test machine. The input data allows the indoor wear test machine to accurately simulate an outdoor wear test course for the characterized vehicle. The method allows multiple wear test courses to be used with a single characterized vehicle and allows a single wear test course to be used with multiple characterized vehicles. The method allows tires to be wear tested in relatively short time periods in the controlled environment of the indoor laboratory. In addition, the method is relatively easy to set up and perform.

Abstract: A method for changing the residual aligning torque (RAT) of a pneumatic tire by forming angled sipes in certain of the tread blocks in at least a pair of circumferentially extending ribs, each rib being located on an opposite side of the mid-circumferential plane of the tire. The sipes in the tread blocks in one of the ribs are formed at an inclined angle opposite to the inclined angle of the sipes in the tread blocks in the opposite rib. The RAT can also be changed by varying the depth and width of the opposed angled sipes.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread pattern having circumferential and lateral grooves forming a plurality of circumferentially extending ribs, each rib having a plurality of tread blocks. A plurality of tie bars extend circumferentially across certain of the lateral grooves between adjacent tread blocks in at least two of the ribs which are located equally opposite of a mid-circumferential plane of the tire. The tie bars have a pair of sidewalls and a sloped top surface with the slope of the top surface in one of the ribs being opposite to the slope of the tie bars in the other rib to generate a residual aligning torque (RAT) on the tire.

Abstract: The invention improves tire flat spotting by providing a bead assembly that has bead filler elements disposed outside the body cords so that the turn up portion of the ply of body cords is disposed immediately back against the main portion of the ply of body cords above the bead core. This carcass structure increases the stiffness of the lower sidewall and decreases the flat spotting experience by the tire. In one embodiment of the invention, a reinforcing ply is wrapped around the bead filler elements to further increases the stiffness of the lower sidewall. In another embodiment, a bead filler element is disposed inside the body cords so that an air pocket is not formed in the carcass during the manufacturing process.

Abstract: A method for indoor wear testing tires includes the steps of characterizing a vehicle and a wear test course and combining the characterized data to create input data for an indoor wear test machine. The input data allows the indoor wear test machine to accurately simulate an outdoor wear test course for the characterized vehicle. The method allows multiple wear test courses to be used with a single characterized vehicle and allows a single wear test course to be used with multiple characterized vehicles. The method allows tires to be wear tested in relatively short time periods in the controlled environment of the indoor laboratory. In addition, the method is relatively easy to set up and perform.

Abstract: A method for indoor wear testing tires includes the steps of characterizing a vehicle and a wear test course and combining the characterized data to create input data for an indoor wear test machine. The input data allows the indoor wear test machine to accurately simulate an outdoor wear test course for the characterized vehicle. The method allows multiple wear test courses to be used with a single characterized vehicle and allows a single wear test course to be used with multiple characterized vehicles. The method allows tires to be wear tested in relatively short time periods in the controlled environment of the indoor laboratory. In addition, the method is relatively easy to set up and perform.

Abstract: The invention improves tire flat spotting by providing a bead assembly that has bead filler elements disposed outside the body cords so that the turn up portion of the ply of body cords is disposed immediately back against the main portion of the ply of body cords above the bead core. This carcass structure increases the stiffness of the lower sidewall and decreases the flat spotting experience by the tire. In one embodiment of the invention, a reinforcing ply is wrapped around the bead filler elements to further increases the stiffness of the lower sidewall. In another embodiment, a bead filler element is disposed inside the body cords so that an air pocket is not formed in the carcass during the manufacturing process.

Abstract: A monitoring device and patch combination used to monitor the conditions of a pneumatic tire having an innerliner includes a monitoring device and patch. The monitoring device includes a first connection element that is connected to the monitoring device. The patch includes an antenna that is connected to a second connection element. In one embodiment of the invention, the first connection element is in the form of a socket while the second connection element is in the form of a plug. The connection elements allow the monitoring device and patch to be separately fabricated and the direct physical connection between the antenna and the monitoring device to be formed when the combination is connected to the innerliner of the tire. In another embodiment, a plug extends from the bottom of an encapsulated monitoring device and is aligned with a socket on the patch. The connection between the plug and the socket occurs automatically when the encapsulated monitoring device is aligned with and connected to the patch.

Abstract: A system (10) for measuring the dynamic orientation of the plane of a wheel (12) on a vehicle (14). The system (10) includes a test surface (16) which rotates with the wheel (12) and a orientation-determining device (18) which is unattached to the vehicle (14). The test surface (16) is positioned in a plane corresponding to the plane of the wheel (12) and the orientation-determining device (18) determines the orientation of the plane of the test surface (12) at a specific point of time while the vehicle is being driven. A processor (20) receives output signals from the orientation-determining device (18) and converts the output signals into data corresponding to the orientation of the wheel plane for the specific instant in time.

Abstract: The invention improves tire flat spotting by providing a bead assembly that has bead filler elements disposed outside the body cords so that the turn up portion of the ply of body cords is disposed immediately back against the main portion of the ply of body cords above the bead core. This carcass structure increases the stiffness of the lower sidewall and decreases the flat spotting experience by the tire. In one embodiment of the invention, a reinforcing ply is wrapped around the bead filler elements to further increases the stiffness of the lower sidewall. In another embodiment, a bead filler element is disposed inside the body cords so that an air pocket is not formed in the carcass during the manufacturing process.