Abstract: Blends of carbon black or other fillers is described. The blends of carbon black or other fillers are preferably pre-blended prior to introducing the blend into a product such as an elastomeric or polymeric product.

Abstract: Rubber mixtures containing at least one rubber and an organosilicon compound of the general formula (I) (Q-)kG-Si(—O—CX1X2—CX1X3—)3N. The rubber mixture is prepared by mixing at least one rubber and an organosilicon compound of the formula (I). The rubber mixtures can be used for the production of moldings.

Abstract: The invention concerns a tire (10) comprising a tread (40) provided with a rolling surface, at least one recess (90) being formed in the tread, which recess opens onto the rolling surface, the recess being delimited by a bottom wall (91) and one single side wall (92), the tire also comprising at least one appliqué (100; 1001-1002) comprising at least one portion of a color other than black, and the appliqué being inserted into the recess and fixed by means of an adhesive (110) to at least a portion of said bottom or side wall, in such a way that the portion of a color other than black of the appliqué is visible from a viewpoint outside of the tread and facing the appliqué. The invention also concerns a method and a kit for decorating a tire.

Abstract: Sufficient strength of a joint portion is secured in a tire configured by joining together plural tire structuring members formed from a thermoplastic material. A welding thermoplastic material 43 that has been melted is extruded towards joining locations on two tire halves 17A formed from a first thermoplastic material that have been aligned so as to face each other and abut, such that the one tire half 17A and the other tire half 17A are welded together with the welding thermoplastic material 43. Degradation of the thermoplastic material forming the tire halves 17A is suppressed since the tire halves 17A are not themselves melted, and sufficient strength of the joint portion is secured.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a rubber composition comprising a rubber and particulate kaolin clay as a filler wherein: the kaolin particles have a particle size distribution such that at least about 95% of the particles, relative to the volume of the particles, have a particle diameter less than 3?m. The particulate kaolin particles may comprise calcined kaolin chosen from at least one of particulate soak calcined kaolin and particulate flash calcined kaolin. The rubber composition can comprise additional particulate fillers including those chosen from silica, carbon black, and other particulate fillers. Also disclosed herein is a process for producing such a composition, and the method of using a cured form of the composition in a rubber composition, such as a vehicle tire composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hybrid steel-textile reinforcement ply for tires comprising at least one continuous steel cord (2), and at least one textile yarn (3), wherein the continuous steel cord (2) is weft inserted in the textile yarn (3) essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the weft direction and wherein the steel cord (2) in the reinforcement ply (1) has continuous edges (4) as well as to a method for producing such a reinforcement ply.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for building tires for vehicle wheels wherein the process includes the step of assembling components of elastomeric material on a forming support, in which at least one of the components of elastomeric material is manufactured by the steps of: i) dispensing a continuous elongated element of elastomeric material; ii) applying the continuous elongated element in the form of coils disposed in side by side relationship or at least partly superposed, wound up on the forming support, so as to form the at least one component of elastomeric material of the tire; iii) exerting a first pressure on a central region of a portion of the continuous elongated element applied onto the forming support; and iv) exerting a second pressure on side regions of the portion of the continuous elongated element applied onto the forming support.

Abstract: A tire pressure detecting apparatus has a micro-controller, a detecting module and a transceiver. The detecting module is electronically connected to the micro-controller and has a tire pressure detecting unit controlled by the micro-controller to detect a tire pressure inside a tire. The transceiver is electronically connected to the micro-controller, transmits a high frequency signal corresponding to detected characteristic tire parameters from the detecting module to a monitoring system inside a car and receives an external high frequency signal sent from external tire pressure detecting apparatus for the micro-controller, with the micro-controller temporarily delaying sending of the high frequency signal until a waiting time has expired to prevent signal collision between the high frequency signal and the external high frequency signal.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly incorporates a tire tread and a conventional vehicle wheel with an elastomer tire body element molded for engagement intermediate the tread and wheel. The tire body element includes multiple concentric layers with alternating spokes. A bonded multilayer cover may be employed which is received within a recess in an outer surface of the tire body element from the tire tread. A mounting plate is engaged to the cover and attached to the wheel.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to an improved design that provides better hydroplaning performance for a tire, and, more specifically, to a tire that has a variable pressure shear band located below its tread that provides increased structural stiffness to the tire, helping the tire to resist deformation when the tire encounters water, thereby decreasing the tendency of the tire to hydroplane. Advantageously, the variable pressure shear band can improve the hydroplaning performance and rolling resistance simultaneously without degrading wear performance.

Abstract: A vulcanizable rubber composition is presented that comprises an elastomer; a reinforcing filler selected from silica, carbon black, and mixtures thereof, a cure agent; and an amino alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane (AMS) comprising one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of an amino AMS, an amino/mercaptan co-AMS, an amino/blocked mercaptan co-AMS, mixtures thereof, and weak acid-neutralized solid and aqueous solutions thereof. Addition of such compounds to the rubber composition provides improved dynamic viscoelastic and mechanical properties of the vulcanized rubber compound and predict that tire components, especially tread stocks, will provide tires having improved snow traction, lower rolling resistance but equal wet traction, increased rebound, decreased hysteresis, and a general improvement in tire performance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cured rubber composition, its preparation and a tire with a component of such rubber composition. A reinforcing resin is used to promote stiffness for the cured rubber composition. The elastomer for the rubber composition is primarily comprised of at least one isoprene-containing elastomer.

Abstract: A system is provided for refitting a tire system on a four-wheel-drive compact tractor which typically comes equipped with a set of industrial tires mounted on standard industrial size wheels. The tractor has a frame size falling within an industry classification of extra large frame, large frame, mid-frame or small frame. A set of replacement agricultural tires or turf tires is provided. The industrial tires are replaced with the replacement agricultural tires or turf tires without changing at least the front wheels on the compact tractor. The replacement tires are selected so as to maintain a front tire overspeed within manufacturer specified ranges for the majority of tractors falling within the industry classification.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tyre sidewall, having a rubber composition based on at least one diene elastomer, a reinforcing filler comprising carbon black and a vulcanization system, characterized in that the carbon black has a CTAB specific surface area greater than or equal to 90 m2/g and that the proportion of this carbon black is between 30 and 40 phr.

Abstract: Heavy vehicle tire treads and/or undertread constituted at least in part from a rubber composition comprising between 80 and 100 phr of a natural rubber and between 0 and 20 phr of a synthetic polyisoprene rubber, a reinforcement filler comprising a) between 30 and 50 phr of a highly dispersible silica and b) a carbon black in an amount of between (0.75)C phr and (1.25)C phr as determined by the equation C=?0.8Si+44.3, wherein Si is the amount of the highly dispersible silica, a silane coupling agent and a sulfur curing system comprising between 1.5 and 3 phr of free sulfur and between (0.9)A phr and (L 1)A phr of a sulfenamide accelerator, wherein A is determined by a formula that is a function of the sulfur quantity and the silica weight fraction of the total reinforcement filler.

Abstract: The lining for a mould for vulcanizing a tire, comprises at least one network of cords and of sipe blades for molding a corresponding network of grooves and of cuts in the tread. The network of cords and of blades comprises at least one node between two cords. Each cord of the network overmoulds at least the edge of a blade.

Abstract: A design method for optimizing the shear layer of a shear band for use in a tire is provided. The shear layer has a honeycomb configuration and the design method optimizes the dimensions of the honeycomb.

Abstract: A process for sheathing at least one cord with a plastic or thermoplastic material using a cord sheathing device comprising a guiding device for the at least one cord arranged at an inlet of the cord sheathing device and leading to a central chamber connected by a duct to an extrusion device that can deliver the material under pressure in a viscous condition, an outlet die having a given calibration section S1 for at least one sheathed cord, and at least one mobile die having a calibration section S2 smaller than the given calibration section S1, wherein each mobile die is moved in the travel direction of the at least one cord by an actuator that passes through the central chamber and has a passage that allows the central chamber to communicate with the interior space of the mobile die.

Abstract: A tire pair 2 for a motorcycle includes a front tire 6 and a rear tire 8. A difference (F15?R15) between a camber thrust index F15 of the front tire 6 and a camber thrust index R15 of the rear tire 8 at a camber angle of 15° is equal to or greater than ?0.038 and is equal to or smaller than 0.038. A difference (F30?R30) between a camber thrust index F30 of the front tire 6 and a camber thrust index R30 of the rear tire 8 at a camber angle of 30° is equal to or greater than 0.038 and is equal to or smaller than 0.114. The camber thrust index F30 at the camber angle of 30° is equal to or greater than 0.570. A difference (F45?R45) between a camber thrust index F45 of the front tire 6 and a camber thrust index R45 of the rear tire 8 at a camber angle of 45° is equal to or greater than 0.076 and is equal to or smaller than 0.228.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an article of manufacture having a reflective design thereon, as well as a method for manufacture thereof. The article of manufacture, such as a tire cover, comprises a substrate having a display surface, at least one adhesive material disposed on the display surface, and a first pigmented material arranged in a first design pattern and adhered to the display surface by the adhesive material, where the first pigmented material includes a plurality of glass particles operative to reflect light received from a light source. A second pigmented material, such as a reflective or non-reflective material of a different color, may be adhered to the display surface in a second design pattern. The present invention also provides a transfer pattern, and method for forming the same, that is for use in transferring a reflective design to a display surface.

Abstract: A brake control device is provided to a wheel equipped with a tire, which has a function of applying a brake force to the wheel to put a brake thereon while adjusting the brake force. In the device, an acceleration sensor outputs acceleration data in a radial direction of the rotating tire, a predetermined detection range is set with respect to the acceleration data, a threshold value is set with respect to a corresponding part of the acceleration data falling within the detection range, the corresponding part of the acceleration data falling within the detection range is specified. Values of the specified acceleration data are compared with the threshold value, and a control signal for causing a braking device to adjust the brake force thereof is output in a case where some values of the acceleration data are larger than the threshold value.

Abstract: A rubber composition for a tire superior in grip performance and abrasion resistance and a tire prepared by using the same are provided. The rubber composition for a tire comprises 3 to 200 parts by weight of an aromatic vinyl polymer having an end modified with —OH, —SH, —COOH, —CSSH, —SO3H, —(COO)xM, —(SO3)xM or —CO—R (M is a cation, x is an integer of 1 to 3 depending on the valency of M and R is an alkyl group) and having a weight average molecular weight of 300 to 10,000, based on 100 parts by weight of a diene rubber, and the tire is prepared by using the rubber composition.

Abstract: An earth-friendly tire using raw materials derived from non-petroleum resources instead of all or part of raw materials derived from petroleum resources currently used for tires. The tire is prepared by using a natural rubber instead of a synthetic rubber; an inorganic filler and/or a biofiller instead of carbon black; vegetable oil instead of petroleum oil; and natural fiber instead of synthetic fiber so that the tire has a non-petroleum raw material in an amount of at least 75 % by weight based on the total weight of the tire.

Abstract: A flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) molded element affixed to a sidewall of a tire. The PVC molded element includes a top surface with an exposed area, and a bottom surface including an area in contact with a surface portion of the tire sidewall. The PVC molded element can include at least one design and/or information molded into the top surface exposed area. The design can include logos, pictures, and shapes. The logos can include team logos for any professional or collegiate sports team. The information can include colors and text. The design and/or information can include 3-dimensional features. The PVC molded element bottom surface includes an adhesive having characteristics that will not degrade when in contact with the tire surface portion. The bottom layer may further include a primer to promote adhesion of the PVC molded element to the tire and/or a woven, mesh, or knit fabric.

Abstract: There is provided a radial tire reducing rolling resistance by having a breaker cushion or a side wall packing comprising a rubber composition in which the loss tangent tan ? is reduced and the complex elastic modulus E* and the fracture feature are improved in good balance. A radial tire having a breaker cushion or a side wall packing comprising a rubber composition containing 20 to 55 parts by weight of carbon black having an iodine adsorption amount of 25 to 75 mg/g and a DBP oil absorption amount of 110 to 150 ml/100 g and 5 to 30 parts by weight of silica having a BET specific surface area of 115 to 200 m2/g based on 100 parts by weight of a rubber component.

Abstract: A noise damper disposed in a tire cavity formed by a pneumatic tire and wheel rim is disclosed. A noise damper designed to use with a wheel rim comprises an annular body disposed around a damper-mounting portion of the wheel rim, and the annular body is made of a spongy material having an inside diameter of from 0.9 to 1.10 times an outside diameter of the damper-mounting portion. A noise damper designed to use with a pneumatic tire comprises an annular body disposed in a tire hollow, and the annular body is made of a spongy material having an outside diameter of from 1.00 to 1.10 times the maximum inside diameter of the tire hollow.

Abstract: A plasticizing system used for plasticizing a diene rubber composition is based on an MES or TDAE oil and on C5 fraction/vinylaromatic copolymer resin, in particular a copolymer of a C5 fraction and of styrene resin. A rubber composition exhibiting an improved abrasion and cut resistance is based on at least a diene elastomer, a reinforcing filler, a crosslinking system, and a plasticizing system comprising between 5 and 35 phr of an MES or TDAE oil and between 5 and 35 phr of such a resin. A tire is formed of the above mentioned rubber composition. A process for preparing such a composition, use of said composition for the manufacture of a finished article or of a semi-finished product intended for a motor vehicle ground-contact system, in particular a tire and a tread of such a tire.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for synthesizing a dendrimer of a rubbery polymer comprising: (a) reacting a lithium terminated rubbery polymer with a halogenated tin containing compound to produce a polymer which is terminated with halogenated tin moieties, wherein the halogenated tin containing compound is of the structural formula: wherein X represents a halogen atom, wherein Z1 groups can be the same or different and are selected from alkyl groups containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, wherein x represents an integer from 1 to 20, wherein the molar ratio of the lithium terminated rubbery polymer to halogen atoms in the halogenated tin containing compound is within the range of 2:n to (n?1):n, wherein n represents the number of halogen atoms that are bonded directly to tin atoms in the halogenated tin containing compound; (b) reacting the polymer which is terminated with halogenated tin moieties with a molar excess of a tertiary alcohol to produce a polymer which is terminated with hydroxy tin moietie

Abstract: A tire for a cycle having a substantially toroidal shape, the tire including a tread adapted to be in contact with the ground, a base adapted to be fixed on the peripheral portion of a cycle rim, and two sides connecting the tread and the base, a lip having a height h greater than twice its thickness e and projecting from the upper portion of each of the two sides, in the vicinity of the tread. The height of the tip is greater than 15% of the width S of the tire in an inflated state. The lips can be constituted by the non-attached extension of the tread and, in particular, by a ply of material affixed to the top of the tire and whose edges are left free on a height greater than 15% of the width of the tire, or each lip can be arranged on an intermediate element adhered on the sides and/or the base of the tire, the intermediate element being capable of being a ring including an annular channel open towards its periphery and two lips projecting from each side of the channel.

Abstract: A steel filament adapted for the reinforcement of elastomer or for thermoplastic products has a carbon content ranging up to 0.20 per cent by weight. The steel filament is provided with a coating promoting the adhesion with elastomer or thermoplastic products. The steel filament is drawn until a final diameter of less than 0.60 mm and a final tensile strength of more than 1200 MPa. Intermediate heat treatments are avoided so that the carbon footprint of the steel filament is substantially reduced.

Abstract: A water-base adhesive mix for producing tyres, having, by weight, 5 to 80% water, 10 to 60% of a cross-linkable unsaturated-chain polymer base, 0.2 to 1% sulphur, 0.1 to 3% zinc oxide, 0.1 to 1% of accelerating agents, 0.1 to 15% of emulsifiers, and 0.01 to 30% of a carbon black having —ArAy type functional surface groups, where: Ar is an aromatic radical from the group including phenyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl, phenanthrenyl, biphenyl and pyridinyl; A is a COO? or SO3? functional group; y is a whole number from 1 to 5 when Ar is phenyl, from 1 to 7 when Ar is naphthyl, from 1 to 9 when Ar is anthracenyl, phenanthrenyl or byphenyl, and from 1 to 4 when Ar is pyridinyl.

Abstract: The present invention includes rubber compositions, rubber articles and tires formulated to prevent ozone attack. A particular embodiment of the present invention includes a tire comprising a rubber structure, the rubber structure comprising an essentially unsaturated rubber elastomer, between 0.1 and 0.45 phr (parts by weight per hundred parts by weight of the rubber elastomer) of a particular compound 2,4,6-Tris-(N-1,4-dimethylpentyl-p-phenylenediamino)-1,3,5-triazine and between 0.5 and 2 phr of a phenolic resin.

Abstract: A tyre (10) adapted to be fitted onto a conventional wheel rim (13) for pneumatic tyres, the rim (13) has a tyre support surface (15), bead seats (17), each bead seat (17) comprises an inner seat portion (19) and an outer seat portion (21) terminating in an arcuate portion (22) defining the outer periphery of the rim (13), the tyre (10) comprises a radially inner portion (31) engageable with the rim (13), the radially inner portion comprising a band (41), the band comprises a metal band adapted to the supportingly received on, and releasably fixed with respect to the outer periphery of the rim (13) by welding at circumferentially spaced intervals, the tyre (10) further comprises a cushioning structure (33), the cushioning structure (33) comprises a resiliently deformable body of appropriate material such as rubber, bonded onto the band (41), the band (41) provides a rigid base for supporting the resiliently deformable body (43).

Abstract: This application is directed to a method of treating tires so that the tires will have better performance, especially when used for racing. The method disclosed herein is especially suited for use in go kart racing, although the method can be used for other applications in which the adhesion and hardness of tires, after their manufacture is to be altered. The method also includes cleaning steps and formulations. This method involves the selective use of various esters to alter tire characteristics as desired.

Abstract: A method of applying a water-base adhesive mix for producing tyres, the method including a step of applying a layer of adhesive mix to a work surface; and a step of drying the layer, and which includes microwave heating.

Abstract: A rubber-reinforced structure comprises a composite member comprising a resin member and a rubber member being directly bonded to the resin member without any adhesive, wherein the resin member and the rubber member form a tire. The composite member can be obtained by bringing a resin member into contact with an unvulcanized rubber composition in the following combination, and vulcanizing the unvulcanized rubber: (i) a combination of a rubber composition containing a radical-generating agent, and a resin composition containing a thermoplastic resin having at least two active atoms (a hydrogen atom or a sulfur atom) on the average per molecule, each atom having an orbital interaction energy coefficient S of not less than 0.

Abstract: An assembly of a tyre and a member fitted to the tyre respectively include complementary connecting portions. The connecting portion of the member is more flexible than that of the connecting portion of the tyre.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for synthesizing a dendrimer of a rubbery polymer comprising: (a) reacting a lithium terminated rubbery polymer with a halogenated silicon containing compound to produce a polymer which is terminated with halogenated silicon moieties, wherein the halogenated silicon contain compound has at least four halogen atoms which are bonded directly to silicon atoms, wherein the ratio of the lithium terminated rubbery polymer to halogen atoms in the halogenated silicon containing compound is within the range of 2:n to (n-1):n, wherein n represents the number of halogen atoms that are bonded directly to silicon atoms in the halogenated silicon containing compound, wherein the halogenated silicon containing compound contains at least three halogen atoms which are bonded directly to a silicon atom; (b) reacting the polymer which is terminated with halogenated silicon moieties with a molar excess of a tertiary alcohol to produce a polymer which is terminated with hydroxy silyl moieties; a

Abstract: A transducer system includes a plurality of transducer elements formed on a flexible substrate with localized circuit elements and interconnects associated with each transducer element.

Abstract: A tire for an axle of a private passenger vehicle having two axles. The axle comprises a suspension device for positively controlling the camber of the wheels relative to the ground in the case of transverse acceleration. The tire develops a contact patch on the ground, said contact patch having a length at the left shoulder (Leg), a length at the right shoulder (Led) and a central length (Lc), a contact patch ratio (Rep) being defined by the quotient of the average of the shoulder lengths divided by the central length. The tire contact patch ratio is greater than 0.65.

Abstract: A system and method for the application of custom or personalized graphics to a tire sidewall. A flexible frame having graphics mounted thereto is temporarily attached adjacent the wheel rim of a mounted tire, thereby guiding the positioning of the graphics. The graphics are then permanently attached to the tire sidewall and the flexible frame is severed from the graphics.

Abstract: A composition having a reduced hysteresis which is usable in a crown reinforcement for a heavy-vehicle tire, includes an elastomeric matrix comprising natural rubber or a synthetic polyisoprene in a majority proportion, and a reinforcing filler comprising a carbon black, where the carbon black fulfills the following conditions: (i) 45?CTAB specific surface area in m2/g?70, (ii) 45?BET specific surface area in m2/g?70, (iii) 45?iodine adsorption index IA in mg/g?70, (iv) ratio (BET surface area/index IA)?1.07, (v) 115?DBP structure value in ml/100 g?170, (vi) 85 nm?Stokes diameter dst in nm?145, where dst is the diameter of aggregates corresponding to the maximum frequency of the Stokes diameters in a distribution of aggregates, and (vii) D50/dst?0.0090·CTAB+0.

Abstract: Alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane compounds are described. The alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane compounds contain an alkoxysilane group that participates in an alkoxysilane-silica reaction as a silica dispersing agent in rubber, with the release of zero to about 0.1% by weight of the rubber of volatile organic compounds (VOC), especially alcohol, during compounding and further processing. Further described are methods for making alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes, methods for making vulcanizable rubber compounds containing alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes, vulcanizable rubber compounds containing alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes, and pneumatic tires comprising a component that contains alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes.

Abstract: Provided are the following: which enhances ventilation efficiency during vulcanization of the tire and also enhances the durability of the metal mold; a plug to be used in a vent hole of the metal mold for tire formation; and a tire manufactured by using the metal mold for tire formation. The metal mold for tire formation of the present invention is one in which vent holes (2) pass through toward an outer portion (1b) of the metal mold from an inner surface (1a) of a metal mold (1), and in which a plug body (3) is detachably fitted into each of the vent holes (2). The plug body (3) is configured by a cylinder (4) and a valve (5). The cylinder (4) includes a large-diameter head portion 4a at an upper portion the cylinder (4), a tubular cylindrical portion 4c with a ventilation hole (4b) formed in the center of the cylinder (4). The valve (5) is inserted into the ventilation hole 4b of the cylinder (4) with an interstice (7) having a predetermined size t interposed therebetween.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for producing a modified natural rubber masterbatch, which comprises the step of mixing a modified natural rubber latex, which is formed by adding a polar group-containing monomer to a natural rubber latex to graft-polymerize the polar group-containing monomer onto a natural rubber molecule in the natural rubber latex, with a slurry solution formed by previously dispersing a filler into water, and a modified natural rubber masterbatch produced by the method and capable of highly improving a low loss factor, a wear resistance and fracture characteristics of a rubber composition.

Abstract: Branched block polymers, and the rubber compositions containing them, which can be used, in particular, for manufacturing tires or semi-finished products for tires. Processes for preparing said polymers and compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire and noise damper assembly comprises a pneumatic tire, a noise damper being attached to an inner surface of the tire and extending in the circumferential direction of the tire, and a protective cover being detachably attached to the tire and protecting the noise damper from ultraviolet rays and water.

Abstract: A reflectant coating composition includes a binding agent and a plurality of transparent or translucent beads immersed within the binding agent.

Abstract: A cushion gum for bonding a tire tread to a tire carcass, the cushion gum comprising an essentially unsaturated diene elastomer, between (0.5) and (25) phr of a metal salt of a carboxylic acid and a peroxide curing system. The essentially unsaturated diene elastomer may be, in some embodiments, a highly unsaturated diene elastomer such as, for example, natural rubber.

Abstract: A tire is provided with at least two information-bearing indicia including a first information-bearing indicium and a second information-bearing indicium. The first information-bearing indicium includes rim size information and is a larger size having a greater radial height relative to the second information-bearing indicium. The second information-bearing indicium includes information relating to at least one of an aspect ratio, section width, tire type, speed symbol, load index, mud capability, and snow capability. The first information-bearing indicium covers at least 40% of the radial height of the sidewall.