Abstract: A method for designing a tyre includes defining at least one profile of the tyre based on a group of predefined dimensional constraints; defining at least one additional profile of the tyre based on predefined dimensional values of structural parts of the tyre; defining, within a cross-section of the tyre, shapes of the structural parts of the tyre; and approximating each shape by filling with a respective basic component depending on a function of the respective structural part. A method for producing at least one tyre includes obtaining information from a client's processing system; supplying the information to a manufacturer's processing system; obtaining manufacturing instructions based on the information; and manufacturing the at least one tyre using the manufacturing instructions. The manufacturer's processing system is connected to a computer-controlled tyre factory via a communications link. The at least one tyre is manufactured at the computer-controlled tyre factory.

Abstract: A tire for a wheel of a vehicle includes a casing structure, a belt structure, and a tread band. A tread band pattern includes a central zone, two intermediate zones, and two shoulder zones. Each of the zones extends between planes that are substantially parallel to an equatorial plane of the tire. Each intermediate zone includes first and second sequences of pairs of transversal grooves. The first sequence pairs are alternated with the second sequence pairs. The grooves of the two sequences are inclined relative to each other. The first sequence grooves extend from first ends, at respective axially intermediate planes, to second ends, at predetermined first distances from selected second sequence grooves. The second sequence grooves extend from third ends, at respective axially inner planes, to fourth ends, at predetermined second distances from selected first sequence grooves. Intermediate zones include a zigzag rib. Shoulder zones include additional transversal grooves.

Abstract: A self-supporting tyre for a vehicle wheel includes a carcass structure, a belt structure, a tread band, a pair of sidewalls, and at least one elastic stiffening insert. The carcass structure includes at least one carcass ply provided with end flaps engaged with respective annular reinforcing structures. The annular reinforcing structures are disposed in coaxial relationship with a geometric rotation axis of the tyre at positions axially spaced apart from each other. Each annular reinforcing structure includes at least one first circumferentially inextensible annular anchoring insert. The at least one elastic stiffening insert is incorporated into the carcass structure, at least at one of the sidewalls, and includes a radially internal end portion at least partly disposed in axial side-by-side relationship against the at least one first annular anchoring insert. A method of making the tyre is also disclosed.

Abstract: A self-supporting tyre for vehicle wheels comprises a carcass structure (2) having at least one carcass ply (3a, 3b) provided with end flaps (19, 21) in engagement with respective annular reinforcing structures (4) disposed in coaxial relationship with a geometric rotation axis of the tyre at positions axially spaced apart from each other and each comprising at least one first circumferentially-inextensible annular anchoring insert (5a); a belt structure (6) applied to the carcass structure (2) at a radially external position thereof, a tread band (9) applied at a radially external position to the belt structure (6) and a pair of sidewalls (10) applied to the carcass structure (2) at laterally opposite positions. The self-supporting tyre further comprises at least at one elastic stiffening insert (11) arranged at least at one of said sidewalls (10) and having a radially internal end portion (15) disposed at least partly in axial side by side relationship against the first annular anchoring insert (5a).

Abstract: Method for designing a tyre comprising a plurality of structural parts which are different from each other in terms of size, composition or position within the cross section of said tyre, which includes the steps of defining at least one profile of said tyre on the basis of a group of predefined dimensional constraints, defining remaining profiles on the basis of correlations between dimensional values of said structural parts, defining within the cross section the shape of said structural parts, filling each shape with a basic component depending on the composition of the structural part defined by said shape.

Abstract: A high and medium performance tyre for vehicles comprises a tread band provided with a central zone of predetermined width, at the edges of which two intermediate and two shoulder zones extend. Each intermediate zone comprises two sequences of pairs of transversal grooves, first and second respectively, alternating in succession over the circumferential length of the tyre; each pair is made up of two grooves, at least partly parallel. The pairs of grooves of the first sequence start from the shoulder zone and terminate inside the intermediate zone and the pairs of grooves of the second sequence start from the edges of the central zone and terminate inside the intermediate zone at a predetermined distance from the longer groove of the pairs of the first sequence. The configuration of the pairs of grooves is such as to determine two zigzagging circumferential ribs and a plurality of continuous portions extending alternatively from both sides of each rib.