Abstract: A method of constructing a self-inflating tire assembly includes molding in an air tube-receiving groove within a green tire carcass wall, the groove having an access opening, primary internal groove chamber and a secondary expansion groove chamber adjacent to and communicating with the internal groove chamber. A groove partial passageway is molded with the groove at a prescribed groove outlet location and extends from the groove partially through the tire carcass wall toward the tire cavity. A tire carcass wall barrier of reduced section between the partial passageway and the tire cavity is removed in a post-cure operation to create a through-bore from the groove to the tire cavity. A pump assembly inserts into the tube-receiving groove in a post-cure procedure with an outlet passage tube from a pump assembly outlet device extended through the through-bore to the tire cavity.

Abstract: A tire includes a carcass, a tread band having a radially outer tread surface and a plurality of radially extending recesses, and an anti-slip structure disposed in one of the radially extending recesses. The anti-slip structure includes a first circular inner portion, a second outer portion, and a third core portion. The third core portion comprises an assembly of three pin structures for providing traction over ice. Each pin structure has a wedge-shaped base portion secured within the first circular inner portion and a pin extending through the second outer portion to the tread surface. The three wedge-shaped base portions combine to form a circular base portion for the assembly.

Abstract: A tire includes a carcass, a tread band having a radially outer tread surface and a plurality of radially extending recesses, and an anti-slip structure disposed in one of the radially extending recesses. The anti-slip structure includes a first end portion, a second triangular middle portion, and a third triangular end portion. The third end portion includes three radially extending projections for providing traction over ice. The shape of the radially extending recess corresponds to the shape of the anti-slip structure such that the anti-slip structure is both radially and rotationally secured within the recess relative to the tread band of the tire.

Abstract: A winter tyre is equipped with studs. The number of studs in the tyre is greater than that stated in the amendment, dating 1 Jun. 2009, to the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications Decree 408/2003 concerning vehicle tyre studs. The shape of the stud together with the elasticity of the winter tyre rubber compound creates a piercing force of less than 120 N on the stud. The invention also relates to the stud for a tyre, the tip of the stud being resistant to wear and having a cross-section of 1.80-3.14 mm2.

Abstract: An anti-skid tire device for increasing the grip of a tire of a vehicle on a road surface. The device includes a plurality of modules associated with each other to form substantially a chain disposed annularly around the tire's external surface. The modules each have a shaped plate with a plurality of gripping elements protruding during use towards the outside of the shaped plate, so as to improve the tire's ability to grip the road surface. An attachment element is include which has a first end associated with the shaped plate, a second end selectively attachable to a shaped plate of an adjacent module, and a central body radially facing towards the tire and inserted into a corresponding groove provided on the tire's external surface. The attachment element further has at least one adjustment member adapted to adjust the size of the anti-skid device with respect to the tire.

Abstract: Described herein are several embodiments of an anti-skid stud for insertion into the rubber tread of an air-filled vehicle tire. The stud can include a body that has a bottom flange, a shank element that extends outwardly from the bottom flange, and a hard cermet piece made from a material different than the body. The hard cermet piece is positioned at least partially within the body. The bottom flange can have a substantially quadrangular shape that defines diagonal dimensions. The hard cermet piece can be substantially lozenge-shaped in cross-section and define mutually different diagonal dimensions that extend in a direction perpendicular to a total length of the stud.

Abstract: A retractable stud pin assembly is described for use in a conventional tire. The stud pin assembly includes a housing having an elastomer compartment and a spring in cooperation with the elastomer. A stud pin is mounted to the spring. The assembly may further optionally include a fluid compartment in cooperation with the elastomer compartment and the spring. The assembly may further include a second compression spring, which cooperates with the first spring and stud pin. An optional adjustment nut may be used to manually raise and lower the pin height as desired. An optional adjustment pin may also be used to extend into an optional fluid compartment to fine tune the pin height.

Abstract: A tire (10) for driving on ice, comprising: a tread (20) having a rolling surface configured to come into contact with the ground when the tire is rolling along; at least one stud (30) having a longitudinal axis (A-A), a part of the stud projecting from the rolling surface, the intersection between the stud and the plane tangential to the portion of the rolling surface around the stud forming a contour C, that part of the stud that projects from the rolling surface having a minimum cross section Sm, Sm corresponding to the smallest cross section of the said part in any plane containing the radial direction that passes through the point of intersection between the longitudinal axis of the stud and the plane tangential to the portion of the rolling surface around the stud; at least one recess (200) in the tread forming, on the rolling surface, a contour G, the recess being associated with the stud in that the minimum distance D between the contours C and G is less than or equal to 1 cm; in which, for each stud,

Abstract: Stud (30) for a tire (10), the tire comprising a tread (20) made of rubber mix, the stud having an axis (A-A) and two axial ends and comprising: a first part (60) configured to come into contact with the ground when the stud is fitted to the tyre and the tyre is rolling along the ground, this first part being positioned at one of the axial ends of the stud; a head (70) configured to anchor the stud into the tread of the tyre, the head being positioned at the other axial end of the stud; and a body (80) connecting the said first part and the head of the stud, the mean diameter of the body being smaller than the mean diameter of the head of the stud, these diameters being measured at right angles to the axis of the stud; in which the head comprises at least one recess (100) opening onto the surface of the head, the recess being configured to be filled with rubber mix of the tread so as to provide additional anchorage for the stud in the tread.

Abstract: A tire includes a carcass, a tread band having a radially outer tread surface and a plurality of radially extending recesses, and an anti-slip structure disposed in one of the radially extending recesses. The anti-slip structure includes a first circular inner portion, a second outer portion, and a third core portion. The third core portion comprises an assembly of three pin structures for providing traction over ice. Each pin structure has a wedge-shaped base portion secured within the first circular inner portion and a pin extending through the second outer portion to the tread surface. The three wedge-shaped base portions combine to form a circular base portion for the assembly.

Abstract: A tire includes a carcass, a tread band having a radially outer tread surface and a plurality of radially extending recesses, and an anti-slip structure disposed in one of the radially extending recesses. The anti-slip structure includes a first end portion, a second triangular middle portion, and a third triangular end portion. The third end portion includes three radially extending projections for providing traction over ice. The shape of the radially extending recess corresponds to the shape of the anti-slip structure such that the anti-slip structure is both radially and rotationally secured within the recess relative to the tread band of the tire.

Abstract: The invention relates to a studded air-filled vehicle tire having a rolling direction and comprising a rubber tread with pattern blocks and grooves that-separate the blocks. Premade stud holes are arranged in the tread. Anti-slip studs each include a hard cermet piece that has a substantially quadrangular shape with diagonal dimensions are in at least part of the stud holes. At least part of the anti-slip studs arranged in the stud holes are orientated so that one of the diagonal dimensions of the hard cermet piece is located in the rolling direction or forms an angle, not larger than a toe-out angle with respect to the rolling direction.

Abstract: A tire includes a carcass, a tread band having a radially outer tread surface and a plurality of radially extending recesses, and an anti-slip structure disposed in one of the radially extending recesses. The structure includes a cylindrical housing with a cylindrical flange and a central channel and a stud portion with a shaft and a flange. The shaft is slidingly disposed within the central channel such that a radially outer tip of the shaft may selectably extend radially outward from the cylindrical housing and from the radially outer tread surface in order to enhance traction for the tire. The radially outer tip extends from the cylindrical housing and from the radially outer tread surface when a predetermined air pressure is introduced into the radially extending recess thereby forcing the flange of the stud portion radially outward to abut the cylindrical flange of the cylindrical housing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a traction device for a terrain engaging element. The traction device defines a stud having a head portion and a shank portion extending from the head portion and adapted to be secured into the terrain engaging element. A plurality of spherical carbide pellets are bonded together on and to surfaces of the head. The carbide pellets are provided in multiple layers extending across the head surface. The carbide pellets are provided in a stacked relationship to each other so that during use the carbide pellets are capable of being individually dislodged to reveal a carbide pellet of an underlying layer.

Abstract: A retractable stud pin assembly is described for use in a conventional tire. The stud pin assembly includes a housing having an elastomer compartment and a spring in cooperation with the elastomer. A stud pin is mounted to the spring. The assembly may further optionally include a fluid compartment in cooperation with the elastomer compartment and the spring. The assembly may further include a second compression spring, which cooperates with the first spring and stud pin. An optional adjustment nut may be used to manually raise and lower the pin height as desired. An optional adjustment pin may also be used to extend into an optional fluid compartment to fine tune the pin height.

Abstract: A self-tapping stud for rubber supports of shoes, tires and the like includes a body presenting a threaded portion fixable into the rubber support and a head projecting from the support when the stud has been mounted. The threaded portion presents a thread provided with a free helical edge extending along a substantially cylindrical surface and presents a substantially conical or frusto-conical core, and a thread provided at its free start with a cutting edge which is oriented with the same inclination as the thread and can reach the core center. The stud mounting tool includes a seat for receiving the head or body of the stud as an exact fit, and an abutment surface adjacent to a mouth of the seat, enabling the stud to be screwed into the support until the abutment surface abuts against the support or until the surface of the first and second element mutually abut.

Abstract: A tire for vehicle a wheel includes a carcass structure including at least one carcass ply shaped in a substantially toroidal configuration, the opposite lateral edges of which are associated with respective right-hand and left-hand bead wires enclosed in respective beads; a belt structure applied in a circumferentially external position relative to the carcass structure; a tread band circumferentially superimposed on the belt structure, the tread band including a radially outer surface with a tread pattern including a plurality of longitudinal and transverse grooves which define a corresponding plurality of blocks and/or ribs; a plurality of studs partially projecting from the radially outer surface of the tread band; and a pair of side walls applied laterally on opposite sides relative to the carcass structure. The tread band includes a crosslinked elastomeric composition including at least one diene elastomeric polymer and at least one layered nanosized inorganic material as reinforcing filler.

Abstract: A stud for vehicle tyres includes a central body, a tip connected to a first end of the central body, and a base provided on a second end of the central body. The first end of the central body is opposite the second end. The stud has at least one abutting shoulder arranged at a predefined distance from the tip. A method for manufacturing a tyre for vehicle wheels including the studs, a vulcanization mould for tyres including seats designed to retain the studs, a tyre for vehicle wheels including the studs, and a premoulded tread band containing the studs for retreading a tyre are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems associated with traction devices for vehicle tires are disclosed herein. In various embodiments, a tire may include a tread material bonded with a casing, the tread material having a tread pattern and one or more tractive devices may be disposed within voids in the tread pattern. In some embodiments, a media passage may be disposed between the tread material and the casing substantially under one or more of the voids in the tread pattern, the chambers and/or channels being controllable to urge movement of a corresponding tractive device.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tire (3), which includes a crown (5) having a molded tread pattern, and at least one insert (6) with a position that is set relative to the molded tread pattern. The method includes building an uncured tire around a core (1), positioning the at least one insert (6) within the uncured tire in a position set relative to the core (1), positioning the core bearing the uncured tire and the at least one insert (6) in an external mold (10) according to a set azimuth (?), and molding the tire.

Abstract: This invention relates to a rubber composition and tire having at least one component of a rubber composition comprised of at least one diene-based elastomer, to the exclusion of butyl type elastomers, which contains an internal dispersion of corncob granules. Such tire component may be, for example, a tire tread and/or cord reinforced rubber ply and/or belt. A tire tread intended for winter driving, although not necessarily limited to winter driving, is provided of a rubber composition containing at least one diene-based sulfur vulcanizable elastomer having a Tg below ?30° C. and an internal dispersion therein of corncob granules. The running surface of the tire tread is configured with a combination of micro-protrusions of corncob granules from said corncob granule internal dispersion and micro-cavities therein created by a release of a portion of the protruded corncob granules during the abrading, or wearing, of the tire tread running surface as the tire is being run.

Abstract: A tire traction enhancement system and method of use are provided. In one form, a tire traction enhancement system includes a standard vehicle tire including perforations along the standard vehicle tire tread. The tire traction enhancement system further includes a first annular inner tube running substantially the inner circumference of the standard vehicle tire and a second annular inner tube between the first annular inner tube and the outer circumference of the standard vehicle tire. The second annular inner tube further includes a plurality of studs fastened to the outer circumference of the second inner tube and fastened to the perforations along the standard vehicle tire tread.

Abstract: A tire for vehicles offering low rolling resistance wherein the ground-contact surface area is variable as a portion of the tread part can be retracted and/or extended using pneumatic, mechanical or hydraulic force to withdraw from, or come into contact with the road surface before, during or after operation permitting more efficient operation wherein the material used within the tread part that retains contact with the road may generally have a smaller internal friction loss than the material used in conventional tires and the rolling resistance is thereby reduced when the retractable portion of the tread is selectively withdrawn from contact with the road surface furthermore achieving a smaller ground-contact patch footprint. The achieved object of a tire with a lower rolling resistance yields improved fuel consumption efficiency.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stud for a tyre comprising a socket-formed body portion (1), having at one end a hard metal peak (2) and at its other end a locking flange (3) retaining the stud in the tyre and being made of a light injection-mouldable material, such as plastic, the body portion (1) having a pin (4) extending towards the locking flange, with the tubular sleeve portion (5) of the locking flange fixed on top of this pin. The body portion (1) is conical so as to be clamped as a wedge into the corresponding conical sleeve portion (5).

Abstract: A process for producing a tire having an expandable chamber utilized for extending and retracting studs provided in the periphery of the tire. In one embodiment, a non-stick film is strategically positioned between the casing and the tread prior to curing the tread onto the casing. The interface at either side of the film forms the sides of an expandable chamber. The tread side of the chamber is inset and studs are affixed thereto. Expansion of the chamber extends the studs out of the inset and into engagement with a road surface. Alternative processes provide a channel in the tread and the expansion chamber formed in the channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a studded air-filled vehicle tire having a rolling direction and comprising a rubber tread with pattern blocks and grooves that separate said blocks. In said tread, there are arranged premade stud holes and in at least part of said stud holes, there are anti-slip studs, having hard cermet pieces of that have a substantially quadrangular shape with diagonal dimensions At least part of the anti-slip studs arranged in the stud holes are orientated so that one of said diagonal dimensions of the hard cermet piece is located in the rolling direction or forms an angle, not larger than the toe-out angle, with respect to the rolling direction.

Abstract: A spike for the running surface of a motor vehicle tire, especially a snow tire, with, as seen from above, an out-of-round, elongated, plate-like spike root (2, 2a), the greatest extension of which defines a longitudinal axis (7a), and an out-of-round, elongated upper part (4, 5) of the spike, the greatest extension of which defines a longitudinal axis (6a). In order to be enabled to accept even greater forces from below, the spike root (2, 2a) and the upper part (4, 5) of the spike are twisted in relation to each other, so that the longitudinal axis (6a) of the upper part (4, 5) of the spike encloses an angle (15, 15a) varying from zero with the longitudinal axis (7a) of the spike root (2,2a).

Abstract: The invention relates to a combination for installing anti-slip studs in an air-filled vehicle tire provided with a tread and a number of premade stud recesses. The combination includes anti-slip studs with an inner head provided with a bottom flange and an outer head provided with a top bowl, and therebetween a narrower neck portion. In the anti-slip studs at least the shape of the bottom flange is composed of a number of two or more first side portions, the center regions of which are located at a shorter distance from the stud center line, and of a number of two or more edge portions and/or of a number of two or more second side portions, the center regions of which are located at a longer distance from said stud center line. In addition, the combination includes an installation tool comprising a number of jaw fingers, said number being equal to the number of said edge portions, or twice the number of the second side portions, by which installation tool the anti-slip studs are installed in said tread.

Abstract: A tire with removable studs for allowing tires to be used year round. The tire with removable studs includes a tire member having an exterior circumferential surface and further having a plurality of boss members being spacedly and integrally disposed upon the exterior circumferential surface; and further includes a plurality of stud-fastening members being securely disposed in the tire member; and also includes a plurality of stud members being removably disposed in the stud-fastening members and extended from the tire member for gripping a road surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stud for a tyre comprising a socket-formed body portion (1), having at one end a hard metal peak (2) and at its other end a locking flange (3) retaining the stud in the tyre and being made of a light injection-mouldable material, such as plastic, the body portion (1) having a pin (4) extending towards the locking flange, with the tubular sleeve portion (5) of the locking flange fixed on top of this pin. The body portion (1) is conical so as to be clamped as a wedge into the corresponding conical sleeve portion (5).

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: The present invention relates to a traction winter tire with rows (A-F) of tread pattern blocks (11) and circumferential (a-e) grooves and transverse grooves (j-o) separating pattern blocks from each other, the tread pattern blocks comprising sipes (7, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b) opening to the tread surface and extending into the tire for enhancing the grip of the tread with a road surface, said sipes being discontinued at support areas (13) operable to attach anti-skid studs (12). The winter tire is characterized in that the tread pattern blocks are displaced relative to one another such that overlapping and axially adjacent tread pattern blocks are connected in pairs into double tread pattern blocks (2) by a bridge part (3), and tread pattern blocks in the shoulder area of the tire are, alternatingly, a tread block of a double tread block and an unbound single tread block (11).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tire having a rubber tread of a lug and groove configuration and of a co-extruded cap/base construction; wherein the tread cap is of a rubber composition which contains carbon black and is thereby of a black color; wherein a visible surface of at least one groove is of a rubber composition exclusive of carbon black and is of a non-black color and wherein said visible non-black colored rubber composition is a rubber layer which underlies said tread cap. Said visible non-black colored rubber is exclusive of any appreciable portion of, and preferably exclusive of, the surface of said tread lugs intended to be ground-contacting. In one aspect of the invention, said non-black colored rubber composition contains an amorphous precipitated silica reinforcement, preferably a pre-hydrophobated precipitated silica.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pneumatic tire provided with multiple blocks 6 on a tread 1. A sipe 7 provided on the block 6 is formed by shifting pitches of a zigzag shape 7a on a tread face 1a side of the sipe and a zigzag shape 7b on a bottom side thereof in the width direction of the tire, and by connecting concave and convex flexion points a, a′, b and b′ on the both of the zigzag shapes with edge lines x1, x2 and x3. The block 6 is sectioned by the sipe 7 into a concavo-convex face A in which convex triangular pyramids Aa and convex reverse triangular pyramids Ab are alternately arranged, and a concavo-convex face B in which concave triangular pyramids Ba and concave reverse triangular pyramids Bb are alternately arranged. The concavo-convex faces A sectioned by the sipes are at least disposed in both outermost positions in the circumferential direction of the block in a manner that the concavo-convex faces A are oriented outward from the block.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tire having a tread of lug and groove configuration of a black-colored, carbon black reinforced rubber composition, wherein at least a portion of the visible surface of at least one of said grooves, exclusive of the outer surface portion of said carbon black reinforced rubber lugs intended to be ground-contacting, is of a non-black colored, synthetic amorphous silica reinforced rubber composition exclusive of carbon black.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire for a multiple-tracked vehicle is asymmetrical and has a convex tread section that is curved radially inward and extends to a tire sidewall.

Abstract: A traction device for vehicle wheels comprises an expandable and contractible member (10) mounted next to a wheel (70) or in between dual wheels (12, 14). In another embodiment the device comprises an air chamber (106, 134) formed in the tread of the tire (120).

Abstract: A spike for the running surface of a motor vehicle tire, especially a snow tire, with, as seen from above, an out-of-round, elongated, plate-like spike root (2, 2a), the greatest extension of which defines a longitudinal axis (7a), and an out-of-round, elongated upper part (4, 5) of the spike, the greatest extension of which defines a longitudinal axis (6a). In order to be enabled to accept even greater forces from below, the spike root (2, 2a) and the upper part (4, 5) of the spike are twisted in relation to each other, so that the longitudinal axis (6a) of the upper part (4, 5) of the spike encloses an angle (15, 15a) varying from zero with the longitudinal axis (7a) of the spike root (2,2a).

Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle tire (50) comprising a tire carcass (51) and side walls (53); a layer or layers of rubber forming a tire tread (56) on top of the carcass; a tread pattern comprising a plurality of blocks (11) separated by grooves (22). There are anti-skid stud holes (12) in the blocks, said anti-skid stud holes having a total depth within said tread rubber layer and having a generally circular or oval cross-sectional form. Lamellar anti-skid studs (1) are inserted in the stud holes, the ratio of the total thickness (D1) of said lamellar studs to the width (L) of said lamellar studs in the orientation of the tread surface (20) being at maximum one-third. The diameter or respectively the main dimension of said circular/oval stud holes (12) is substantially smaller than the width (L) of the inserted lamellar studs.

Abstract: A tire having a crown which includes a ply of circumferentially oriented, helically wound reinforcing threads. This ply is arranged such that in sensitive zones, for example, beneath the grooves of the tread pattern, the laying pitch of the circumferential reinforcing threads is greatly increased. This substantially reduces the risks of damage to the circumferential reinforcing threads in these zones.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns an emergency traction device that may be easily and securely fitted on vehicles having tires of different diameters and widths. A single winch sizes and secures the traction device for the proper tire diameter and then for the proper tire width. Traction can be further enhanced with members that substantially circumscribe the tire. Operation of the traction device can be enhanced by providing nonreversible gearing for operating the winch.

Abstract: A tread is provided with at least one rubber stud of orientation XX′ perpendicular or inclined with respect to the tread surface. The rubber stud has a side wall bounded by at least one incision and an outer end wall. The stud is joined to the tread at its base (the rubber stud part located farthest inward on the tread) and by at least one rubber connecting element joining the side wall of said stud to the rest of the tread. The projected length, on the tread surface in new condition and in the direction XX′, of the principal geometrical lines of the surfaces of intersection of all the connecting elements of each rubber stud, represents at least 80 percent of the contour perimeter, measured on the same surface, of each rubber stud. Preferably, the principal geometrical lines bounding the surfaces of intersection of the connecting elements are in the form of helixes around XX′, and the projected length of said lines is equal or close to 100 percent of the perimeter.

Abstract: A tire as provided with a circumferential portion for contacting a road surface. Edge segments thereof include studs and an inflatable chamber at the edge segment is inflated and deflated to extend and withdraw the edge segments for engagement and disengagement with the road surface.

Abstract: An antiskid device (A) mounted to a tread (20) of a tire (2) has a pin (10) and a heat insulating member (11) attached to an end of the pin (10). The pin (10) is made of a material having a higher hardness in a first temperature range not higher than a predetermined temperature and a lower hardness in a second temperature range above the predetermined temperature. The insulating member (11) prohibits heat transfer from the tire (2) to the pin (10).

Abstract: An automobile tire having an anti-skidding function and useful throughout all seasons is provided which permits the automobile to run while maintaining the anti-skidding function even if it encounters a snowless road during a travel on a snow-covered road, which does not require frequent operations of extending and retracting the spike pins and which poses no problem of pollution. Air chambers 3 are formed in the tread 2 of the tire. Branch tubes 4A of an air supply and evacuation tube 4 are connected with the air chambers 3. The tread surface has bosses 2B extending outwardly therefrom at locations corresponding to those portions 2A of the peripheral walls of the air chambers facing the tread surface, the bosses allowing portions of the tread to be bulged from and depressed into the tread surface depending on the air pressure in the air chambers. On-off valve means 6 may be provided in connecting portions between the air chambers 3 and the air supply and evacuation tube 4.

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: An anti-skid device. The device is installed between tire pairs in vehicles using dual tires in wheel assemblies. The device increases friction between the wheeled vehicle and a slippery surface therebelow. Each of the two or more dual tire type wheel assemblies has a wheel having a central axis of rotation, a first tire, and a second tire. The first and second tire are mounted to the wheel in a spaced apart relationship along the axis of rotation, to provide therebetween a centrally located mounting space which is located radially outward from the central axis of rotation. The anti-skid device is placed in the mounting space between the first tire and the second tire. The anti-skid device includes, in radially outward order, a retainer ring, a spacer ring, an inflation ring (preferably pneumaticaly inflatable), and an anti-skid tread ring. The anti-skid tread ring is displaceable outward by inflation of the inflation ring, so as to engage the slippery surface with tread lugs or studs.

Abstract: A stud for improving the traction of a tread element is provided. The stud includes a body portion including a head and an elongated shank portion extending from the head. A mound of particles of a hard and durable material is bound together on and to the head of the stud such that the mound of particles has a multifaceted surface including multiple points which can engage the terrain.

Abstract: A traction device for vehicle wheels has tread segments that are expandable and contractible by secondary inflatable chambers to place studs either in engagement or out of engagement with a road surface. Alternatively, stud bearing tread segments are removably mounted between segments of conventional tread.

Abstract: A vehicle tire comprising a tire carcass (3) and on top of this a cap (29) consisting of at least one rubber quality and forming the tread (7), the cap having anti-skid stud holes (5) extending from the tread to its inside. At the bottom (8) of the anti-skid stud holes (5) and thus under the bottom flange (21) of the anti-skid studs (20) elastic cushions (6) are provided, made of a material of an elasticity higher than that of the rubber quality forming the said cap (29).