Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic rubber tire having an integral innerliner of a sulfur cured rubber composition. The innerliner rubber composition is comprised of at least one elastomer selected from bromobutyl rubber and chlorobutyl rubber which also contains a dispersion therein of ethylene vinyl alcohol polymer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having a rubber component which contains short fiber reinforcement with a compatabilizer for the fiber reinforcement. Desirably said short fiber reinforcement is an aramid pulp. Desirably said compatabilizer is an epoxy functionalized natural rubber.

Abstract: A tire having a tread includes an outer tread layer and an inner tread layer. The inner tread layer includes one of a first elastomeric compound and a second elastomeric compound. The outer tread layer includes the other of the first and second elastomeric compounds. The second elastomeric compound has a lower rolling resistance and greater resistance to treadwear than the first elastomeric compound. The inner tread layer increases in thickness across at least a widthwise portion of the outer tread layer with a maximum thickness of one of the inner tread layer and the outer tread layer occurring near at least one of a first shoulder and a second shoulder of the tread. As the tread wears, the inner tread layer defines a greater proportion of a running surface of the tread.

Abstract: The invention relates to preparation and use of a silica reinforced rubber composition. Such rubber composition may be used, for example, for a truck tire tread expected to be exposed to heavy load duty.

Abstract: The invention relates to functionalized polysulfide silica coupling agents and silica reinforced rubber compositions. Such rubber composition may be used, for example, for tire components such as, for example, tire treads.

Abstract: A method of producing a tire including mixing in a non-productive phase at least one elastomer with a polyamide having a melting temperature of less than 180° C. The polyamide is allowed to heat to at least its melting temperature. During the productive phase, at least one curing agent is added to the elastomeric composition. The curing agent may be a sulfur containing curing agent and/or a non-sulfur containing curing agent. The elastomeric composition may optionally include a crystalline EPDM elastomer. The resulting compositions may then be formed into a tire component which may be built into a tire and cured.

Abstract: Pneumatic rubber tire with a component comprised of a silica reinforced rubber composition comprised of specialized polybutadiene rubber, functionalized styrene/butadiene elastomer and cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire for a vehicle includes a carcass reinforced by a carcass ply. The carcass ply enables transmission of a static electrical charge from the vehicle to ground. The pneumatic further includes at least one belt ply disposed radially outward of the carcass ply in a crown portion of the pneumatic tire. The carcass ply includes at least one composite cord having at least one first yarn with at least one second electrically conductive filament wrapped together with the first yarn such that the first yarn has a modulus less than a modulus of the second electrically conductive filament.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having a rubber tread comprised of a circumferential outer cap rubber layer which contains a tread running surface and an underlying undertread layer of softer rubber than said outer tread cap rubber layer wherein said undertread layer rubber composition contains short fiber reinforcement.

Abstract: Pneumatic rubber tire with an outer, circumferential tread comprised of specialized cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber based silica/carbon black reinforced rubber composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to a silica reinforcement-containing rubber composition which contains a functionalized polybutadiene rubber to promote a relatively low hysteretic loss to thereby enhance its desirability for tire sidewall and subtread applications in a sense of advantageously promoting reduced tire rolling resistance without significantly compromising various other desirable tire performance parameters.

Abstract: This invention relates to preparation of precipitated silica-containing EPDM based rubber compositions and their use as components of articles of manufacture such as, for example, tires and industrial products. Such preparation relies upon phase mixing of EPDM based rubber compositions which contain particulate reinforcement, such as for example precipitated silica, which may optionally include exfoliated clay reinforcement, to create an enhanced EPDM rubber composition. In one aspect, the invention relates to a pneumatic rubber tire with a visible outer sidewall rubber layer comprised of such rubber composition.

Abstract: Pneumatic rubber tire with an outer, circumferential tread comprised of specialized cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber based silica/carbon black reinforced rubber composition.

Abstract: Pneumatic rubber tire with an outer, circumferential tread comprised of a cis 1,4-polybutadiene-rich and silica-rich rubber composition which contains specified elastomers with spatially defined glass transition temperatures, in conjunction with silica and specified carbon black reinforcement.

Abstract: A method of producing a tire including mixing in a non-productive phase at least one elastomer with a polyamide having a melting temperature of less than 180° C. The polyamide is allowed to heat to at least its melting temperature. During the productive phase, at least one curing agent is added to the elastomeric composition. The curing agent may be a sulfur containing curing agent and/or a non-sulfur containing curing agent. The elastomeric composition may optionally include a crystalline EPDM elastomer. The resulting compositions may then be formed into a tire component which may be built into a tire and cured.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic rubber tire having an integral innerliner of a sulfur cured rubber composition. The innerliner rubber composition is comprised of at least one elastomer selected from bromobutyl rubber and chlorobutyl rubber which also contains a dispersion therein of ethylene vinyl alcohol polymer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising an electronic sensing device at least partially encapsulated by an elastomeric composition, the elastomeric composition comprising: 100 parts by weight of at least one elastomer; and from 25 to 100 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr) of a thermoplastic having a melting temperature ranging of less than 200° C.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising a carcass and an innerliner in direct contact with the carcass, the innerliner comprising a rubber composition comprising: 100 parts by weight of at least one elastomer; and from 25 to 100 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr) of a polyamide having a melting temperature of less than 160° C.; wherein the elastomer exists as a continuous phase and the polyamide is dispersed as a discontinuous phase in the elastomeric continuous phase, and the innerliner is co-vulcanized with the carcass.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tire having a rubber tread of a lug and groove configuration wherein at least a portion of surface of the grooves is comprised of an elastomeric layer having a repellent property.

Abstract: This invention relates to a dual phase rubber composition and pneumatic tire with a rubber sidewall thereof, namely a dual phased non-black colored rubber composition composed of a first pre-formed elastomer phase comprised of butyl-type rubber and EPDM rubber containing a dispersion therein of reinforcing filler comprised of a particulate amorphous precipitated silica and a second pre-formed elastomer phase comprised of a nanocomposite of natural rubber containing a dispersion therein of exfoliated clay platelets. Said exfoliated clay platelets may be substantially oriented within the tire sidewall in a parallel direction to each and may also be substantially oriented in an annular direction about the axis of the tire. The tire sidewall rubber composition may contain at least one additional elastomer which may be included in either or both of said elastomer phases. Such tire sidewall rubber composition may contain a non-black colorant pigment, such as for example a white colored titanium dioxide pigment.