Abstract: A pair of motor vehicle tyres includes a front tyre and a rear tyre to be mounted respectively on a front wheel and a rear wheel of a two-wheeled vehicle, each tyre of the pair having a tread band extending around an axis of rotation. The tread band of the front tyre includes a central annular portion straddling an equatorial plane and two annular shoulder portions disposed on axially opposite sides of the central annular portion. The central annular portion includes at least a pair of first grooves extending substantially longitudinally on opposite sides of the equatorial plane in such a way as to form a concavity directed toward the equatorial plane. Each shoulder portion includes a plurality of second grooves isolated from the first grooves and extending substantially transversally so as to form an average inclination with the equatorial plane greater than 90°.

Abstract: Motor vehicle tyre adapted to be mounted on the rear wheel of a motor vehicle, includes a tread band having a tread pattern including a module which is repeated along a direction of circumferential extension of the tyre. The module has at least one first pair of first grooves inclined in opposite directions with respect to an equatorial plane of the tyre, and extending from the equatorial plane toward a respective shoulder; at least one second pair of second grooves inclined in opposite directions with respect to the equatorial plane and extending from the equatorial plane toward a respective shoulder. The first and the second grooves are staggered relative to each other in the circumferential direction in such a way as to maintain a substantially constant distance of less than half the pitch, at the equatorial plane between each first or second groove and the adjacent one in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A method of molding and curing a tire for a vehicle wheel includes building an unvulcanized tire on a toroidal support; heating the support; pressing an inner surface of the tire against an outer surface of the support; and pressing an outer surface of the tire against walls of a molding cavity defined in a vulcanization mold. The inner surface of the tire is pressed against the outer surface by at least one secondary working fluid. The outer surface of the tire is pressed against the walls by at least one primary working fluid. The at least one primary working fluid is heated, causing vulcanization of the tire. An apparatus for molding and curing a tire for a vehicle wheel includes the vulcanization mold, at least one passage device, a feeding device, and first and second heating devices. It may also include an airtight device arranged to receive the support.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a tyre, a belt structure is made by means of strip-like segments or elements, each comprising parallel cords embedded in an elastomeric layer, sequentially laid along the circumferential extension of a toroidal support, in such a manner that: each strip-like element is laid in a laying trajectory defining, at each point, a laying angle; at each point of the laying trajectory a laying gap is formed between adjacent strip-like elements, the laying trajectory being formed starting from preselected laying angles on the shoulder and on the crown of the tyre, the laying gap between adjacent strip-like elements varying along at least one section of the laying trajectory between crown and shoulder so as to cause variation of the laying angle and to obtain the preselected angles on the shoulder and on the crown.

Abstract: A belt structure for a two-wheeled vehicle made by means of strip-like segments or elements, each including parallel cords embedded in an elastomeric layer, sequentially laid along the circumferential extension of a toroidal support so as to form a reinforcing layer having a continuous circumferential extension around a geometric rotation axis of the toroidal support, wherein each strip-like element is laid in a laying trajectory defining, at each point, a laying angle; at each point of the laying trajectory a laying gap is formed between adjacent strip-like elements; the laying trajectory is formed starting from preselected laying angles on the shoulder and on the crown of the tyre; the laying gap between adjacent strip-like elements varies along at least one length of said laying trajectory between crown and shoulder so as to cause variation of the laying angle and obtain the preselected angles on the shoulder and on the crown.

Abstract: A tyre (1) for motor vehicles, having a tread band (8) extending around a rotation axis (Z) and comprising an annular central portion (A) astride of an equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre, two annular shoulder portions (B) arranged on axially opposite sides with respect to the annular central portion (A) and two annular side portions (C) each arranged between the annular central portion (A) and a respective annular shoulder portion (B), the tread band (8) having at least one module (Ti; T2) replicated along a circumferential direction of the tyre and comprising: at least one plurality of primary grooves inclined with respect to the equatorial plane (X-X) and arranged at least on the annular portions (B), (C); at least one plurality of secondary recesses arranged mainly on the annular central portion (A) and on at least one annular side portion (C); wherein a substantial disappearance of the secondary recesses determines a difference in the empty/solid ratio on the annular central (A) and side (C) portions betw

Abstract: A tyre for motorcycles, has a tread band and includes an annular central portion and two annular shoulder portions. The tread band includes at least one first groove extending from one annular shoulder portion to the other annular shoulder portion and having a first vertex at the annular central portion, and at least one pair of second grooves arranged on opposite sides with respect to the equatorial plane, each groove of said at least one pair of second grooves being inclined with respect to the equatorial plane and extending from a respective annular shoulder portion up the annular central portion without intersecting the equatorial plane. The distance in the circumferential direction between an axially inner end of each groove of said at least one pair of second grooves and the first vertex is no greater than 3.5% of the circumferential extension of the tread band.

Abstract: A tyre for motor vehicles, in particular for rear wheels of motor vehicles, has a tread band including an annular central portion, two first annular side portions and two second annular side portions, each arranged between the annular central portion and a respective first annular side portion and being narrower than the first annular side portion.

Abstract: A green tire disposed on a toroidal support is introduced into a vulcanisation mold. The mold is closed through axial approaching of a pair of sidewall plates acting against the sidewalls of the tire. Circumferential sectors set to operate against the tire tread band are maintained spaced apart from the tread band itself during admission of a working fluid designed to press the tire against the toroidal support. Subsequently, the sectors are centripetally approached for penetration into the tread band concurrently with a step of full molding and vulcanisation of the tire carried out through admission of steam under pressure into the tire itself.

Abstract: A green tyre disposed on a toroidal support is introduced into a vulcanisation mould. The mould is closed through axial approaching of a pair of sidewall plates acting against the sidewalls of the tyre. Circumferential sectors set to operate against the tyre tread band are maintained spaced apart from the tread band itself during admission of a working fluid designed to press the tyre against the toroidal support. Subsequently, the sectors are centripetally approached for penetration into the tread band concurrently with a step of full moulding and vulcanisation of the tyre carried out through admission of steam under pressure into the tyre itself.

Abstract: A plant for building tyres of at least two different models for vehicle wheels, includes at least a tyre building line, which in turn, includes: a plurality of work stations arranged according to a sequential series, each work station being adapted for building at least one structural component of each tyre and assembling at least one elementary component; at least one handling device for the tyres being processed on the respective forming supports associated to each work station; and at least one transfer device adapted for transferring the tyre being processed on its forming support from any first work station of the sequential series to any other second work station not adjacent thereto of the sequential series, so that the tyre being processed on its forming support only passes in the first and second work stations.

Abstract: A motorcycle tyre having a transverse curvature ratio f/C?0.2 and a sidewall height ratio (H?f)/H?0.7, has a belt structure provided with a belt layer including at least one filiform reinforcing element arranged to form a plurality of windings parallel to one another at a substantially zero angle relative to the equatorial plane of the tyre. The available elongation of the belt in an intermediate zone between the equatorial plane, and the shoulder is greater than the available elongation corresponding to the equatorial plane. The aforementioned intermediate zone extends at least in a range centred on a camber angle of ±35°.

Abstract: A carcass ply is applied around an outer surface of a building drum according to an application diameter larger than the fitting diameter of a tyre. Coaxially engaged around each of the end flaps is an annular anchoring structure defining the fitting diameter. A pair of sidewalls is manufactured by laying of a continuous elongated element in the form of approached coils on the carcass sleeve. An outer sleeve, including at least one belt structure possibly associated with a tread band, is coaxially centered around the carcass sleeve. Through axial approaching of two halves forming the building drum, the carcass sleeve is shaped into a toroidal configuration to determine application of same against a radially internal surface of the outer sleeve.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a tire includes providing an elastomeric layer on an outer surface of a toroidal support, manufacturing the tire on the toroidal support provided with the elastomeric layer, introducing the tire supported on the toroidal support into a moulding cavity, introducing a fluid under pressure into a space defined between the toroidal support and an inner surface of the tire in order to press an outer surface of the tire against walls of the moulding cavity, and curing the tire. The elastomeric layer forms an inner circumferential surface of the tire. The process further includes causing an electrical current to flow in at least one heating element provided to the outer surface of the toroidal support so as to obtain at least partial precuring of the elastomeric layer. A toroidal support for carrying out the process is also disclosed.

Abstract: A tire for a vehicle wheel includes a carcass structure, a tread band extending circumferentially around the carcass structure, a belt structure circumferentially located between the carcass structure and the tread band, and at least one pair of sidewalls applied to the carcass structure in axially opposite positions. The carcass structure includes at least one carcass ply. Ends of the carcass structure are fastened to a pair of annular reinforcing elements, wherein each annular reinforcing element is incorporated in a respective bead of the tire includes at least one cord. The at least one cord includes at least one preformed metallic thread element.

Abstract: A green pneumatic tyre is built on a rigid toroidal support externally having a forming surface of a conformation corresponding to the inner shape of a tyre. The green tyre engaged on the expandable toroidal support is introduced into a vulcanisation mould and submitted to a vulcanisation cycle. During vulcanisation, axial moving apart of side portions of the toroidal support is caused so as to press the beads and sidewalls of the tyre against the vulcanisation mould.

Abstract: A process and a tyre manufacturing line for producing tyres, wherein the process includes the steps of: i) transferring a first toroidal support to a first assembling apparatus; ii) in the first assembling apparatus, sequentially building on the first toroidal support a first toroidal carcass ply and a first pair of annular reinforcing inserts so as to associate each annular reinforcing insert with a respective radially internal edge of the first toroidal carcass ply; iii) transferring the first toroidal support to a second assembling apparatus; iv) in the second assembling apparatus, sequentially building on the first toroidal support, carrying the first toroidal carcass ply associated with the first pair of annular reinforcing inserts, a second toroidal carcass ply and a second pair of annular reinforcing inserts so as to associate each annular reinforcing insert with a respective radially internal edge of the second toroidal carcass ply.

Abstract: A green tyre is built on a rigid toroidal support externally having a forming surface of a conformation corresponding to an inner conformation of the tyre. The built tyre is removed from the rigid toroidal support and engaged on an expandable toroidal support which includes a bladder. The green tyre engaged on the expandable toroidal support is introduced into a vulcanisation mould and submitted to a vulcanisation cycle.