Abstract: This invention relates to a light duty tire (e.g. passenger tire or light duty truck tire) designed for a load bearing capacity of a maximum of 3,500 pounds (1587 kg) with a tread of a cap/base construction with at least one underlying silica-rich, cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber based intermediate transition rubber layer to promote a reduced internal heat generation for the light duty tire and to therefore promote a light load carrying light duty tire which is more durable for the long haul. Such light duty tire tread is intended for use with light loads in which internal heat may be generated within the tire, including the tire tread, during use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire having a rubber component comprised of (A) 100 parts by weight of at least one elastomer containing olefinic unsaturation; (B) 10 to 120 phr of a filler selected from carbon black and silica; (C) 0.1 to 10 phr of N,N?-(m-phenylene) bismaleimide; (D) 0.1 to 0.5 phr of zinc dibenzyl dithiocarbamate; and (E) 0.1 to 5 phr of an additional cure accelerator.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire has a carcass and a tread. The carcass has at least one carcass reinforcing ply and opposing bead portions. Each bead portion has a bead core and a bead apex radially. The apexes in each bead portion having the same radial height (HA), as measured from a bead base line (B). The tire has a bead reinforcing ply comprising chopped carbon fiber in the amount of 0.5 to 30 parts per hundred rubber located in only one bead portion of the tire, with the bead reinforcing ply being adjacent to the carcass reinforcing ply.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire has a carcass and a tread. The carcass has at least one carcass reinforcing ply and opposing bead portions. Each bead portion has a bead core and a bead apex radially. The apexes in each bead portion having the same radial height (HA), as measured from a bead base line (B). The tire has a bead reinforcing ply comprising carbon fiber reinforcing cords located in only one bead portion of the tire, with the bead reinforcing ply being adjacent to the carcass reinforcing ply.

Abstract: This invention relates to high performance tires designed for high vehicular speeds having thin treads with a maximum thickness of about three centimeters with a running surface which is comprised of a rubber composition which is highly loaded with a combination of reinforcing filler and rubber processing oil. The combination of reinforcing filler is comprised of conductive carbon black and optionally at least one of classical rubber reinforcing carbon black and precipitated silica and their mixtures. This high level of a combination of selective reinforcing filler together with rubber processing oil in the tread rubber is provided to promote a reduction in internal heat generation within the thin tread during high vehicular speeds, particularly for vehicles intended to be used as race cars.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel having a tire mounted on a wheel rim with a precured and foamed elastomeric material in a closed cavity in the tire and a polyurethane formed in the closed cavity around the precured and foamed elastomeric material.

Abstract: A first tire having a cavity filled with cured and foamed elastomeric material and a recycled foamed elastomeric material. The recycled foamed elastomeric material was removed from a second tire for recycling in the first tire.

Abstract: A tire having a core located in a tire cavity and a cured and foamed elastomeric material located in the tire cavity adjacent the core. The core is made of a solid material, a precured and foamed elastomeric material or a hollow rigid structure. The core may be a single piece or fabricated from multiple pieces.

Abstract: This invention relates to a rubber composition prepared with reinforcement comprised of a combination of precipitated silica aggregates and pelletized rubber reinforcing carbon black composites of carbon black and organic binder of a controlled hardness and to a tire with at least one component comprised of and derived from such rubber composition in which said carbon black pellet composites are disintegrated (fragmented) in situ within said rubber composition in the presence of particulate precipitated silica and silica coupling agent. In one aspect the invention relates to a tire having a component of a rubber composition comprised of at least one conjugated diene-based elastomer and reinforcing filler comprised of a combination of precipitated silica, silica coupling agent and fragmented rubber reinforcing carbon black pellet composites, said pellets having a controlled hardness value.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tire with a tread of a natural rubber-rich rubber composition. A partial replacement of the natural rubber in the tire tread is accomplished by an inclusion of a specialized emulsion polymerization prepared styrene/butadiene rubber (specialized E-SBR) having a glass transition temperature (Tg) similar to the Tg of natural cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber. A significant aspect of the invention is a partial replacement of natural cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber in the tread rubber composition. The specialized E-SBR has a Tg in a range of from about ?70 to about ?60° C. and a bound styrene content in a range of from about 12 to about 16 percent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire with a built-in depolymerized butyl rubber based sealant layer. The built-in sealant layer is of a composition comprised of a partially depolymerized butyl rubber or alternatively comprised of a polymer composite of partially depolymerized butyl rubber, together with partially depolymerized cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber and/or partially depolymerized liquid polyisoprene polymer, which contains a pre-hydrophobated silica. The sealant layer may also contain a colorant of a non-black color which produces a built-in sealant layer of a color which contrasts with a black. Thus the sealant layer may be black in color or may be a color which contrasts with a black color.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tire having an internal component, exclusive of a visible surface of the tire, comprised of a composite of a cord reinforced rubber composition having a relatively low, silica-rich, reinforcing filler content comprised of precipitated silica and rubber reinforcing carbon black, together with silica coupler, in combination with methylene donor compound, methylene acceptor compound, cobalt salt and metaphenylene bismaleimide. Such cord reinforced tire component may be, for example, at least one of a tire carcass ply and circumferential overlay ply and/or circumferential belt ply underlying its tread. The composite of cord reinforced rubber composition may also optionally contain one or more of particulate starch/plasticizer composite and exfoliated clay platelets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire having a pair of spaced apart bead components, a connecting carcass between said bead components, and a rubber chafer positioned around at least a portion of each of said bead components and intended for contacting a rigid rim of a wheel, wherein said chafer comprises a self lubricating rubber composition, the self lubricating rubber composition comprising at least one rubber and from 1 to 50 phr of at least one additive selected from alcohols of formula I, esters of formula II, or amides of formula III wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from C12-C36 alkyl, C12-C36 alkenyl, or C12-C36 alkadienyl.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a run flat safety support ring intended to be mounted on a wheel rim inside a tire equipping a vehicle for supporting the tire tread in case of loss of inflation pressure, comprising a generally cylindrical crown intended to come in contact with the interior of the tire tread in the event of the loss of inflation pressure, and leaving a clearance from the tire tread interior at normal pressure, the crown comprising a self lubricating rubber composition, the self lubricating rubber composition comprising at least one rubber and from 1 to 50 phr of at least one additive selected from alcohols of formula I, esters of formula II, or amides of formula III wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from C12-C36 alkyl, C12-C36 alkenyl, or C12-C36 alkadienyl.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a two piece pneumatic tire comprising a carcass and a removable tread belt disposed radially about the periphery of the carcass, the tread belt and carcass meeting at an interface between a radially outermost surface of the carcass and a radially innermost surface of the tread belt, wherein at least one of the radially outermost surface of the carcass and the radially innermost surface of the tread belt comprise a self lubricating rubber composition, the self lubricating rubber composition comprising at least one rubber and from 1 to 50 phr of at least one additive selected from alcohols of formula I, esters of formula II, or amides of formula III wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from C12-C36 alkyl, C12-C36 alkenyl, or C12-C36 alkadienyl.

Abstract: There is disclosed a pneumatic tire having a component containing a rubber composition comprising (A) a sulfur-vulcanized rubber compound; and (B) the reaction product of (1) a methylene acceptor; and (2) a combination methylene donor comprising hexamethylenetetramine and at least one N-substituted oxymethyl melamine.

Abstract: The invention relates to expandable rubber bladders comprised of EPDM rubber for shaping and curing articles of conjugated diene-based elastomers such as pneumatic tires. The bladders are of a rubber composition comprised of resin cured EPDM rubber composition as a terpolymer of ethylene/propylene and a minor amount of a non-conjugated diene. The bladder composition may also contain castor oil, corn oil and/or soya-bean oil. The bladder composition may also contain at least one of graphite and polytetrafluoroethylene powder. Alternately, the EPDM-based bladder rubber composition may also contain a minor amount of a butyl-type of rubber. The invention also relates to a method of curing pneumatic rubber tires by utilizing such EPDM-based expandable rubber tire curing bladder in a tire curing press.

Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of a natural rubber-rich rubber composition and tire with tread thereof wherein a portion of the natural rubber is replaced with an inclusion of a specialized trans 1,4-styrene/butadiene copolymer rubber. The process involves preparing a pre-formed masterbatch of a first phase.

Abstract: The neodymium catalyst system prepared by the technique of this invention can be used in the polymerization of isoprene monomer into synthetic polyisoprene rubber having an extremely high cis-microstructure content and high stereo regularity. This polyisoprene rubber will crystallize under strain and can be compounded into rubber formulations in a manner similar to natural rubber. This invention more specifically discloses a process for the synthesis of polyisoprene rubber which comprises polymerizing isoprene monomer in the presence of a neodymium catalyst system, wherein the neodymium catalyst system is prepared by a process that comprises (1) reacting a neodymium carboxylate with an organoaluminum compound in an organic solvent to produce neodymium-aluminum catalyst component, and (2) subsequently reacting the neodymium-aluminum catalyst component with an elemental halogen to produce the neodymium catalyst system, wherein the neodymium catalyst system is void of nickel-containing compounds.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aircraft tire with a tread having a running surface of a rubber composition which contains elastomers of which a major portion is a specialized cis 1,4-polybutadiene elastomer and a minor portion is cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber and which contains reinforcement filler comprised of a combination of precipitated silica and defined rubber reinforcing carbon black.