Abstract: Provided is a method for repairing a radial tire that enhances the durability of patch rubber attached to a damaged portion of a carcass ply from the inner side of the tire and that extends the service life of the repaired tire while reducing the repair time. The method according to the present invention for repairing a radial tire (1) includes a step of attaching a patch rubber (10), in which a plurality of reinforcing elements (11) are arranged in parallel and covered with rubber, from the inner side of the tire to a damaged portion (7) of a carcass ply (5a) when at least one ply cord (6a) in the carcass ply is broken along with ply rubber at a sidewall portion (3). The patch rubber is attached so that the reinforcing elements (11) are parallel to a tire radial direction and so that inner edges (11a, 11b, 11c) of the reinforcing elements (11) in the tire radial direction are positioned to at least partially have different mutually distances in a perpendicular direction from a tire circumferential line.

Abstract: In a tire according to the present invention, the shape of the outermost reinforcing layer in the tire radial direction is optimized.

Abstract: A tire inner tube primarily includes an inner tube body being a hose having two closed ends and a charging air inlet being positioned at an inner side of the inner tube body, wherein the closed ends of the inner tube body are configured to be removably combined and form the inner tube body into a closed loop that fits a tire rim of a bicycle, so that the tire inner tube is allowed to be mounted around or demounted from the tire rim without removing the tire rim from the bicycle.

Abstract: Provided is a tire having at least a circular tire frame formed of a thermoplastic resin material, the tire including a reinforcing cord member that forms a reinforcing cord layer on the outer circumference of the tire frame, and the thermoplastic resin material including at least a polyamide-based thermoplastic elastomer.

Abstract: A vehicle of motorcycle type comprising at least two axle systems each equipped with a mounted assembly consisting of a wheel and a tire. Each of the tires comprises, in each sidewall, at least one additional layer of reinforcing elements forming with the circumferential direction an angle of between 20° and 60°, the orientation of the reinforcing elements of the additional layer in a sidewall being symmetrical to the orientation of the reinforcing elements of the additional layer in the other sidewall in relation to the equatorial plane, the angle formed by the plane comprising a reinforcing element of an additional layer with a radial plane comprising the radially inner end of said reinforcing element being oriented in the direction of rotation of the mounted assembly corresponding to the forward movement of the vehicle in the rear tire and in the opposite direction in the front tire.

Abstract: Provided are: a noise reduction device with an improved adhesion of objects formed of a porous material and with a reduced processing time; a method of manufacturing the noise reduction device; and a pneumatic tire including the noise reduction device. The noise reduction device of the present invention includes: objects formed of a porous material; a band member for attaching the objects to the inner surface of a tire at two positions spaced at substantially equal intervals in the tire circumferential direction; and locking members formed of a thermoplastic resin. The band member is formed of a thermoplastic resin. Each object is disposed at a predetermined position in the tire circumferential direction, between the band member and the corresponding locking members. The locking members are bonded to the band member through the objects by thermal fusion.

Abstract: A tire printing device includes a printer head (2), positioned near a rotating tire (1), that ejects and applies coating material, an unevenness detection sensor (3) that detects a predetermined raised/recessed character on the surface of the rotating tire (1) and a PC (10) that sets the origin of rotation of the tire (1) based on a signal detected by the unevenness detection sensor (3) and synchronizes the operation start time of the printer head (2) with the origin of rotation in order to maintain a constant relationship between the position of the raised/recessed character and the position of application of the coating material. Desired printing is performed by the printer head (2) ejecting and applying the coating material onto a surface of the rotating tire (1) after the rotating tire is mounted on a rim and inflated to a regular shape by being applied with an internal pressure.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure an inner tube comprises an encasing configured to hold air. The encasing comprises a reinforcing structure configured such that, as the encasing is inflated, an overall major diameter of the inner tube is reduced. The inner tube also comprises an inflation valve coupled to the encasing and configured to allow inflation of the encasing. Further, the inner tube comprises a pressure valve coupled to the encasing. The pressure valve is configured to be biased closed and allow air to leave the encasing when a differential pressure between inside of the encasing and outside of the encasing reaches a threshold pressure level. In the same or alternative embodiments, the encasing also comprises a reinforcing structure configured such that, as the encasing is inflated, an overall major diameter of inner tube is reduced.

Abstract: A reinforced rubber article containing a rubber article and a fibrous layer embedded into the rubber article. The fibrous layer contains monoaxially drawn tape elements having at least a first layer, an upper surface and a lower surface. The first layer comprises a blend of polyester and nylon 6. Methods of forming the reinforced rubber article are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire using a rubber composition which makes it possible to keep rolling resistance low, prevent the accumulation of static electricity during the running of the tire, suppress an increase over time in electrical resistance of the tire, and improve durability. The present invention relates to a rubber composition, including: a rubber component including two or more diene rubber; and carbon black having a nitrogen adsorption specific surface area of 400 m2/g or more in an amount of 5 to 30 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component, wherein the rubber composition has a degree of carbon black dispersion determined by counting agglomerates based on JIS K 6812 “Method for the assessment of the degree of pigment or carbon black dispersion in polyolefin pipes, fittings and compounds” of 90% or more.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire in which an inner liner including a film mainly made of thermoplastic resin is attached to an inside of the tire via a tie rubber sheet, on an inner side of a carcass layer, and which has a lap-splice portion where end portions of the film in a tire circumferential direction overlap each other in a tire widthwise direction with tie rubber therebetween. A section of the film on a tire cavity side in the lap-splice portion has a portion where the film is thin over part or entirety of the width in the tire widthwise direction before the lap-splice portion, or a film thickness in the lap-splice portion is smaller than a film thickness in a portion other than the lap-splice portion. Thus, the pneumatic tire has no crack developing around the lap-splice portion of an inner liner layer after running, and has excellent durability.

Abstract: An information acquisition device is provided within a virtual plane including a coil axis of a coil-shaped antenna and having a perpendicular line orthogonal to an axis of rotation of a tire, such that the angle formed by the coil axis of the antenna relative to the tire rotational axis is within a range of 0° to 40°. The amount of attenuation of radio waves emitted from the antenna to the exterior of the tire is thereby reduced.

Abstract: A tire and methods of manufacture thereof comprising a tire body and a metal reinforcing strip comprising at least one metal alloy foil layer to provide puncture resistance, wherein the at least one metal alloy foil layer comprises a spinodal glass matrix microconstituent structure.

Abstract: There is provided a polyester fiber which has few defects such as voids due to catalyst particles, and low variation in physical properties and minimal fluff generation. The polyester fiber of the invention comprises laminar nanoparticles composed of a divalent metal and a phosphorus compound and having side lengths of 5-100 nm and an interlayer spacing of 1-5 nm. There are also provided a tire cord, tire, belt-reinforcing fiber material and belt, comprising the polyester fiber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire sidewall, at least one portion of which has a rubber composition based on at least a diene elastomer, a crosslinking system and a reinforcing filler, wherein the content of reinforcing filler in the composition varies from 20 to 40 parts by weight per hundred parts of elastomer, phr, with a volume fraction of reinforcing filler in the composition ranging from 8.0% to 13.0%, and in that this reinforcing filler comprises predominantly a carbon black or a mixture of carbon blacks with a BET specific surface area ranging from 50 m2/g to 69 m2/g.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for mutually adhering a first moulded article of an at least partially vulcanized rubber polymer and a second moulded article of a polymer. The method comprises at least the steps of providing a first moulded article of a rubber polymer which comprises a compound containing carboxylic acid anhydride; providing a second moulded article of a polymer; providing an adhesive composition comprising at least a polyisocyanate, a polyol and a catalyst; arranging an adhesive layer of the adhesive composition on the surface for adhesion of at least one moulded article; bringing the surfaces for adhesion together under pressure; and polymerizing at least the adhesive layer at a suitable temperature.

Abstract: A tire configured to be mounted on a mounting rim, comprising two beads, a crown comprising a tread, two sidewalls, a carcass reinforcing armature, and a membrane situated radially on the inside of the carcass reinforcing structure, this membrane comprising: (a) a membrane reinforcing armature anchored in each bead to the annular reinforcing structure, said membrane comprises a layer of reinforcement elements directed substantially radially and (b) an airtight layer of rubber mix; wherein the membrane is arranged in such a way that part of the membrane together with part of the carcass reinforcing armature delimits a chamber extending transversely and circumferentially; wherein, in any radial section, the curved length Lm of the trace of the surface of the chamber delimited by the membrane is greater than the curved length Lc of the trace of the surface chamber delimited by the carcass reinforcing armature (Lm>Lc).

Abstract: Provided is a thermoplastic resin composition for the inner liner of pneumatic tires, which has low air permeability and a small percent change in air permeability from fatigue. A thermoplastic resin composition obtained by dispersing a modified rubber having an acid anhydride group or an epoxy group into a polyamide resin and an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, the thermoplastic resin composition being characterized in that the ratio of the polyamide resin to the ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer is between 47/53 and 61/39. The percent change in air permeability of the thermoplastic resin composition in the present invention when subjected 1 million times to 20% elongation strain at room temperature is 1.30 times or more. Additionally, a pneumatic tire using a film comprising the thermoplastic resin composition in the present invention as an inner liner has a percent change in air leakage of 1.30 times or less at room temperature after going 70,000 km.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic rubber tire having an integral innerliner of a rubber composition comprised of a combination of cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber and medium to high vinyl styrene/butadiene rubber together with compatible resin.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes an innerliner forming an internal cavity and an enveloping member. The innerliner maintains pneumatic pressure within the internal cavity. The enveloping member defines a pocket for removably receiving and removably securing an item to the pneumatic tire. The enveloping member is cured simultaneously with the innerliner to secure the enveloping member to the innerliner for the operational life of the pneumatic tire.

Abstract: A tire assembly includes a tire, sidewalls, and a sidewall groove. The tire has a pneumatic cavity. The sidewall has at least one bending region operatively bending when radially within a rolling tire footprint of the tire. The sidewall groove is defined by groove sidewalls positioned within the bending region of the tire sidewall. The sidewall groove deforms segment by segment between a non-deformed state and a deformed, constricted state in response to the bending of the sidewall bending region when radially within the rolling tire footprint. An air passageway is defined by the sidewall groove and a cover strip. The air passageway resiliently deforms segment by segment between an expanded condition and an at least partially collapsed condition in response to respective segment by segment deformation of the sidewall groove when radially within the rolling tire footprint.

Abstract: The invention includes a tire having a pair of annular sidewalls each extending to a terminal end including a bottom surface for mounting onto a wheel. The tire further includes indicia arranged along each sidewall adjacent a bottom of each sidewall terminal end. The indicia extends radially outward from an initial position to extend from a top side of a rim flange of a tire wheel for indicating concentric mounting of the tire on a wheel. In particular embodiments, the tire is mounted on a rim of a wheel having rim flanges, each of the rim flanges extending along one of the tire sidewalls such that the indicia is adjacently arranged the rim flange along each sidewall such that the indicia extends radially outward from a top of the rim flange. Methods include using the indicia to determine whether the tire is concentrically mounted on the wheel.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire 1 according to the present invention includes a plurality of turbulence generation ridges 13 which extend on a surface of a tire side portion 7 in a tire-radial direction and which are arranged at a pitch in a tire-circumferential direction. A protrusion 15 rising from the surface 7a of the tire side portion 7 is formed in the tire side portion 7. Either an inner end portion 13A of the turbulence generation ridge 13 or an outer end portion 13B of turbulence generation ridge 13 is smoothly continuous to a surface of the protrusion 15. An inner end height (H1), which is a height of the inner end portion 13A from the surface 7a of the tire side portion 7, is larger than an outer end height (H2), which is a height of the outer end portion 13B from the surface 7a of the tire side portion 7.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing a pneumatic tire in which a green tire having a layer of film having a thermoplastic resin as a main component, and an uncured rubber layer provided thereon is cured. When the uncured rubber layer is formed on the film layer, at least one uncured rubber strip is applied serially onto the film layer to form the uncured rubber layer.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire is disclosed having a label affixed to a plurality of whiskers extending from the outer sidewall of the tire. The whiskers may be T shaped. The label may be colored.

Abstract: A tire is described that includes a casing designed to be inflated to a service pressure and equipped to accept a functional object, such as an electronic circuit, for example, by means of a two-part fastener 10, such as a touch-close fastener, for example. A first part of the fastener is attached to a wall of the casing, while the second part can be joined to the first part when placed in contact with the first part to attach and keep the object on the casing when the tire is in service. The first part of the fastener includes a thin backing fixed to the wall of the casing and possessing a structural elongation capacity greater than or equal to that of the wall to which the thin backing is fixed. The presence of the thin backing does not significantly hinder the elongation of the wall of the casing when subjected to the stresses encountered during use of the tire and, where relevant, during its manufacture.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire including: a tread portion and a belt layer on an outer periphery of a carcass layer that extends between left and right bead portions and a plurality of circumferential main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction provided on an outer surface of the tread portion, wherein on a tire cavity side surface of the tread portion, a ridge (Ra) protruding into the tire cavity side in a direction opposite to a tire radial direction is formed that extends in the tire circumferential direction in a position offset from a tire center towards a well side of a mounting rim so as to encompass an entire width of a well and an entire width of a circumferential main groove positioned farthest to a shoulder side.

Abstract: A self-inflating tire assembly includes an air tube connected to a tire and defining an air passageway, the air tube being composed of a flexible material operative to allow an air tube segment opposite a tire footprint to flatten, closing the passageway, and resiliently unflatten into an original configuration. The air tube is sequentially flattened by the tire footprint in a direction opposite to a tire direction of rotation to pump air along the passageway to an inlet device for exhaust from the passageway or to an outlet device for direction into the tire cavity. The inlet device is positioned within the annular passageway 180 degrees opposite the outlet device such that sequential flattening of the air tube by the tire footprint effects pumping of air along the air passageway with the tire rotating in either a forward or reverse direction of rotation. The invention further includes an outlet device for regulating the tire cavity pressure and flow into the cavity.

Abstract: A self-inflating tire assembly includes an air tube connected to a tire and defining an air passageway, the air tube being composed of a flexible material operative to allow an air tube segment opposite a tire footprint to flatten, closing the passageway, and resiliently unflatten into an original configuration. The air tube is sequentially flattened by the tire footprint in a direction opposite to a tire direction of rotation to pump air along the passageway to an inlet device for exhaust from the passageway or to an outlet device for direction into the tire cavity. The inlet device is positioned within the annular passageway 180 degrees opposite the outlet device such that sequential flattening of the air tube by the tire footprint effects pumping of air along the air passageway with the tire rotating in either a forward or reverse direction of rotation. The invention further includes an outlet device for regulating the tire cavity pressure and flow into the cavity.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire including a sealant layer formed from a sealant fluid having adhesive properties that is provided on a tire inner circumferential surface corresponding with a tread portion; and a sound absorbing layer formed from a porous material that is provided via a barrier layer impermeable to the sealant fluid on an inner circumferential surface of the sealant layer; wherein a width W1 of the sound absorbing layer in a tire width direction is from 50 to 90% of a width W2 of the sealant layer in the tire width direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for reducing and/or harvesting drag energy from transport vehicles. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a mobile transport platform, a donor substance source carried by the platform, and a thermochemical reactor carried by the platform and coupled to the donor substance. The reactor is configured to carry out a non-combustion dissociation process that dissociates the donor substance into a first constituent and a second constituent. An energy extraction system carried by the transport platform and positioned to extract energy from an airstream passing the transport platform is coupled to the reactor to provide energy for the dissociation process.

Abstract: Provided are: a noise reduction device with an improved adhesion of a noise absorbing member formed of a porous material and with a reduced processing time; a method of manufacturing the noise reduction device; and a pneumatic tire including the noise reduction device. The noise reduction device of the present invention includes: a noise absorbing member formed of a porous material; a band member for attaching the noise absorbing member to the inner surface of a tire; and locking members formed of a thermoplastic resin. The band member is formed of a thermoplastic resin. The noise absorbing member is disposed between the band member and the locking members. The locking members are bonded to the band member through the noise absorbing member by thermal fusion.

Abstract: A carbon fiber rim assembly includes a carbon fiber rim having a bridge and two sidewalls extend respectively from two sides of the bridge. Each sidewall has a hook portion and an annular groove is defined between the bridge and the two sidewalls. A tire has a tread body and two lips extend respectively from two sides of the tread body. The lips are engaged with the hook portions. A reinforcement member is a plate and the hardness of the reinforcement member is higher than that of the tire. A connection unit includes a first connection member located at outsides of the sidewalls and a second connection member connected to the reinforcement member. The first and second connection members are connected to each other to position the reinforcement member between the sidewalls and the lips. The reinforcement member is easily installed and replaced.

Abstract: There are provided a rubber composition for coating a steel cord, containing 100 parts by mass of diene-based rubber; 0.5 to 5 parts by mass of a metal salt of an organic acid; and 30 to 100 parts by mass of a filler, wherein the filler contains 3 to 30 parts by mass of glass beads having a particle diameter of 10 to 100 ?m, relative to 100 parts by mass of the diene-based rubber, and a tire reinforcement belt and a pneumatic tire using the rubber composition. The rubber composition reduces heat generation and improves adhesiveness with a steel cord. A pneumatic tire having a tire reinforcement belt using the rubber composition has excellent steering stability and rolling resistance.

Abstract: A tire has an elongate profiled sidewall groove extending into a first tire sidewall from an outward first sidewall surface. An elongate air tube is positioned within the elongate sidewall groove in contact with the groove sidewalls, the air tube having an external surface configuration corresponding with and seating within the internal sidewall configuration defining the sidewall groove. The air tube when subject to outward originating impinging force collapses from an expanded unstressed configuration into a collapsed configuration to allow the tube to insert through the groove entry opening and expand outwardly once within the sidewall groove to its unstressed configuration. The configuration of the groove sidewalls capture the air tube within the groove in its expanded unstressed configuration to prevent separation of the tube from the tire during use.

Abstract: Improvements in an inner tube are presented. The inner tube is split at a location opposite of the valve stem. Locating the split at a location that is opposite of the valve allows the inner tube to be more balanced to prevent an out of balance inner tube that can result in making the bicycle unstable and less safe. A stiffener or snake may be incorporated to allow the inner tube to be pushed or pulled around the rim thereby making it easier to install the inner tube when access to the entire periphery of the rim. The free ends of the inner tube can have a connection mechanism that retains the ends in a secure or semi-secure arrangement. The Ideal mechanism may further provide a method of attracting and retaining the ends together to ensure that the inner tube creates and essentially complete circle.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a sidewall portion provided in the outer surface thereof with an embossed mark. The embossed mark has a top surface axially outwardly away from the outer surface, a side surface extending from the outer surface to the top surface, an outside edge at which the side surface intersects with the top surface to form an outside corner, and an inside edge at which the side surface intersects with the outer surface to form an inside corner. The outside edge has a circumferential segment extending parallel with the tire circumferential direction, and the inside edge has a nearly-circumferential segment positioned oppositely to the circumferential segment and extending at an angle of from 0.5 to 2.5 degrees so that a warped plane is formed between the circumferential segment and nearly-circumferential segment.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire has an outer surface with an arithmetical mean roughness Ra in the range of 0.1 ?m to 0.6 ?m when a reference length Lr is 20 ?m, wherein the outer surface has an irregularity diameter in the range of 40-230 ?m and an irregularity depth in the range of 3-22 ?m. A method of manufacturing a tire vulcanization mold includes propelling spherical abrasive grains onto the surface of the mold under the condition that a propelling pressure is in the range of 0.1-0.6 MPa, so as to process the surface of the mold.

Abstract: The energy efficient wheel product substantially reduces energy loss due to tire flex and energy loss from a conventional automotive drive train. The wheel product includes an axis, a hub, two sidewalls, a low pressure inner chamber with shock absorbing hub protector, an outer ring with at least one high pressure pneumatic chamber with tread, and at least one restraint band radially restraining the outer ring to the hub. The hub can include an electric hub motor which rotates the hub, propelling the vehicle. The restraint band, sidewalls and pressurized chambers enable the wheel to simulate an energy efficient high pressure pneumatic wheel, experiencing little deformation when under smooth road conditions. When road conditions are rough, the band, sidewalls and outer chamber can temporarily buckle in response to the increased road forces, simulating a low pressure conventional tire having ample space for deformation.

Abstract: A low permeability laminate obtained by laminating (A) a thermoplastic resin composition layer containing (i) 50 to 90% by weight of an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer having an ethylene content of 20 to 50 mol % and a saponification degree of 90% or more, (ii) 50 to 10% by weight of an aliphatic polyamide resin having 90 mol % or more of an ?-caprolactam-derived component and (iii) 3 to 50 parts by weight of a sulfonamide-based plasticizer, based upon 100 parts by weight of the total amount of the components (i) and (ii) and (B) at least one rubber composition layer, a layer of a thickness ?B of layer (B)/a thickness ?A of layer (A) (?B/?A) being 10 or more, followed by being heat treated within a range of 130° C. to 210° C. capable of molding and processing for a long time and a pneumatic tire using the same.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire using, as an inner liner layer, a thermoplastic elastomer comprising a thermoplastic resin matrix, in which a rubber component is dispersed a surface of the inner liner layer is covered with a protective layer, whereby a weathering resistance, damage resistance and fatigue resistance of the film liner of the inner liner layer at the time of tire storage are improved.

Abstract: A tire noise reduction device including at least one sound absorbing member of flexible polyurethane foam to be attached to an inner surface of a tire facing a cavity of the tire. The sound absorbing member includes a first sound absorbing layer placed on a tire inner surface side thereof and a second sound absorbing layer placed on a tire reverse inner surface side thereof, with the second sound absorbing layer being disposed on the first sound absorbing layer. The second sound absorbing layer has a density lower than that of the first sound absorbing layer. The second sound absorbing layer is of a thickness that is greater than or equal to that of the first sound absorbing layer. The second sound absorbing layer extends annularly in the tire circumferential direction, while the first sound absorbing layer includes a plurality of the sound absorbing members.

Abstract: A self-inflating tire assembly includes an air tube connected to a tire and defining an air passageway, the air tube being composed of a flexible material operative to allow an air tube segment opposite a tire footprint to flatten, closing the passageway, and resiliently unflatten into an original configuration. The air tube is sequentially flattened by the tire footprint in a direction opposite to a tire direction of rotation to pump air along the passageway to an inlet device for exhaust from the passageway or to an outlet device for direction into the tire cavity. The inlet device is positioned within the annular passageway 180 degrees opposite the outlet device such that sequential flattening of the air tube by the tire footprint effects pumping of air along the air passageway with the tire rotating in either a forward or reverse direction of rotation. The invention further includes an inlet device for regulating the inlet flow of the air tube pump.

Abstract: A self-inflating tire assembly includes an air tube connected to a tire and defining an air passageway, the air tube being composed of a flexible material operative to allow an air tube segment opposite a tire footprint to flatten, closing the passageway, and resiliently unflatten into an original configuration. The air tube is sequentially flattened by the tire footprint in a direction opposite to a tire direction of rotation to pump air along the passageway to a regulator device. The regulator device regulates the inlet air flow to the air tube and the outlet air flow to the tire cavity.

Abstract: The invention relates to an elastic vehicle tire (1) comprising a tire cavity. Said cavity is enclosed by a running strip (2) supporting the tread surface (3) and a side wall (4, 4.1) formed on each side of the running strip (2). A noise dampening insert (9) or a noise dampening insert arrangement disposed therein is provided in the tire cavity. A ventilation layer (13) having a structure permeable to air at least in the transverse and/or longitudinal direction of the running strip (3) is disposed between the noise dampening insert (9) or noise dampening insert arrangement and connected to the inner side (10) of the running strip (2) supporting the running surface (3). Said layer is suitable for passing an air flow at least partially in contact with the inner wall (10) of the running strip (2).

Abstract: A self-inflating tire assembly includes an air tube connected to a tire and defining an air passageway, the air tube being composed of a flexible material operative to allow an air tube segment opposite a tire footprint to flatten, closing the passageway, and resiliently unflatten into an original configuration. The air tube is sequentially flattened by the tire footprint in a direction opposite to a tire direction of rotation to pump air along the passageway to an inlet device for exhaust from the passageway or to an outlet device for direction into the tire cavity. The inlet device is positioned within the annular passageway 180 degrees opposite the outlet device such that sequential flattening of the air tube by the tire footprint effects pumping of air along the air passageway with the tire rotating in either a forward or reverse direction of rotation. The invention further includes an inlet device for regulating the inlet flow of the air tube pump.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprising a carcass and a tread located radially outward of the carcass and extending between the tire sidewalls is disclosed. The tread provides a tread running surface and comprises a first, radially outer tread layer comprising a first rubber compound and a second, radially inner tread layer comprising a second rubber compound, wherein the second tread layer is located radially adjacent to the first tread layer, and wherein the first rubber compound is different from the second rubber compound. The second tread layer comprises a plurality of integrally formed extensions of the second tread layer extending from the second tread layer radially outwardly to the tread running surface. The first rubber compound and the second rubber compound each comprise at least at least 30 parts per hundred parts of rubber (phr) of silica. Each of the extensions has a width as measured in the axial direction of the tire in a range of from 1 to 15 mm.

Abstract: Disclosed are a pneumatic tire and a method for manufacturing the same. The pneumatic tire includes a porous sound-absorbing material adhered via a sealant layer to the inside surface of an inner liner, wherein the sealant layer comprises 100 to 400 parts by weight of polyisobutylene, 10 to 100 parts by weight of an inorganic additive and 1 to 15 parts by weight of a vulcanizing agent, with respect to 100 parts by weight of a butyl rubber. The pneumatic tire can reduce internal noise by distributing noise energy, causing generation of resonance in the tire, or changing the generated frequency without a risk of shear deformation generated between the sound-absorbing material and the tire.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic truck drive tire comprising a tread, the tread comprising a tread cap, a tread base, and a tread underlayer disposed between the tread cap and the tread base; the tread cap comprising a rubber composition comprising 100 part by weight, per 100 parts by weight of rubber (phr) of a rubber consisting of from 52 to 64 phr of polyisoprene rubber, from 22 to 27 phr of polybutadiene rubber, and from 13 to 21 phr of styrene-butadiene rubber; and 47 to 57 phr of carbon black; wherein the tread cap has a tan delta (100° C., 10% strain, 1 Hz) ranging from 0.13 to 0.16, a storage modulus (100° C., 1% strain, 1 Hz) ranging from 2 to 2.5 MPa, and a tear strength (100° C.

Abstract: A self-inflating tire assembly includes a tire having a tire cavity between first and second sidewalls that extend respectively from first and second tire core beads to a tire tread region. At least one of the sidewalls is provided with an air tube peristaltic pump assembly. An air tube has an internal tube air passageway and is positioned within a sidewall groove in contacting engagement with opposite groove surfaces surrounding the air tube. The sidewall groove operatively bends within a rolling tire footprint to compress the air tube from an expanded diameter to a flat diameter adjacent the rolling tire footprint. A core bead passageway extends within a core bead adjacent the one tire sidewall for operatively storing air evacuated from the air tube passageway. Conduits are provided to route air from the air tube to the core bead passageway and valve mechanisms are positioned within the core bead passageway to control the flow of air from the core bead passageway into the tire cavity.