Abstract: A tire assembly includes an assemblage formed of first and second impregnated woven or knitted structures, a bearing structure, and at least one sacrificial holder. The first impregnated woven or knitted structure includes a first woven or knitted fabric and a first layer of a first polymeric composition. The second impregnated woven or knitted structure includes a second woven or knitted fabric and a second layer of a second polymeric composition. The bearing structure includes bearing elements connecting the first and second woven or knitted fabrics together. Each sacrificial holder is structured to hold temporarily the first and second impregnated structures in contact with each other, connecting the first and second woven or knitted fabrics together. When the first and second impregnated woven or knitted structures are separated from each other, each sacrificial holder breaks before any breakage of the bearing elements.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tire/wheel assembly in which a run-flat support member is disposed in a cavity of a pneumatic tire fitted to a rim. The run-flat support member includes a circular shell, in which an outer circumferential side thereof is a support surface and an inner circumferential side thereof is opened to have two leg portions, and left and right elastic rings which support the two leg portions on the rim. The elastic rings have different rigidities from each other so that the elastic ring receiving a larger load during run-flat traveling has a higher rigidity.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, the invention is a non-deflatable tire assembly having a hollow toroid-shaped flanged insert, a flexible body molded around the insert to form a tire, and at least one rim onto which is mounted the tire. The flange of the insert extends toward the central axis of the insert, and is used to attach the tire to the rim(s) via bolts through matching holes within the flange and rim(s). The flexible body may be made of a foam polyurethane matrix formed of a combination of polyol and polyisocyanate, while the flanged insert may be made of a high density polyethylene. A tough, flexible, and abrasive-resistant layer of polyurethane elastomer is preferably formed around the flexible body to define sidewalls and treads of the tire.