Abstract: A testing assembly calculates stress levels along a cross section of a pneumatic tire. The cross section of the pneumatic tire includes its tire beads, sidewalls, and tread. The testing assembly includes a base and a plurality of mounts slidably secured to the base. Mounts secure each of the tire beads. The testing assembly also includes a platform that extends parallel across the testing assembly. The platform moves with respect to the base to simulate a tire under load. The platform does this by deforming the cross section of the tire as if it were under a load on a road. The method for using the testing assembly includes taking measurements of the cross section of the tire in an un-deflected state and a deflected state. Calculations between the two states identifies areas in the tire that stresses are damaging.

Abstract: A testing assembly calculates stress levels along a cross section of a pneumatic tire having tire beads, sidewalls, and the tread. The testing assembly includes a base defining a base surface. A plurality of mounts are slidably secured to the base surface. Each of the tire beads are secured to each of the plurality of mounts. The tire beads are mounted thereto in a manner to simulate the mounting of a tire to a rim of a wheel. The testing assembly also includes a platform that extends parallel to the base surface. The platform is engagable with the tread of the tire and is movable with respect to the base. The movement of the platform simulates the tire under a load by deforming the tire. The method for using the testing assembly includes taking measurements of the cross section of the tire in an un-deflected state. Once taken, the platform is slid to render the cross section of the tire deflected.

Abstract: A wheel assembly provides a mount for a pneumatic tire having two tire beads. The wheel assembly includes a disk defining a hub receiving center and an outer peripheral edge. The wheel assembly also includes a rim that is fixedly secured to the outer peripheral edge. The rim has first and second tire seat surfaces and a well separating the first and second tire seat surfaces. First and second rim flanges are secured to the first and second tire seat surfaces, respectively, such that each of the first and second rim flanges extend out from each of the first and second tire seat surfaces at an angle less than or equal to thirty degrees. The wheel assembly also includes anti-roll off devices that interact with the tire through the flat rim flanges of the wheel assembly. A run flat device, including an inner rim bonded to an inner tube, which is, in turn, bonded to an interior carcass surface of the tire.

Abstract: A composite wheel is used with a pneumatic tire having at least one bead. The composite wheel includes a circular drum having an elongated skirt extending out from the circular drum substantial perpendicular thereto along the periphery of the circular drum. A tire bead retention member receives the bead of the pneumatic tire and is then removably secured to the elongated skirt with a nut and bolt fastening system. The removability of the tire bead retention member enables the pneumatic tire to be dismountable from the composite wheel. Run flat devices are attachable to the tire bead retention members prior to mounting the drum body which allow the pneumatic tire to run without air without destroying sidewalls of the pneumatic tire.

Abstract: A composite wheel is used with a pneumatic tire having at least one bead. The composite wheel includes a circular drum having an elongated skirt extending out from the circular drum substantial perpendicular thereto along the periphery of the circular drum. A tire bead retention member receives the bead of the pneumatic tire and is then removably secured to the elongated skirt with a nut and bolt fastening system. The removability of the tire bead retention member enables the pneumatic tire to be dismountable from the composite wheel. Run flat devices are attachable to or formed with the tire bead retention members prior to mounting the drum body which allow the pneumatic tire to run without air without destroying sidewalls of the pneumatic tire.

Abstract: A composite wheel (20) including two tire bead retention members (38,40). The tire bead retention members (38,40) are compressible eliminating the requirement of a well in the drum skirt (34). Anti-roll-off humps (50,52) prevent the tire beads (24) of the tire (26) from rolling away from the tire bead retention members (38,40). The anti-roll-off humps (50,52) are retractable allowing the tire beads (24) to pass thereover when mounting the tire (26) to the wheel (20). Locking interconnectors (62,64) are used to hold the anti-roll-off humps (50,52) in the retracted position while the tire (26) is being mounted on the wheel (20).

Abstract: A pneumatic tire and a mounting system therefor, having constructional features designed to provide optimized operational characteristics. The tire has a low aspect ratio .lambda. and a low height ratio .theta. conforming substantially to the relations .lambda.=0.236/.theta. and 0.32<.theta.<0.39. The mounting system includes a vehicle axleborne drum and a pair of ring members adapted to be securely fastened to the drum, each ring member defining a bead seat, a bead restraining flange and a sidewall-supporting extension, and the ring members being adhered to the tire at the beads and the lower sidewalls. A layer of a suitable sealant at the juncture between each ring member and the drum renders the joints airtight.

Abstract: An article (e.g., a tire, a package, a label) having upon a surface thereof one or more identifying words composed of a plurality of letters chosen from an alphabet of distinctive letters. The letters, when uninverted, are readily distinguishable from one another upon comparison of the characteristic features of one letter with those of the remaining letters in the alphabet. In the particular embodiment illustrated, twenty-four of the twenty-six letters in the alphabet are invertible and form, when inverted, either the same letters or other letters of the alphabet. This allows uninverted words or groups of words to be selectively composed from the letters, which words, when inverted, form either the same words as or different words from the uninverted words.