Abstract: A radial ply pneumatic tire is described. The tire has a carcass with a bead portion, a carcass reinforcing structure, and a bead filler. The carcass reinforcing structure has two plies with turnup ends wrapped about each bead. The turnup end of the first ply terminates in radial proximity of the maximum section width of the tire. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tire carcass includes elastomeric first and second fillers the first filler being located between the first ply and the innerliner of the tire, and the second filler being located between the first and second ply. The fillers stiffen the sidewalls to permit the tire to be driven while uninflated. The bead core of the preferred embodiment has a flat base and a first and second surface extending from the base and inclined relative to the base thereby forming acute included angles of .alpha. and .beta. whereby .alpha. is greater than or equal to .beta..

Abstract: A radial ply pneumatic tire features a bead core which comprises an arrangement of filaments positioned relative to one another. The bead core has a cross-section and a radially inward base side, a radially outermost point or side or sides, an axially inward first side, and an axially outward second side. The first side intersects the base side at a first edge and forms thereby an included angle .alpha.. The second side intersects the base side at a second edge and forms thereby an included angle .beta.. Angle .alpha. is greater than or equal to .beta.. The bead core has a perimeter comprising the lengths of the base, radially outermost, first, and second sides. The perimeter define a bead core area which is less than the area of an isosceles triangle having acute angles equal to .alpha.. The width of the bead heel surface is approximately equal to the distance between a hump and an axially inward surface of the wheel flange.

Abstract: A radial ply pneumatic tire (10) has an overlay structure (19) disposed radially outwardly of the belt reinforcing structure (14). The overlay structure (19) comprises side by side cables of 420/2 nylon having a cable twist of not greater than seven turns per inch.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire (10, 40) having a belt reinforcing structure (24) located between the carcass (12) and the tread portion (20) is reinforced with an overlay belt (30) located between the belt reinforcing structure (24) and the tread (20). The overlay belt (30) has a plurality of parallel cords (32) oriented at an angle with respect to the equatorial plane (EP) of the tire. The angle of the cords (32) is between 9.degree. to 24.degree. degrees. The overlay can be used by itself or in conjunction with a pair of belt reinforcing strips (42) located radially outwardly along both axial edges (46, 48) of one of the belts (26, 28) of the belt reinforcing structure (24). The belt reinforcing strips (42) also contain a plurality of cords (50) oriented at an angle of from 9.degree. to 24.degree. with respect to the equatorial plane of the tires.

Abstract: A method of making a belt overlay structure for a pneumatic tire is provided. In the method, a belt structure is wrapped circumferentially around a cylinder which is secured to a rotatable shaft, and a ribbon comprising an elastomeric substance containing side-by-side textile cords extending longitudinally in the ribbon is provided on a let-off means. A first end of the ribbon is adhered to the outermost belt ply in close proximity to the axial center line of the belt structure, and the cylinder is rotated while ribbon is supplied from the let-off device. The let-off device first traverses to a first lateral edge of the belt structure where the lateral movement of the let-off means stops while the cylinder continues to rotate and the let-off means continues to supply ribbon.

Abstract: A speed rated tire (10) is provided with an overlay structure (20) disposed radially outwardly of the belt structure (17). The overlay structure comprises a single ribbon (22) of side-by-side textile cords spirally wrapped about the belt structure such that both ends of the ribbon are in close proximity to the equatorial plane (EP) of the tire, while the axial width of the overlay structure is at least equal to that of the belt structure. The number of radial layers of cords in the overlay structure being greater at the axial edges of the belt structure than the average number of radial layers of cords in the remainder of the overlay structure. A method of manufacturing such an overlay structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire (1) comprises a radial carcass (2), a tread portion (7) and a belt reinforcing structure (8) extending circumferentially around the carcass (2). Disposed radially outwardly of the belt reinforcing structure (8) is a textile reinforced overlay structure (9) having substantially circumferentially extending cords (10). The overlay structure (9) is composed of a series of helical convolutions of a textile ribbon (11) whereby adjacent helical convolutions of the textile ribbon (11) overlap. There is further disclosed a method of applying multiple layers of a single continuous helically wound textile ribbon (11) in a single continuous operation from one axial side to the other axial side of the belt reinforcing structure (8).