Abstract: A carcass sleeve is situated in a radially external position with respect to a toroidal forming drum, arranged in a first radially contracted operative condition. The carcass sleeve is shaped according to a toroidal configuration while the forming drum is positioned inside the carcass sleeve. During shaping of the carcass sleeve, the forming drum is radially expanded up to a second radially expanded operative condition. Upon completed shaping, the carcass sleeve is coupled to the forming drum in the second operative condition. The forming drum, coupled to the shaped carcass sleeve, is arranged in proximity to at least one device for building at least one belt layer at a radially external position relative to the shaped carcass sleeve.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for building tyres, wherein, in the process, a carcass sleeve including at least one carcass ply and a pair of annular anchoring structures is transferred to a shaping drum including flange elements that are each engageable with one of said annular anchoring structures. The carcass sleeve is shaped according to a toroidal configuration. Before shaping, annular grip elements respectively carried by the flange elements are radially expanded, each inside one of the annular anchoring structures, in order to engage the carcass sleeve. The annular anchoring structures are moved axially apart from each other before engaging the carcass sleeve by the annular grip elements.

Abstract: A motorcycle tyre (1) is described comprising an equatorial plane (X-X) and a tread band (8) comprising a radially inner portion (13) and a radially outer portion (11) respectively comprising a first and a second vulcanized elastomeric material obtained by vulcanizing respective elastomeric materials comprising 100 phr of at least one elastomeric diene polymer, from 30 to 130 phr of at least one reinforcing filler comprising an amount greater than 75% or, respectively, equal to or greater than 80% of a white filler. In the tyre (1) the ratio R1 between the dynamic elastic modulus (E?) and the tandelta measured at a frequency of 10 Hz and at 70° C. of the first vulcanized elastomeric material is comprised between 27 and 35, whereas the ratio R2 between the dynamic elastic modulus (E?) and the tandelta measured at a frequency of 10 Hz and at 70° C. of the second vulcanized elastomeric material is comprised between 15 and 30, the ratio R1/R2 being greater than or equal to 1.1.

Abstract: A motorcycle tyre has a tread band including a central portion and two shoulder portions arranged at axially opposite sides of the central portion. The central portion includes a first plurality of grooves extended according to a substantially longitudinal direction and alternatively arranged at opposite sides of the equatorial plane of the tyre. Each groove of the first plurality of grooves has a substantially curvilinear course such as to form a concavity. The central portion further includes a sub-portion substantially free of grooves placed astride the equatorial plane of the tyre. Each of the shoulder portions includes a second plurality of grooves arranged obliquely relative to the equatorial plane of the tyre.

Abstract: A carcass sleeve is situated in a radially external position with respect to a toroidal forming drum, arranged in a first radially contracted operative condition. The carcass sleeve is shaped according to a toroidal configuration while the forming drum is positioned inside the carcass sleeve. During shaping of the carcass sleeve, the forming drum is radially expanded up to a second radially expanded operative condition. Upon completed shaping, the carcass sleeve is coupled to the forming drum in the second operative condition. The forming drum, coupled to the shaped carcass sleeve, is arranged in proximity to at least one device for building at least one belt layer at a radially external position relative to the shaped carcass sleeve.

Abstract: A motorcycle tyre has a tread band (8) comprising a plurality of grooves that form a tread pattern including a module (T) replicated along a circumferential direction of the tyre (1) and having a predetermined circumferential length (C1). The module (T) comprises a pair of circumferential grooves (20) arranged on opposite sides with respect to the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre (1). Such circumferential grooves (20) extend along the circumferential direction of the tyre (1) for only part of said predetermined circumferential length (C1) and define between them a central portion (A) of tread band (8) having a void to solid ratio substantially equal to zero and a predetermined axial width (A1).

Abstract: A carcass sleeve is situated in a radially external position with respect to a toroidal forming drum, arranged in a first radially contracted operative condition. The carcass sleeve is shaped according to a toroidal configuration while the forming drum is positioned inside the carcass sleeve. During shaping of the carcass sleeve, the forming drum is radially expanded up to a second radially expanded operative condition. Upon completed shaping, the carcass sleeve is coupled to the forming drum in the second operative condition. The forming drum, coupled to the shaped carcass sleeve, is arranged in proximity to at least one device for building at least one belt layer at a radially external position relative to the shaped carcass sleeve.

Abstract: A motorcycle tyre (1) has a tread band (1) comprising a plurality of grooves that form at least part of a tread pattern including a module (T) replicated along a circumferential direction and having a predetermined circumferential length (Cl). The module (T) comprises a pair of circumferential grooves (20) arranged on opposite sides with respect to the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre (1). Such circumferential grooves (20) extend along the circumferential direction for at least part of said predetermined circumferential length (Cl) and define between them a central annular portion (A) of tread band (8) having a void to solid ratio substantially equal to zero and a predetermined axial width (Al).

Abstract: A motorcycle tyre has a tread band including a central portion and two shoulder portions arranged at axially opposite sides of the central portion. The central portion includes a first plurality of grooves extended according to a substantially longitudinal direction and alternatively arranged at opposite sides of the equatorial plane of the tyre. Each groove of the first plurality of grooves has a substantially curvilinear course such as to form a concavity. The central portion further includes a sub-portion substantially free of grooves placed astride the equatorial plane of the tyre. Each of the shoulder portions includes a second plurality of grooves arranged obliquely relative to the equatorial plane of the tyre.

Abstract: A toroidal forming drum and a process for building tyres. The toroidal forming drum (23) is expanded within a shaped carcass sleeve (12), for supporting the carcass sleeve (12) against an abutment surface (“S”) externally provided by the forming drum (23). An elementary semi-finished product (54a, 54b) is applied around the shaped carcass sleeve (12), by pressing the elementary semi-finished product (54a, 54b) towards the abutment surface (“S”). The abutment surface (“S”) has circumferential rows of solid portions (40) alternated with hollow portions (41). The solid portions (40), arranged along axially opposite circumferential edges of the abutment surface (“S”), have a transverse size comprised between 10% and 60% of a transverse size presented by the solid portions (40) arranged in proximity to an axial centreline plane of the abutment surface (“S”).

Abstract: A motorcycle tyre intended to be fitted to the rear wheel of a motorcycle. The motorcycle tyre has a tread pattern with a high void-to-rubber ratio that provides a suitable draining. The tread pattern has pairs of primary grooves to carry out the draining function of the tyre, and arranged substantially according to the stress lines of the tyres to reduce the probability of triggering uneven wear. Also included are secondary grooves having a reduced dimension, in terms of both extension and width, arranged between the primary grooves to increase the grip of the tyre to the ground. Orientation of the secondary grooves increases stabilizing features against drift forces acting on the tyre, particularly in low or very low friction conditions.

Abstract: The invention is related to a process and an apparatus for building tyres. In the process a carcass sleeve (11) comprising at least one carcass ply (3) and a pair of annular anchoring structures (5) is transferred to a shaping drum (14) comprising flange elements (16a, 16h) that are each engageable to one of said annular anchoring structures (5). The carcass sleeve (11) is shaped according to a toroidal configuration by means of mutual axial approaching of the flange elements (16a, 16b). Before shaping, annular grip elements (36) respectively carried by the flange elements (16a, 16b) are radially expanded each inside one of the annular anchoring structures (5) in order to engage the carcass sleeve (11). The annular anchoring structures (5) are moved axially apart from each other before engaging the carcass sleeve (11) by means of the annular grip elements (36).

Abstract: Motorcycles tyre including a carcass structure, a zero-degree belt structure arranged in a radially outer position with respect to the carcass structure and a tread band arranged in a radially outer position with respect to the belt structure. The belt structure includes at least one hybrid reinforcing cord that has an elongation greater than 4% when subjected to a load equal to about 50 N and a tangent modulus with a monotonic progression as the elongation increases for elongations comprised between 4% and at least 9%.

Abstract: A tyre that can be fitted to the front of a motorcycle. The tyre has a high void-to-rubber ratio and includes grooves located asymmetrically across the equatorial plane of the tyre, arranged substantially orthogonally to the equatorial plane of the tyre at the equatorial plane itself. According to one aspect, the grooves are close to one another in the circumferential direction of the tyre to increase their number in a footprint area of the tyre.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for building tyres, wherein, in the process, a carcass sleeve including at least one carcass ply and a pair of annular anchoring structures is transferred to a shaping drum including flange elements that are each engageable with one of said annular anchoring structures. The carcass sleeve is shaped according to a toroidal configuration. Before shaping, annular grip elements respectively carried by the flange elements are radially expanded, each inside one of the annular anchoring structures, in order to engage the carcass sleeve. The annular anchoring structures are moved axially apart from each other before engaging the carcass sleeve by the annular grip elements.