Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having a rubber tread comprised of cap/base construction where the tread cap layer provides the running surface of the tread and the tread base layer underlies the tread cap layer and thereby provides a transition between the tread cap layer and the tire carcass. For this invention, the tread cap layer is comprised of a plurality of individual circumferential load-bearing zones of rubber compositions, which exhibit graduated physical properties, and which extend from the outer running surface of the tread cap layer radially inward to said tread base layer. In one aspect, the zoned rubber tread cap layer and rubber tread base layer are co-extruded together to form a unit as an integral tread rubber composite.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a camouflage tire suitable for use in various vehicle use environments wherein it is desirable to reduce or eliminate a viewer's visual perception of the tire against the given environmental background.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having a rubber tread comprised of cap/base construction where the tread cap layer provides the running surface of the tread and the tread base layer underlies the tread cap layer and thereby provides a transition between the tread cap layer and the tire carcass. For this invention, the tread cap layer is comprised of a plurality of individual circumferential load-bearing zones of rubber compositions, which exhibit graduated physical properties, and which extend from the outer running surface of the tread cap layer radially inward to said tread base layer. In one aspect, the zoned rubber tread cap layer and rubber tread base layer are co-extruded together to form a unit as an integral tread rubber composite.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having a rubber tread comprised of cap/base construction where the tread cap layer provides the running surface of the tread and the tread base layer underlies the tread cap layer and thereby provides a transition between the tread cap layer and the tire carcass. For this invention, the tread cap layer is comprised of a plurality of individual circumferential load-bearing zones of rubber compositions, which exhibit graduated physical properties, and which extend from the outer running surface of the tread cap layer radially inward to said tread base layer. In one aspect, the zoned rubber tread cap layer and rubber tread base layer are co-extruded together to form a unit as an integral tread rubber composite.

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.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a camouflage tire suitable for use in various vehicle use environments wherein it is desirable to reduce or eliminate a viewer's visual perception of the tire against the given environmental background.

Abstract: This invention relates to a pneumatic rubber tire having a tread of a cap/base layered construction wherein said tire contains a first component as a tread cap layer having a running surface and at least two additional tire rubber components, wherein said tire components are comprised of rubber compositions which contain a maximum of 50 phr of reinforcing filler comprised of a maximum of 30 phr of rubber reinforcing carbon black. In one aspect, a purpose of such maximum of 30 phr of rubber reinforcing carbon black for said plurality of tire components is to promote a relatively low hysteresis property within said tire via such components to thereby promote relatively low rolling resistance for a pneumatic tire which contains such components. In practice, such additional tire components may be, for example, outer sidewall rubber layer, apex, chafer, belt ply and carcass ply components.

Abstract: This invention relates to a pneumatic tire having a built-in non-black colored sealant layer and its preparation. The sealant layer is derived from a sealant precursor layer comprised of a butyl rubber, organoperoxide, particulate, synthetic amorphous silica and plant-derived organic agricultural seed flour, together with a non-black colored colorant. The butyl rubber-based sealant precursor layer is build into the tire to form a tire assembly and the butyl rubber component of the sealant precursor layer is depolymerized during a subsequent curing of the tire at an elevated temperature in a suitable mold to form the tire having the resultant built-in sealant. The particulate plant derived organic agricultural seed flour is a renewable raw material in a sense that it can be replenished in nature and therefore not as a significant depletion of non-renewable natural resource. The agricultural plant seed flour is comprised of at least a portion of a ground plant seed (e.g.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a camouflage tire suitable for use in various vehicle use environments, wherein it is desirable to reduce or eliminate a viewer's visual perception of the tire against the given environmental background.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a camouflage tire suitable for use in various vehicle use environments wherein it is desirable to reduce or eliminate a viewer's visual perception of the tire against the given environmental background.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rubber tire composed of carbon black reinforced rubber carcass and having a rubber tread which is quantitatively reinforced with silica and which, in turn, has a thin, integral, rubber outer cap on its outer surface which contains a quantitative amount of carbon black. In one aspect, said outer cap, sometimes referred to herein as an outer top cap, extends across the outer surface of the tread which is normally intended to be ground contacting and in an alternative aspect, the outer top cap extends only over the outer portion, namely the peripheral edges, of said tread surface intended to be ground contacting. The outer, carbon black reinforced, rubber tread top cap connects with at least one other carbon black reinforced rubber component of the tire in a manner to provide a path of reduced electrical resistance from said outer tread top cap to the bead portion of the tire carcass and, therefore, such a path from the vehicle to the road surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire with a tread which is quantitatively reinforced with silica where the tread is composed of three basic elastomers, namely, emulsion polymerization prepared styrene/butadiene rubber, cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber and high vinyl polybutadiene rubber. Optionally, the basic elastomer composition can also contain a minor amount of cis 1,4-polyisoprene natural rubber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rubber tire with carbon black reinforced carcass and quantitatively silica reinforced rubber tread, said tread having a thin overcoat thereon of rubber containing a quantitative amount of electrically conductive carbon black, a coating composition therefor and a method of application.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire with a tread which is quantitatively reinforced with silica where the tread rubber is composed of a backbone of a combination of isoprene/butadiene copolymer rubber, cis 1,4-polyisoprene natural rubber and halogenated copolymer of isobutylene and p-methylstyrene. Such tread rubber may optionally also contain other elastomers such as, for example, cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber and styrene/butadiene copolymer rubber.