Abstract: A rubber composition which can improve performance on icy and snowy road sufficiently and a tire using the same. The rubber composition comprises 2 to 30 parts by weight of staple fibers having an average fiber diameter of 10 to 100 ?m and an average fiber length of 0.01 to 4 mm, and 1 to 10 parts by weight of particles having a Moh's hardness of at least 5 and an average particle size of at most 500 ?m based on 100 parts by weight of a diene rubber. The tire of the present invention is prepared by using the rubber composition for tread. Examples of the particle are pumice, quarts, emery and the like.

Abstract: A curved surfaces for adhering to contact surfaces is provided. The structure includes a curved surface with a plurality of nano-fibers disposed thereon. When the curved surface is in a first position, at least one of the plurality of nano-fibers contacts the contact surface and provides an adhesive force at the contact surface. When the curved surface rotates to a second position from the first position, the at least one of the plurality of nano-fibers is leveraged way from the contact surface.

Abstract: A tread portion has blocks that are provided with a plurality of sipes having a zigzag part. A tread rubber is formed of short fiber mixed rubber comprising 1.5 to 25 parts by weight of short fibers in 100 parts by weight of rubber component. The sipes comprise a three dimensional sipe in which each wall surface forms bumps and dips whereby the short fibers are three dimensionally arranged. The three dimensional sipe comprises the zigzag part extending from the tread face to a certain depth, while (1) gradually moving towards a direction and then the opposite direction thereto or (2) changing the length of the segments of the zigzag.

Abstract: A tread rubber G has a short-fiber-mixed rubber portion 10 forming a grounding surface. In a region Y1 between an outer grounding end Eo and a tire equator C located outside of a vehicle when a tire is mounted to the vehicle, the short fibers f are inclined and oriented at an angle ? outward of the vehicle radially outward of the tire, and an angle ?1 of the short fibers f in the outer grounding end Eo is greater than an angle ?2 of the short fibers f in the tire equator C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a studless tire excellent in performance on ice and snow in which digging friction is improved without losing adhesion friction. The studless tire has a tread comprising specific short fiber or plate-like material dispersed in diene rubber so as to be oriented in the tread thickness direction, wherein when measured at 25° C. the tread has a complex elastic modulus E1 in the tread thickness direction, and the sheet has a complex elastic modulus E? in the extrusion direction and a complex elastic modulus E? in a 90° direction from the extrusion direction, when the rubber composition is made into 2 mm sheets with a roller and these moduli fulfill the following equation, 60?(E1?E?)/(E??E?)×100?100 and the tread has a specific tread rubber hardness.

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.

Abstract: A cord-embedded rubber tape, a tire component made by winding such a tape, and a pneumatic tire comprising such a tire component are disclosed, wherein the tape is made of unvulcanized rubber and at least one cord is embedded therein along the length of the tape. The unvulcanized rubber may include short fibers oriented in the longitudinal direction of the tape.

Abstract: A process for producing cured rubber is disclosed wherein the process comprises: A) mixing rubber, carbon black, and azodicarbonamide without other curative ingredients; B) adding the remaining curative ingredients in one or more subsequent mixing steps; and then C) curing the rubber; whereby a cured rubber having improved hysteresis is obtained. The cured rubber thus obtained is particularly useful in tires and tire treads.

Abstract: There is provided a studless tire that is excellent especially in performance on a snow or ice road. A studless tire, wherein non-metal staple fibers having an average fiber diameter of 1 to 100 ?m and an average length of 0.1 to 5 mm are dispersed in a diene rubber in such a way that the non-metal staple fibers are oriented in a thickness direction of a tread, a complex elastic modulus E1 in the thickness direction of the tread and an elastic module E2 in a circumferential direction of the tire measured at 25° C. satisfy the equation 1.1?E1/E2?4, and hardness of the tread rubber measured at ?10° C. is 45 to 75 degrees.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously processing fiber into an elastomeric component uses an expanding die (11, 11a) for orienting fibers in other than the processing direction of the extrusion. In one embodiment, an injection mold (50) is used with the expanding die (11), and in another embodiment, an extruder (30) is used with expanding die (11a). Processing parameters may be alteredto control the direction of orientation of fibers (20) in the elastomer component. Orientation of fibers (20) in an extrudate (17) is dependent on the processing speed viscosity of the elastomer, pressure of extrusion, the length l1 and l2 and height h1 and h2 of gate (12) and expansion cavity (14), respectively, of the expansion die (11, 11a).

Abstract: A pneumatic tire for vehicle wheels includes a radial carcass, a tread band, sidewalls and beads, and a belt structure. The tread band is provided with grooves on its surface for coming into contact with the ground and situated on a radial outer surface of the carcass. The sidewalls and beads anchor the tire on a wheel rim. The belt structure is disposed between the tread band and the carcass. Additionally, a fiber-reinforced elastomeric intermediate layer is placed between the belt structure and the tread band. Methods for manufacturing the pneumatic tire are also disclosed.

Abstract: A high performance tire includes a carcass provided with at least one carcass ply, a belt including two or more layers of reinforcing cords parallel to each other in a layer and crossed with respect to those of an adjacent layer, applied circumferentially on the carcass, a radially-external layer of circumferentially-oriented reinforcing cords applied on the belt, and a tread band comprising an underlayer and an external layer. The underlayer may have a hardness which is substantially constant over a temperature range between 23° C. and 100° C. The underlayer may also have an elastic modulus which is substantially constant over a temperature range between 70° C. and 100° C. Additionally, the underlayer may be made from an elastomer compound comprising reinforcing fibers and hardening resins. Further, the underlayer may have a hardness and an elastic modulus which remain substantially constant between 70° C. and 100° C. A method for making the tire is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a pneumatic tire of the present invention, a tread reinforcing rubber layer composed of a rubber having larger tensile modulus of elasticity than that of a rubber composing the tread rubber layer and is less stretchable is provided in a thickness direction central area of a tread rubber layer. Because the tread reinforcing rubber layer diminishes the amount of lateral expansion and the amount of vertical compressive deformation when the tread rubber layer contacts the ground, generation of heat in the tread rubber layer can be suppressed. Therefore, in the present invention, the unique tread structure reliably suppresses heat-generation and the rubber of the tread rubber layer exhibits excellent tire wear resistance. As a result, suppression of heat-generation and high tire resistance can readily be achieved simultaneously.

Abstract: In a pneumatic tire including sipes extending in zigzag provided on tread surfaces, both wall surfaces of each sipe, which face to each other, are inclined with respect to a diameter direction of the tire, constituted of triangular wall surfaces, each having two sides expanding toward a sipe bottom with a bending point of a zigzag of the sipe as an apex and of inverse triangular wall surfaces, each having two sides narrowed toward the sipe bottom with one side of the zigzag of the sipe as a base, and a pair of the triangular wall surfaces adjacent to each other and a pair of the inverse triangular wall surfaces adjacent to each other are alternately arranged. Thus, provided is a pneumatic tire capable of improving ice performance without lowering driving stability on a dry road surface, and of suppressing occurrence of uneven wear.

Abstract: A tread rubber G has a short-fiber-mixed rubber portion 10 forming a grounding surface. In a region Y1 between an outer grounding end Eo and a tire equator C located outside of a vehicle when a tire is mounted to the vehicle, the short fibers f are inclined and oriented at an angle &agr; outward of the vehicle radially outward of the tire, and an angle &agr;1 of the short fibers f in the outer grounding end Eo is greater than an angle &agr;2 of the short fibers f in the tire equator C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a studless tire which has superior performance on ice and snow in which adhesion friction, digging friction and scratching friction of the tire to the road and abrasion resistance are improved and can maintain this performance. The studless tire has a tread comprising diene rubber and non-metal short fiber which is surface-treated in advance and dispersed in said diene rubber so as to be oriented in the tread thickness direction, wherein when measured at 25° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a studless tire excellent in performance on ice and snow in which digging friction is improved without losing adhesion friction. The studless tire has a tread comprising specific short fiber or plate-like material dispersed in diene rubber so as to be oriented in the tread thickness direction, wherein when measured at 25° C.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises: a tread rubber having a blended rubber portion constituted by a short fiber blended rubber obtained by adding a nonmetal short fiber to a rubber base material forming a tread surface and having a rubber hardness Hs1 (a durometer A hardness) at 25 deg. C. of 58 to 72 degrees; the short fiber being harder than an ice and having an average fiber diameter of 5 to 50 micrometers, an average length of 0.05 to 5.0 mm and a blended amount with respect to a rubber base material 100 weight portion of 2 to 20 weight portion; and the blended rubber portion being provided with a base portion obtained by directing said short fiber in a tread thickness direction, and a surface portion arranged in a radially outer side of the base portion so as to form the tread surface and obtained by directing said short fiber in a direction parallel to said tread surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire that achieves, without degrading the steering stability, the reduction in road noise due to tire vibration when a vehicle drives on a rough road surface. The present pneumatic tire is characterized in that a tread portion is formed by at least two layers consisting of cap rubber on a road-contact surface side and base rubber on a side adjacent to a belt layer, that hollow particles having a mean particle diameter of at most 500 &mgr;m are mixed in a volume ratio of 2% to 40% into the base rubber, and that a thickness of the base rubber is made to be at least 1.0 mm.

Abstract: In a tire for a vehicle, in particular multitrack motor vehicles, with a tire contact region, which comes into contact with a road surface during movement of the vehicle and serves for transferring shearing forces effectively parallel to the road surface between the tire and the road surface, the contact region is so constructed that its rigidity in the rolling direction is less than its rigidity transversely to the rolling direction of the tire in order to improve the lateral force transfer capability of the tire.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprising a rubber member containing a short fiber (A′) formed by the fibrillation of a short fiber (A) whose cross section takes a sea-island structure essentially composed of at least two polymers.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprising a rubber member containing a short fiber (A′) formed by the fibrillation of a short fiber (A) whose cross section takes a sea-island structure essentially composed of at least two polymers.

Abstract: A studless tire comprises a tread defining a ground-contacting region, the tread comprising at least a diene rubber and non-metallic short fibers oriented in the tire radial direction. The tire profile satisfies the following equation 1>TW/S>0.92−0.17×A wherein TW is the ground-contacting width of the tire; S is the section width of the tire; and A is the tire aspect ratio. In the ground-contacting region, at least one circumferential rib of which total axial width is 15 to 30% of the ground-contacting width TW may be disposed. The ground-contacting face of the tread may be provided on at least 80% of its area with unevenness molded by a tire vulcanizing mold so as to have a ten-point mean roughness of from 30 to 500 micrometers.

Abstract: A method and equipment for mixing hard granules into tire tread bodies and into sundry rubber strips and tread stock. Rubber stock is extruded into tread bands of a suitable shape which are rolled under control, in a suitable thickness and number of layers, in a circular process over a pre-treated tire, or other object. The tire is subsequently patterned and vulcanized. The hard granules are distributed according to a predetermined configuration onto at least part of the surface of the extruded rubber tread band before the next layer is rolled in a circular process onto the pre-treated tire, using dedicated equipment so that the granules will be mixed into the patterned wearing surface of the tire after profiling and vulcanization.

Abstract: This invention relates to a pneumatic tire comprising a tread at least a surface portion of which is made of a foamed rubber composition, the foamed rubber composition including closed cells formed by compounding a foaming agent and a foaming assistant which contains sodium benzenesulfinate or a combination of sodium benzenesulfinate and urea.

Abstract: A tread pattern for a tire, the tread pattern being formed by elements in relief defined by grooves, some of these elements in relief being provided with at least one blind incision, that is to say, one which does not open into the grooves. These elements in relief include at least one cutout which opens into at least one groove defining these elements, and such that, on the running surface, each blind incision crosses at least one open-ended cutout of the same element, whatever the level of wear of the tire. Each of these open-ended incisions has a depth substantially equal to the depth of the blind incisions which it crosses and is filled with a filler material, the filler material having the characteristic of being gradually eliminated under the action of frictional contact with the ground during travel to form a channel of low depth which enables the air trapped in the blind incisions to escape.

Abstract: A method and a device for reducing the internal noise of a vehicle produced during the rolling of the tire are described The device comprises a plurality of elements made from open-cell expanded materials, for example expanded polyethylene, or from fibers of the mineral or textile type. These elements are introduced into the tire during its mounting on the corresponding rim and are placed in the absence of restraints in the annular cavity delimited between the tire and the rim. As a result of the rolling of the wheel, the various elements, under the action of the centrifugal force, are moved and pushed in a random way towards the inner surface of the tire, producing a ragged surface whose presence, in combination with the open cells of said elements, modifies and damps the acoustic waves generated inside the tire during the rolling of the tire.

Abstract: A vulcanized rubber comprising a rubber component containing natural rubber, in an amount of 20 to 70 parts by weight, and polybutadiene, in an amount of 30 to 80 parts by weight; a rubber matrix containing 5 to 55 parts by weight of carbon black and 5 to 55 parts by weight of silica per 100 parts per weight of the rubber component; a resin, and resin coated elongated cells having a length (L) to diameter (D) ratio (L/D) of at least 3. The vulcanized rubber can be used in the tread of tires to improve on-ice performance, wet properties and wear resistance in a well balanced manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polymeric product (plastic or elastomeric) having domains of injected ingredients therein. A tire having precisely placed and oriented injected ingredients is described. The nature of the injected components, and their density, as well as their placement and orientation, are determined based on tire property enhancements desired. Fibers may be injected into the tread shoulder area of an uncured tire to provide abrasion resistance and traction in the cured tire. High tack rubbers or adhesives may be injected into the central tread region of a cured tire to enhance traction and grip.

Abstract: In a pneumatic tire of the present invention, a tread reinforcing rubber layer composed of a rubber having larger tensile modulus of elasticity than that of a rubber composing the tread rubber layer and is less stretchable is provided in a thickness direction central area of a tread rubber layer. Because the tread reinforcing rubber layer diminishes the amount of lateral expansion and the amount of vertical compressive deformation when the tread rubber layer contacts the ground, generation of heat in the tread rubber layer can be suppressed. Therefore, in the present invention, the unique tread structure reliably suppresses heat-generation and the rubber of the tread rubber layer exhibits excellent tire wear resistance. As a result, suppression of heat-generation and high tire resistance can readily be achieved simultaneously.

Abstract: There is provided a rubber composition for tire tread, which can provide a tire having low decrease in abrasion resistance and balanced performance of traction property, braking property and cornering property. The rubber composition for tire tread is obtained by mixing 100 parts by weight of at least one rubber component selected from the group consisting of a natural rubber, an isoprene rubber and a butadiene rubber, 5 to 45 parts by weight of a silica, 0.5 to 4.0 parts by weight of a silane coupling agent and 3 to 8 parts by weight of a powdered article containing cellulose material.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for devulcanizing the surface of reclaimed rubber crumb into surface devulcanized reclaimed rubber crumb that is suitable for being recompounded and recurred into high performance rubber products, said process comprising the steps of (1) heating the reclaimed rubber crumb to a temperature which is within the range of about 150° C. to about 300° C. under a pressure of at least about 3.4×106 Pascals in the presence of 2-butanol to devulcanize the surface of the rubber crumb thereby producing a slurry of the surface devulcanized reclaimed rubber crumb in the 2-butanol, wherein the reclaimed rubber crumb has a particle size which is within the range of about 325 mesh to about 20 mesh, and (2) separating the surface devulcanized reclaimed rubber crumb from the 2-butanol.

Abstract: A studless tire contains tread portion made of vulcanized rubber, compounded from 100 parts by weight of rubber and 2 to 30 parts by weight of short fibers, and the tread portion has a ground connecting region with sipes, formed by pressing thin plates onto the tread rubber during vulcanizing, whereby the thin plates orient the short fibers in a radial direction. Preferably, the short fibers have a diameter of not more than 30 &mgr;m and a length of from 0.3 to 20 nm, and the thickness of the thin plates or the width of the sipes ranges from 0.2 to 0.5 mm with spacings being sipes less than 10 mm. The short fibers are circumferentially oriented before pressing the thin plates, and the total length in mm of axial component of all sipes ranges from 0.05 to 0.15 times the area in mm2 of ground contacting region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire that achieves, without degrading the steering stability, the reduction in road noise due to tire vibration when a vehicle drives on a rough road surface. The present pneumatic tire is characterized in that a tread portion is formed by at least two layers consisting of cap rubber on a road-contact surface side and base rubber on a side adjacent to a belt layer, that hollow particles having a mean particle diameter of at most 500 &mgr;m are mixed in a volume ratio of 2% to 40% into the base rubber, and that a thickness of the base rubber is made to be at least 1.0 mm.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire, a wheel rim, and an assembly of a pneumatic tire and a wheel rim, which are provided with lawn-like materials for damping air resonance of the tire cavity are disclosed. An assembly of a pneumatic tire and a wheel rim where a foaming agent is injected into the tire cavity is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire comprises a tread portion having a two-layer structure of a cap rubber layer disposed outward in the radial direction and a base rubber layer disposed inward in the radial direction, in which an outer surface of said base rubber layer in the radial direction being existent in a position corresponding to not less than 20% of a depth of a main groove formed in the tread portion outward from a bottom of the main groove in the radial direction, and the base rubber layer being compounded with a recrosslinking inhibition assistant and/or an inorganic compound powder.

Abstract: The invention relates to the preparation of a rubber composition containing silica-based filler reinforcement through the utilization of a organosilane disulfide compound mixed with a rubber composition in at least one preparatory, non-productive, mixing stage followed by utilization of an organosilane polysulfide compound mixed with the rubber composition in a subsequent, productive, mixing stage. The invention further relates to the resulting rubber composition and use thereof in tires.

Abstract: A tire of which tread rubber comprises a conducive rubber at least partially, the conducive rubber extending from the radially inner surface of the tread rubber to the ground contacting face, and the conducive rubber compounded from 100 parts by weight of diene rubber and 2 to 30 parts by weight of conductive short fibers, the conductive short fibers formed by coating reinforcing short fibers with a conductive substance, and the conductive rubber has a volume resistance of less than 1×108 ohm cm.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprising a tread having block-shaped land portions with lateral sipes. The sipes have a first linear portion, a second linear portion and slanted portion. The block-shaped land portions are formed of a rubber composition that comprises silica, carbon black, a rubber component having butadiene rubber and a coupling agent. The rubber composition has hardness of 60 or less measured in accordance with JIS K6253-1993.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rubber tire composed of carbon black reinforced rubber carcass with an outer, circumferential rubber tread construction of a rubber composition having a relatively high electrical resistivity. The tire tread construction has electrically conductive filament stapled through the tread construction and extending between the inner surface of the tread to its outer surface. An electrically conductive path is thereby created through the tread.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprising a rubber member containing a short fiber (A′) formed by the fibrillation of a short fiber (A) whose cross section takes a sea-island structure essentially composed of at least two polymers.