Abstract: A tire for mounting to a transport vehicle including a base tire and a skin. The skin includes a predetermined pattern mounted thereon that is positioned on an external peripheral surface of the skin. The base tire and the skin are constructed of a predetermined rubber composition. The skin includes at least about nine percent (9%) by weight of reinforcing fibers and the base tire includes less than about three percent (3%) by weight of reinforcing fibers. An adhesive membrane inhibitor is positioned between the base tire and the skin to generally prevent migration of contaminating materials from the base tire into the skin and, more particularly from the base tire into the predetermined pattern of the skin.

Abstract: A tire assembly for insertion into a tire mold including a partially cured base tire and a partially cured skin. The partially cured base tire includes a plurality of spaced tread members. The skin includes a predetermined percentage of reinforcing fiber comprised of a crushed mono-filament aramid fiber material and the skin includes a predetermined printed pattern. The partially cured skin is at least slightly larger than the partially cured base tire and surrounds and engages an entire outer periphery of the partially cured base tire. The partially cured skin surrounds and engages an entire tread surface of the tread members. The partially cured base tire and the partially cured skin are insertable into the tire mold. The predetermined pattern is visible on an external peripheral surface of the tire assembly.

Abstract: The present invention, in one embodiment, is a method of making a tire with a skin covering at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the tire. In practicing the method, a partially cured tire and a partially cured skin are provided. The partially cured tire and the partially cured skin are installed in a tire mold with the skin engaging and covering at least a part of the outer surface of the tire and with the skin facing an inner surface of the mold. Heat and pressure are applied to the tire to press the skin and the tire against the inner surface of the mold. The heat and pressure are maintained for a predetermined time period to vulcanize and bond together the tire and the skin.