Abstract: A pneumatic tire including a circumferential tread, two spaced apart beads, and sidewalls connecting said beads and tread, wherein said tire sidewall contains at least one internal annular sidewall insert including at least two annular segments, the at least two annular segments including first and second adjacent annular segments; wherein said first and second annular segments are disposed with an interface therebetween; wherein each of the at least two annular segments includes a rubber composition comprising at least one diene based rubber and at least one vulcanization modifier selected from the group consisting of ?,?-bis(N,N?-dihydrocarbylthiocarbamamoyldithio)alkanes, bismaleimides, and biscitraconimides; and wherein the concentration of vulcanization modifier in the first annular segment is less than the concentration of vulcanization modifier in the second annular segment.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to rubbery block polymers containing a polylactone, such as polycaprolactone, methods of making the same, and to rubber compounds containing those block polymers. The rubbery block polymer is an anionically polymerized block polymer defined by A-B, wherein A includes at least one type of polymerized conjugated diene monomer, a polymerized vinyl aromatic monomer, or a mixture thereof and wherein B is a polylactone, such as polycaprolactone, which is hydroxy terminated. The rubbery block polymer may be compounded so to provide, for example, a tire tread with desirable properties for use in an automobile tire. Such rubber compound, for example, can include the rubbery block polymer, an organosilane coupling agent, such as a bis(trialkoxysilyl) alkane, bis(trialkoxysilylalkyl) polysulfide, or mixtures thereof, and silica filler in specified amounts.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire including at least one component having a rubber composition including at least one diene based elastomer and a silica that prior to mixing with said elastomer is prehydrophobated with a fluorinated silane of the following formula: Rf—R1—SiX3-x—R2x ??I wherein Rf is a perfluorinated group optionally containing one or more heteroatoms; R1 is a divalent alkylene group, arylene group or mixture thereof, substituted with one or more heteroatoms or functional groups, containing about 1 to about 16 carbon atoms; R2 is a lower alkyl group; X is a halide, a lower alkoxy group or an acyloxy group; and x is 0 or 1.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for maintaining the black sidewall appearance of a tire, comprising the step of fabricating the tire with a rubber sidewall compound comprising 100 parts by weight of at least one diene based rubber; from 10 to 70 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of diene based rubber (phr) of a rubber process oil selected from the group consisting of aromatic, paraffinic, naphthenic, vegetable oils other than castor oil, and low PCA oils including MES, TDAE, SRAE and heavy naphthenic oils; and from 0.5 to 3 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of diene based rubber (phr) of a triglyceride derived from fatty acids comprising at least 80 percent by weight of at least one of ricinoleic acid and 12-hydroxy stearic acid.

Abstract: A degradable sipe blade for forming sipes in a tire tread, where the degradable material may be removed by exposure to water. A tire curing apparatus is also provided having a plurality of degradable sipe blades affixed to the mold surface within the tread pattern. In addition, a cured tire is provided having the degradable sipe blades embedded in the tread elements of the tire tread after removal of the cured tire from a curing mold. Further provided is a method for forming sipes in a tire tread using degradable blading.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having a tread comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising, expressed as parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), (A) 60 to 95 phr of solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber with a bound styrene content of from 35 to 45 percent by weight, a vinyl 1,2 content of from 15 to 30 percent by weight based on the butadiene content, and a Tg of from about ?40° C. to about ?20° C.; (B) 5 to 40 phr of cis-1,4 polybutadiene having a Tg of from ?95° C. to ?105° C. (C) 50 to 150 phr of silica; (D) 30 to 70 phr of processing oil; and (E) 0.5 to 20 phr of a sulfur containing organosilicon compound.

Abstract: A pneumatic runflat tire including at least one sidewall insert, the at least one sidewall insert including a heterogenous rubber compound comprising first rubber and second rubber composition phases, wherein the second rubber phase is further vulcanizable.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire including a circumferential tread, two spaced apart beads, and sidewalls connecting said beads and tread, wherein said tire sidewall contains at least one internal annular sidewall insert including at least two annular segments, the at least two annular segments including first and second adjacent annular segments; wherein said first and second annular segments are disposed with an interface therebetween; wherein each of the at least two annular segments includes a rubber composition comprising at least one diene based rubber and at least one vulcanization modifier selected from the group consisting of ?,?-bis(N,N?-dihydrocarbylthiocarbamamoyldithio)alkanes, bismaleimides, and biscitraconimides; and wherein the concentration of vulcanization modifier in the first annular segment is less than the concentration of vulcanization modifier in the second annular segment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having a lug and groove configured rubber tread having an outer rubber cap layer with a running surface and an underlying specialized transition rubber layer. The transition rubber layer is specialized in a sense of containing at least one of partially depolymerized rubber, particulate pre-cured rubber and coal dust. The outer tread cap layer is comprised of ground-contacting tread lugs with the tread running surface and, associated tread grooves positioned between said tread lugs. The tread grooves may extend radially inward through the outer tread cap layer and, optionally, into the transition tread layer. The rubber tread configuration may also optionally also include a tread base rubber layer underlying the transition rubber layer.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire including at least one component having a rubber composition including at least one diene based elastomer and a silica that prior to mixing with said elastomer is prehydrophobated with a fluorinated silane of the following formula: Rf—R1—SiX3-x—R2x ??I wherein Rf is a perfluorinated group optionally containing one or more heteroatoms; R1 is a divalent alkylene group, arylene group or mixture thereof, substituted with one or more heteroatoms or functional groups, containing about 1 to about 16 carbon atoms; R2 is a lower alkyl group; X is a halide, a lower alkoxy group or an acyloxy group; and x is 0 or 1.

Abstract: A tire with a changing tread pattern is formed by first forming a tire having a tread, the tread having at least one circumferential or lateral groove. Formed separately is a wearable filler, the wearable filler having a configuration corresponding to at least a portion of the circumferential or lateral groove formed in the tire. After both the tire and the wearable filler have been cured, the wearable filler is located in the radially outer portion of the circumferential or lateral groove or a portion of the circumferential or lateral groove, and secured within the grooves so as to create a groove void radially inward of the wearable filler, the void being exposed upon wear of the tire tread.

Abstract: A tire with a changing tread pattern is formed by first forming a tire having a tread, the tread having at least one circumferential or lateral groove. A wearable filler, having a configuration corresponding to at least a portion of the circumferential or lateral groove formed in the tire, is located in the radially outer portion of the circumferential or lateral groove or a portion of the circumferential or lateral groove, and secured within the grooves so as to create a groove void radially inward of the wearable filler, the void being exposed upon wear of the tire tread.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tire with a circumferential rubber tread of a rubber composition containing a tin coupled amine functional polybutadiene and reinforcement comprised of nanostructured inversion carbon black.

Abstract: There is disclosed a pneumatic tire having a component comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising, based on 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), from about 40 to about 90 phr of a solution polymerized styrene-butadiene having a styrene content of greater than 38 percent by weight; from about 10 to about 60 phr of at least one additional elastomer; and from about 10 to about 70 phr of a process oil having a glass transition temperature of from about ?80° C. to about ?40° C. and a polycyclic aromatic content of less than 3 percent by weight as determined by the IP346 method.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an oil extended rubber and composition comprising: a solution-polymerized polybutadiene, the polybutadiene coupled with at least one metal selected from the group consisting of silicon and tin; and from about 5 to about 70 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), of a process oil having a glass transition temperature of from about ?80° C. to about ?40° C., a polycyclic aromatic content of less than 3 percent by weight as determined by the IP346 method, and an aromatic content of less than 20 percent by weight as measured by ASTM D2140.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having a component comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising, based on 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), (A) from about 35 to about 65 phr of a solution polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber with a styrene content of from about 38 to about 50 percent by weight and a Tg of from about ?22° C. to about ?10° C.; (B) from about 10 to about 35 phr of an emulsion or solution polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber with a styrene content of from about 20 to about 40 percent by weight and a Tg of from about ?55° C. to about ?28° C.; (C) from about 10 to about 35 phr of polybutadiene; and (D) from about 10 to about 100 phr of silica.

Abstract: A degradable sipe blade for forming sipes in a tire tread, where the degradable material may be removed by exposure to water. A tire curing apparatus is also provided having a plurality of degradable sipe blades affixed to the mold surface within the tread pattern. In addition, a cured tire is provided having the degradable sipe blades embedded in the tread elements of the tire tread after removal of the cured tire from a curing mold. Further provided is a method for forming sipes in a tire tread using degradable blading.

Abstract: The plasticity of a tread composition may advantageously be increased by incorporating, for example, a relatively small amount of an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (“UHMWPE”). A tread cap composition, in accordance with the principles of the invention, may be a composition resulting from the combination of components including: a sulfur-vulcanizable elastomer containing olefinic unsaturation; a reinforcing filler; a mineral oil softener; a silane coupling agent; and an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (“UHMWPE”).

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having at least one component (e.g. tread) of a rubber composition comprised of a styrene/butadiene elastomer composite comprised of a styrene/butadiene elastomer and a functionalized styrene/butadiene elastomer containing an internal silicon atom therein as a part of the elastomer, and at least one pendent silanol group and/or siloxy group from said silicon atom. Said elastomer composite is comprised of a significant polymodal (e.g. bimodal) molecular weight distribution between said styrene/butadiene elastomer and said functionalized styrene/butadiene elastomer. Said rubber composition contains synthetic, precipitated silica aggregates having hydroxyl groups on their surface which may be pre-treated (hydrophobated) to reduce hydroxyl groups contained on their surface prior to blending with said styrene/butadiene composite. Said rubber composition may contain a dispersion therein of a silica/plasticizer composite.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having a tread comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising, expressed as parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), (A) 60 to 95 phr of solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber with a bound styrene content of from 35 to 45 percent by weight, a vinyl 1,2 content of from 15 to 30 percent by weight based on the butadiene content, and a Tg of from about ?40° C. to about ?20° C.; (B) 5 to 40 phr of cis-1,4 polybutadiene having a Tg of from ?95° C. to ?105° C. (C) 50 to 150 phr of silica; (D) 30 to 70 phr of processing oil; and (E) 0.5 to 20 phr of a sulfur containing organosilicon compound.