Abstract: A rubber composition for a tire tread contains a diene rubber, silica, and a cured product; a content of the silica being from 20 to 100 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the diene rubber, a content of the cured product being from 0.3 to 30 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the diene rubber; the diene rubber containing a natural rubber and a modified butadiene rubber having a polyorganosiloxane group at a terminal, a content of the natural rubber in the diene rubber being from 30 to 90 mass %, a content of the modified butadiene rubber in the diene rubber being from 10 to 70 mass %; the cured product being a cured product obtained by curing a crosslinkable oligomer or polymer that is incompatible with the diene rubber; and a JIS A hardness of the cured product being from 3 to 45.

Abstract: Provided by the present invention are a rubber composition for studless winter tires capable of improving performance on snow and ice while maintaining good abrasion resistance, and a studless winter tire including the rubber composition. The present invention relates to a rubber composition for studless winter tires containing a rubber component and bionanofibers, the bionanofibers having an average fiber diameter of 0.1 ?m or less, the rubber component having a combined amount of natural rubber and polybutadiene rubber of 30% to 100% by mass based on 100% by mass of the rubber component, the rubber composition containing the bionanofibers in an amount of 1 to 10 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the rubber component.

Abstract: A rubber composition for a tire tread comprising 100 parts by mass of a diene rubber, 10 to 150 parts by mass of a reinforcing filler, and 0.1 to 30 parts by mass of an acid-treated silk powder having a 90% volume particle diameter (D90) of 500 ?m or less. A pneumatic tire having a tread comprising the rubber composition.

Abstract: A traction-on-demand landing gear tire control system and methods are presented. An outer tire of an aircraft wheel is depressurized to a depressurized state in response to a non-optimal aircraft landing condition. An inner tire of the aircraft wheel contacts the outer tire in response to the depressurized state, and a plurality of traction studs are deployed to protrude from the outer tire in response to the inner tire contacting the outer tire.

Abstract: A bi-directional grip structure and hand tool incorporating the same. The structure includes a base and first and second sets of protrusions. The first and second sets of protrusions include inclined surfaces positioned in opposing directions.

Abstract: A tire includes a circumferential tread constructed of a base material. The circumferential tread has a plurality of bars, each of the plurality of bars having a top surface and a plurality of side surfaces. The circumferential tread further has a plurality of valleys disposed between the plurality of bars. A laminate covers at least some of the plurality of valleys. The laminate has a greater elongation at break than the base material.

Abstract: A tire includes a circumferential tread constructed of a base material. The circumferential tread has a plurality of tread elements, with each of the plurality of tread elements having a top surface and a plurality of side surfaces. The circumferential tread further has a plurality of grooves disposed between the plurality of tread elements. A laminate covers at least some of the plurality of tread elements and at least some of the plurality of grooves. The laminate has greater snow traction than the base material.

Abstract: A tire for vehicles which does not require pressurization by means of a pressurized fluid has a tread, two sidewalls, and two beads which are attached to a wheel rim made of elastomer material, and is provided with at least one tubular reinforcement body which is associated with the tread; each of the sidewalls having a respective homogeneous resilient annular membrane, a straight generatrix of which forms an angle (A) other than 90° with the axis of the tire; the membranes being stretched radially between the tread and the beads such as to be pre-tensioned in the absence of external loads acting on the tire.

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 three piece tire assembly 10 for mounting on dual rims 110 is disclosed. The assembly has a pair of tires 14 and a separate removable annular tread belt 12 for mounting over both tires 14 when they are laterally adjacent and coaxially aligned by mounting on a dual rim.

Abstract: A rubber composition for a tire tread, or a pneumatic tire using the same in a tire tread portion, wherein the tread portion contains a diene rubber; and carbon black and/or silica; and a gas-encapsulated thermoplastic resin and, further, a short fiber, a hard particle and/or a liquid polymer, and wherein the gas-encapsulated thermoplastic resin particle is obtained by expanding, upon heating. at a temperature of an expansion starting temperature thereof or more, prior to vulcanization of a rubber, a thermally expansible thermoplastic resin particle, which comprises a thermoplastic resin having an expansion starting temperature of from 70° C. to less than 120° C. and having a heat resistance to withstand vulcanization of rubber, followed by vulcanization to uniformly disperse the gas-encapsulated thermoplastic resin in the rubber, or a short fiber, a hard particle and/or a liquid polymer is further compounded to give a high frictional force on ice.

Abstract: A three piece tire assembly 10 for mounting on dual rims 110 is disclosed. The assembly has a pair of tires 14 and a separate removable annular tread belt 12 for mounting over both tires 14 when they are laterally adjacent and coaxially aligned by mounting on a dual rim.

Abstract: A two-piece tire assembly 10 has a removable tread belt 12 for installing about the circumference of a tire carcass 14. The tread belt 12 has a radially outer ground contracting tread 15 and a radially inner belt reinforcing structure 100 having ply layers forming tread belts 84, 86, 88, 92. Radially inward of the belt reinforcing structure 100 is a radially inner portion 70, the radially inner portion 70 has a radially inner surface 72 in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the carcass 14. In one embodiment of the invention the radially inner surface 72 of the tread belt 12 and outer circumferential surface 71 of the carcass 14 have circumferentially extending grooves 74, 78 and ribs 72, 76 that complimentarily interlock. Traversing the ribs 72, 76 of the carcass or the tread belt are fluid or gas venting subsurface passages 80, 82 that are open to one or more groove 74, 78. The venting subsurface passages 80, 82 provide a convective cooling system for the two-piece tire assembly 10.

Abstract: An improved track belt tire is constructed of a removable tread belt assembly mounted to a tire carcass with an embedded carcass ply having ply turnup ends about the bead wires. First, second, third, and fourth apex elements are disposed about each of the bead wires. The first of the apex elements is located adjacent and radially outward from each of the bead wires. The second of the apex elements is located between the overlying sides of the turnup ply. The third of the apex elements is disposed against the axially inwardly facing sides of the turnup ends of the carcass ply and the fourth of the apex elements is located against outwardly facing sides of the ply turnup ends of the carcass ply to encase the end portions of the ply turnup ends between the second and fourth apex elements.

Abstract: An improved track belt tire is constructed of a removable tread belt assembly mounted to the outer circumferential surface of a multi-layered tire carcass with an embedded carcass ply having ply turnup ends looped around and extending axially inwards from the bead wires. The outermost ends of the first and second turnup ends being located radially outward at a distance equal to between about 2 and 3 times the diameters of the bead wires so that the ends of the turnup ends are supported by the flange ends of the tire rim when a tire carcass mounted to the tire rim is deflected. The turnup ends are also supported by first, second, third, and fourth apex elements disposed about each of the bead wires. The ply line of the first carcass ply layer can also follow the natural ply line.

Abstract: 1. A rubber composition for a tire tread containing: (i) 100 parts by weight of a diene rubber, and (ii) 1 to 20 parts by weight of an elastic gas-encapsulated thermoplastic resin hollow particle having a particle size of 5-300 .mu.m, which is obtained by expanding, upon heating during vulcanization, a thermally expansible thermoplastic resin containing an encapsulated liquid or solid substance capable of generating a gas by vaporization, decomposition or chemical reaction upon heating to form the hollow-type expanded particle and, optionally containing (iii) 1 to 20 parts by weight of a short fiber or (iv) 1 to 20 parts by weight of a hard particle.

Abstract: A nonskid device for a tire, shoe sole or the like. The device comprises a stud that is embedded in a hole formed inwardly from the tread of the tire or shoe sole. The stud is a generally spherical or cylindrical body having an annular stud tip formed integrally therewith at one end thereof and is retained in the hole, either directly or via a cup, by an annular projection protruding inward from the wall of the hole. In normal slip-free travel, the stud tip does not project above the tread, and only the apex of the spherical or cylindrical body thereof is exposed at the plane of the tread. When the tread slips relative to the road surface, a force acts on the apex to cause the stud to rotate by a small angle. This causes the stud tip to rise beyond the plane of the tread and bite into the road surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an assembly-type tire protector comprising a plurality of annular members disposed substantially parallel to the tire surface and a plurality of link members disposed substantially perpendicular to the tire surface, said annular members being connected together by said link members to form a net, each of said link members comprising a body which is provided at both of its ends with opposing hook-like arm means for interconnecting said annular members, said opposing hook-like arm means defining an opening, a pin disposed upright in said body, said pin having a head portion and a base portion, said head portion substantially occupying said opening, said body of the link member containing a blind hole for receiving said base portion of the pin, and means disposed in said hole for expanding said base portion of the pin within said hole for locking said pin in position in said hole.

Abstract: A zero pressure device is composed of either a microcellular or homogeneous polyurethane made by reacting an organic polyisocyanate with at least three polyols, a monomeric polyol of 2 to 3 hydroxyls having a molecular weight less than 250, a polyether triol having a molecular weight of 4600 to 6000 and a polyether glycol having a molecular weight of 3500 to 4200. When the zero pressured device is a run-flat ring for a tire wheel assembly, it has an average density of 60 to 65 pounds per cubic foot and 30 to 42 pounds per cubic foot when it is a tire.

Abstract: A studded tire having excellent performance on ice and snow is formed by striking a plurality of pin type spikes into the tire at a region of 40 to 80% of the distance from circumferential center of tread to shoulder.

Abstract: Anti-skid stud for road vehicle tires composed of a tungsten carbide rod enclosed in a sleeve.This sleeve, made of a plastic material, has a cylindrical or frustoconical stem with at least one flange flush with the tread, the diameter of the flange being greater than the largest diameter of the rest of the sleeve.This arrangement provides a high degree of stability of the projection of the carbide rod beyond the tire tread throughout the period of use.