Abstract: A tire suitable for extended-mobility travel includes sidewalls reinforced by a sidewall insert, namely an inner insert in the inner sidewall, and an outer insert in the outer sidewall. The inserts are made of rubber composition enabling the sidewalls to bear a load corresponding to part of the weight of the vehicle in a situation in which the inflation pressure is substantially reduced or zero. The inner sidewall, and more particularly the insert of this inner sidewall, has a substantially higher modulus of extension than the outer sidewall (and more particularly than the insert of this outer sidewall). The outer insert is subdivided into at least two zones; the inner insert can comprise one or more zones, but always fewer than the number of zones of the outer insert.

Abstract: A tire designed to be mounted and pressurized on a vehicle wheel rim that has at least one circumferential seat for a bead belonging to the tire and an outward radial projection in the vicinity of the seat. A circumferential crown is provided with a tread for ensuring contact with the ground. At least one bead has a portion suitable for being mounted on the rim seat. A wall comprising a structure of rubber and reinforcements connects the crown to the bead. The whole formed by these elements defines with the rim an air chamber. At least one protective element is located in a sector where the tire wall between the crown and the bead could become pinched between the projection and an obstacle external to the tire in response to a violent impact due to the tread meeting this obstacle, causing closure of the internal cavity of the tire in this sector and momentary high compressive stresses perpendicular to the wall of the tire.

Abstract: A side-reinforced run-flat tire with improved run-flat durability and riding comfort is easily compression-molded using a conventional bladder. The tire includes a tread (2), shoulder portions (3), side walls (4), and beads (5), each including a bead core (6) and a bead filler (7). A carcass ply (8) having a main part (8a) and a folded part (8b) extending from a crown (9) along the inner sides of the shoulder portions (3) and the side walls (4) to the beads (5), and folded around the outer surfaces of bead cores (6) from the inner sides to the outer sides of the bead cores in the tire width direction so as to run up in the tire radial direction outwardly. Reinforcement rubber layers (11) are widthwise provided on the inner sides of the side walls (4). A bead-reinforcing layer (12) is provided on a side (left in drawing) undergoing larger stress during run-flat driving.

Abstract: A run-flat tire is provided at its side wall with a side reinforcing rubber layer having a substantially falcate cross section, and a side reinforcing cord layers extending inside and outside along a ply body of a carcass in a radial direction. A radially outer end of the side reinforcing cord layer is sandwiched and terminated between a belt layer and a ply body of the carcass. A radial inner end of the side reinforcing cord layer is terminated in the vicinity of the bead core.

Abstract: This invention relates to a run-flat tire comprising a side reinforcing rubber layer (7) having a crescent shape at section in a side portion (6), a radial carcass (3) comprised of one or more carcass plies, and a reinforcing cord layer (8) in at least a part of a region A ranging from a belt end to a maximum width part of a tire side portion and a region B ranging from a neighborhood of a bead core to a bead filler, wherein a cord constituting the carcass ply and a cord constituting the reinforcing cord layer (8) are a polyketone fiber cord satisfying the following conditions of the following equations (I) and (II): ???0.01×E+1.2??(I) ??0.02??(II) [wherein ? is a thermal shrinkage stress at 177° C. (cN/dtex); and E is an elastic modulus at 25° C. under a load of 49 N (cN/dtex)].

Abstract: This invention provides a pneumatic tire provided with a carcass (4) comprised of one or more carcass plies formed by covering plural reinforcing cords arranged in parallel with a coating rubber and a pair of side reinforcing rubber layers (5) each having a crescent shape in section and disposed at an inside of the carcass, wherein ride comfort during usual running and durability during run-flat running are improved by applying a cord including a polyketone fiber and satisfying conditions of equation (I): ???0.01×E+1.2 and equation (II): ??0.02 [wherein ? is a heat shrinkage stress (cN/dtex) at 177° C. and E is an elastic modulus (cN/dtex) at 25° C. under a load of 49 N] to the reinforcing cord and a rubber composition having a loss tangent (tan ?) at 25° C. and 1% strain of less than 0.12 and a viscosity (G?) at 130° C. during unvulcanization of not less than 50 MPa to the coating rubber.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial runflat tire includes a pair of parallel annular beads, a carcass ply structure, a belt reinforcement structure, a tread, and a pair of sidewalls. The carcass ply structure comprises a polyester fabric with a cord construction of 2200 dtex/2 8.5/8.5 tpi with a cord density of between 16 and 28 epi. The belt reinforcement structure is disposed radially outward of the carcass ply structure in a crown area of the tire. The tread is disposed radially outward of the belt reinforcement structure. The pair of sidewalls comprise part of the carcass ply structure. The pair of sidewalls is disposed between the tread and the pair of parallel annular beads.

Abstract: The universal system and device of the present invention, once inserted in a conventional pneumatic tire, allows the driven vehicle to be operated in a normal operating condition, as well as in both a low tire pressure and in a run flat condition. For such purpose the tire embodies this device, spherically shaped and not limited in size or quantity. The device is manufactured from rubber, neoprene or equivalent, and in various shore hardness as needed, to permit installation in all tire shapes and sizes, and can be accommodated on all standard or special vehicle rim sizes or configurations. The device is adaptable to automobile, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles or any vehicle that utilizes pneumatic tires and their various uses, including freeway driving, off road, snow and ice, and will adapt to any new configurations of tires and rims such as the low profile tires.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire (1) including: a pair of bead portions (3) each including a bead core and a bead filler; a carcass layer (5) extending toroidally via a sidewall portion (SW); a tread portion (7) arranged outward of the carcass layer in a radial direction of a tire; and sidewall reinforcement layers (9) which are arranged inward of the carcass layer (5) in a tread width direction, are each formed of rubber having a crescent cross-section in the tread width direction, and reinforces the respective sidewall portions (SW), characterized in that an inside width direction groove (17) is arranged in an inside region (IN) of the tread portion (7), and a circumferential direction groove (23) and an outside width direction groove (25) are arranged in an outside region (OUT) of the tread portion (7).

Abstract: A tire includes a reinforced summit, an inner carcass structure, an outer carcass structure, two sidewalls, and two beads each having a base adapted to be mounted on a mounting rim. Each bead is extended radially upward by a sidewall portion joining the summit. The tire is adapted for continued mobility in a substantially deflated condition and includes runflat inserts provided in an axially inner portion of respective sidewalls. The reinforced summit is provided with at least one reinforcing cord arrangement disposed between the inner carcass structure and the outer carcass structure. The outer carcass structure is disposed radially inwardly from the summit and extends towards the shoulder zones where extremities of the outer carcass structure are situated.

Abstract: A run-flat pneumatic vehicle tire has at least one cross-sectionally crescent-shaped reinforcing profile incorporated in the region of each sidewall and respectively extending at least over a large part of the length of the sidewall. Bead regions with bead cores and bead profiles have at least one bead strip, arranged at least under the bead cores and forming the bead heel. The at least one bead strip, acting together with a rim seat, ensures the seating of the tire on the rim. In order to increase the static friction between the bead heel and the rim, the bead heel is formed of a soft rubber compound with a Shore A hardness of less than 70, at least radially underneath the core, on its outer surface that is facing the rim seat and rests on the rim seat.

Abstract: Provided is a run flat tire having an enhanced ride comfort in running on general road surfaces and an enhanced driving stability on snowy road surfaces at the time when the tire is not punctured, as well as an enhanced maneuverability, particularly starting ability, on icy road surfaces in run-flat running where the tire is punctured. Three belt layers (8, 9, 10) are disposed on an outer circumferential side of a carcass layer (6) in a tread portion (4). In addition, as to the three belt layers, the cord angle ? of the innermost belt layer (8) with respect to a circumferential direction of the tire is set at 15° to 30°, the cord angle ? of the intermediate belt layer (9) with respect to the circumferential direction of the tire is set at not less than 40°, and the cord angle ? of the outermost belt layer (10) with respect to the circumferential direction of the tire is set at 35° to 70°.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pneumatic run-flat radial tire of side reinforcing type, which has significantly improved run-flat durability without adversely affecting actual vehicle properties such as ride comfort. The pneumatic run-flat radial tire includes a carcass layer 5, a main belt 8, a tread portion 9, a side wall portion 12, and a reinforcing rubber layer 13 having a substantially crescent cross section. A cord having a difference in thermal shrinkage stress between at 30° C. and at 80° C. of 3.0×10?2 cN/dtex or more is used as cords of at least one carcass ply of the carcass layer 5. The slope a of decreasing rate (%) of the dynamic storage modulus of elasticity E? of the reinforcing rubber 13 from 30° C. to 50° C. satisfies the following condition: ???3.0×10?2[%]/[deg]; and the slope ? of decreasing rate (%) of the dynamic storage modulus of elasticity E? from 50° C. to 80° C. satisfies the following condition: ???8.0×10?2[%]/[deg].

Abstract: A vehicle pneumatic tire with run-flat characteristics is formed of a profiled tread, multilayered belting, an air-tight inner layer, a carcass wound around high-tensile strength cores and core profiles on cores in the bead area, axially from inside to outside as a carcass riser, side walls within which there is at least one reinforcing profile with a crescent-shaped cross section closed annularly over the circumference of the side wall, and a bead reinforcing element with a reinforcement. The bead reinforcing element that is axially inside of the core profile has reinforcements oriented at a 90 degree angle to the tread periphery, and the carcass is configured as a single layer.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire largely improves the run-flat durability while preventing the deterioration of the ride comfort to the input of vibrations to the tire at a normal state and comprises a reinforcing rubber 6 arranged inside a sidewall portion 2 and having a crescent form at its cross section, in which one cord reinforcing layer 9 having a rubberized structure of steel cords is arranged along a turnup portion 5a of a carcass ply 5 around a bead core 4 and an interval between the steel cords in the cord reinforcing layer is within a range of 2.5-20 times a diameter of the cord.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rubber composition which comprises a rubber component comprising 50% by mass or more of an isocyanate-modified diene rubber having a content of vinyl bond of 20% by mass or greater in the diene component and, based on 100 parts by mass of the rubber component, 2 to 20 parts by mass of a phenolic resin and 0.5 to 5 parts by mass of a curing agent for the resin and a run flat tire in which the rubber composition is used for the side reinforcing layer and/or the bead filler. Durability under the run flat condition is improved without adverse effects on ride quality during driving under the normal condition.

Abstract: A composite sheet has confined flexibility and is used in a safety pneumatic tire which is self-supporting under zero inflation pressure. The composite sheet comprises a matrix of high modulus solid objects, low modulus material, and optionally a matrix of cords, the high modulus solid objects being assembled to form a mechanism which allows the composite sheet to bend easily within predetermined ranges and confines the composite sheet from further bending when the limits of the predetermined ranges are reached. The safety pneumatic tire comprises a pair of the composite sheets disposed at sidewall regions under a carcass and/or a layer of the composite sheet disposed above a belt package. A method of making the composite sheet includes forming a chain of the high modulus solid objects having a desired locking position.

Abstract: The present invention can provide a rubber composition, in which all of strength at break, low heat-build up property, run-flat durability and low fuel consumption can be improved since the rubber composition comprises 5 to 120 parts by weight of flake-like graphite having an average aspect ratio of 3 to 80 and an average particle diameter of 2 to 80 ?m on the basis of 100 parts by weight of a diene rubber component, and a run-flat tire using the rubber composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a run flat tire having improved durability during a blowout, an increased running distance and velocity, and using for a side portion reinforcing layer a rubber composition including a rubber component containing 20 to 80% by mass of styrene-butadiene rubber including 5 to 60% by mass of syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene crystal, and 10 to 80% by mass of natural rubber and/or polyisoprene rubber, and carbon black blended in an amount of 10 to 80 parts by mass with 100 parts by mass of the rubber component. The rubber composition preferably contains a C5-based petroleum resin having a number-average molecular weight of 300 to 10000, which is obtained by polymerizing C5-based petroleum hydrocarbon, in an amount of 0.5 to 10 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the rubber component.

Abstract: In the invention, a run-flat tire including a pair of bead portions having an annular first bead, sidewall portions respectively extending to an outer side in a tire diametrical direction from the bead portions, reinforce rubber layers arranged in the sidewall portions, a tread portion connecting outer peripheral side ends of the sidewall portions via shoulder portions, wherein the run-flat tire includes an annular inflating portion provided on the outside in a tire width direction of the bead portion arranged on the outside of the vehicle, and having an inner circumferential side face opposing to an outer circumferential curved side face of a rim flange when a regular rim is fixed; and an annular second bead arranged at the annular inflating portion, wherein the reinforce rubber layer arranged on the outside of the vehicle has a rubber hardness of 60 to 82 degree, the reinforce rubber layer arranged on the inside of the vehicle has a rubber hardness of 65 to 90 degree, and the reinforce rubber layer arranged

Abstract: A run flat tire which comprises a ply layer (4) disposed extending toroidally between a pair of bead cores and comprising ply coating rubber and ply cords, an inner liner layer (5) disposed circumferentially at an inner side of the ply layer, side reinforcing rubber layers (6) having an approximately crescent-shaped cross section and disposed in side portions of the tire between the ply layer and the inner liner layer and rubber sheets (7) disposed extending at interface of the ply layer and the side reinforcing rubber layer, wherein relations of t90>tp10 and t10<ts90 are satisfied when characteristic values of vulcanization obtained in accordance with JIS K6300-2 are represented by tp10 and tp90 for the ply coating rubber, ts10, and ts90 for the side reinforcing rubber and t10 and t90 for the rubber for a sheet.

Abstract: A pneumatic run-flat tire has a bead configuration wherein the axially inner end is radially inward of the axially outer end of the bead. The sidewall of the tire, from the bead region to the upper sidewall is reinforced to form a pillar support in the sidewall. The bead configuration and the pillar reinforcement enable the tire to lock itself onto a tire rim during low pressure operation and be self-supporting.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having at least one component, the at least component including a rubber composition, the rubber composition including a diene based elastomer and 10 to 100 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer, of a nanozeolite having a particle size of less than 1000 nm and a negative coefficient of thermal expansion over at least part of the temperature range of 0° C. to 200° C.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire that improves riding comfort under normal driving conditions, and improves durability under run-flat conditions, while inhibiting a weight increase. This pneumatic tire includes a carcass layer and belt layer. The carcass layer contains two or more carcass plies constituted of organic fiber cords. The belt layer contains at least two belt plies, each arranged radially outwards from the carcass layer of the tire in a tread part. The tread part includes a tread reinforcement rubber layer that is located between the radially outer carcass ply and the radially inner belt ply. Each side wall part includes a side reinforcement rubber layer having a crescent-shaped cross-section, located inwards from the axially inner carcass ply. At least one of the carcass plies constituting the carcass layer is folded back about bead cores respectively of bead parts.

Abstract: A pneumatic runflat tire comprising a sidewall component comprising a rubber composition comprising at least one diene based elastomer and from about 1 to about 40 phr of glass bubbles having a crush strength of at least 10,000 psi as measured by ASTM D3102-78 in glycerol.

Abstract: Rubber compositions having feather material incorporated therein and products formed from these rubber compositions, an example being a cross-linkable or cross-linked rubber composition having an essentially unsaturated rubber elastomer and a filler that is selected from carbon black, silica or combinations thereof with between 1 and 60 phr of feather material, the feather material having feather barbs with a diameter of about 5 ?m and a length of between about 5 and 25 mm. Other embodiments include, with the feather barbs, the feather quills wherein at least a portion of the feather barbs are not separated from the feather quills. The feather material may include a coupling agent comprising a first moiety that is reactant with the rubber elastomer and a second moiety that is reactant with the feather material.

Abstract: A self-supporting pneumatic tire, capable of continued operation during under-inflation conditions, has at least one insert located in each tire sidewall. Forming the interior surface of the self-supporting tire is a stiffening layer of material having characteristics similar to that of the insert. In the tread region of the tire, and radially inward of the innermost carcass layer, and possibly in the interior bead region of the tire, is a partial inner liner layer of the bromobutyl rubber.

Abstract: A pneumatic runflat tire comprising a sidewall component comprising a rubber composition comprising at least one diene based elastomer and from about 1 to about 40 phr of glass bubbles having a crush strength of at least 10,000 psi as measured by ASTM D3102-78 in glycerol.

Abstract: A pneumatic runflat tire including at least one sidewall insert, the at least one sidewall insert including a heterogenous rubber compound comprising first rubber and second rubber composition phases, wherein the second rubber phase is further vulcanizable.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tire having an improved durability in the run-flat running without damaging the ride comfort in the usual running, and more particularly to a run-flat tire comprising a sidewall portion provided with a side reinforcing rubber layer having a crescent shape at section wherein a cord layer including a polyketone fiber cord satisfying the following conditions of the following equations (I) and (II): ???0.01×E+1.2 ??(I) ??0.02 ??(II) [wherein ? is a thermal shrinkage stress at 177° C. (cN/dtex) and E is an elastic modulus at 25° C. under a load of 49 N (cN/dtex)] is disposed in at least a part of a region A ranging from a belt end to a maximum width part of a tire side portion and a region B ranging from a neighborhood of a bead core to a bead filler.

Abstract: A pneumatic run-flat tire, the tire comprising at least one carcass reinforcing ply, at least one pair of sidewall wedge inserts, and a belt reinforcing structure, the belt reinforcing structure comprising at least a pair of cross cord belt reinforcing plies, the tire being characterized by at least one pair of elastomeric layers each located radially inward of the at least one carcass reinforcing ply and radially outward of each of the sidewall wedge inserts; the elastomeric layers extending from axially inward of an edge of the belt reinforcing structure to at least a midpoint of a sidewall, the elastomeric layers comprising a rubber composition comprising: 100 parts by weight of natural rubber; from 20 to 30 phr of silica and exclusive of carbon black; and from 0 to 20 phr of polyoctenamer.

Abstract: A runflat tire comprises a tread portion, a pair of sidewall portions, a pair of bead portions each having a bead core therein, a carcass extending between the bead cores, and a sidewall reinforcing rubber disposed axially inside the carcass in each sidewall portion, wherein each sidewall reinforcing rubber is provided with a plurality of grooves extending on an axially inner surface thereof, each groove has a radially outer end and a radially inner end within the inner surface of the sidewall reinforcing rubber, the grooves are arranged in a circumferential direction of the tire, a length of the groove is in a range of from 30 to 50 mm, a width of the groove is in a range of from 10 to 20 mm and a circumferential pitch of the groove is in a range of from 25 to 60 mm.

Abstract: Extended-mobility tire includes at least one carcass-type reinforcement structure, with each of the tire's sidewalls being reinforced by a sidewall insert. Each bead of the tire includes an anchoring zone permitting the reinforcement structure to be held on a rim and including an anchoring rubber mix with a series of circumferential cord windings. Each bead further includes a bead seat zone formed of a rubber mix of modulus ME10 which is less than that of the mix of the anchoring zone and arranged radially internally of the anchoring zone. The bead seat zone physically separates the anchoring zone from the seat of the rim when the tire is mounted. The bead seat zone has a maximum thickness of 2.8 mm, and is preferably equal to or less than 2.2. mm. This arrangement makes it possible to increase the tire's lateral rigidity, without adversely affecting the intrinsic properties of the tire's rim zone and/or the sidewalls.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire including a circumferential tread, two spaced apart beads, and sidewalls connecting said beads and tread, wherein said tire sidewall contains at least one internal annular sidewall insert including at least two annular segments, the at least two annular segments including first and second adjacent annular segments; wherein said first and second annular segments are disposed with an interface therebetween; wherein each of the at least two annular segments includes a rubber composition comprising at least one diene based rubber and at least one vulcanization modifier selected from the group consisting of ?,?-bis(N,N?-dihydrocarbylthiocarbamamoyldithio)alkanes, bismaleimides, and biscitraconimides; and wherein the concentration of vulcanization modifier in the first annular segment is less than the concentration of vulcanization modifier in the second annular segment.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising at least one component comprising a rubber composition comprising a diene based elastomer and an inorganic negative thermal expansion (NTE) filler comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of metal tungstates, metal phosphates, metal molybdates, metal vanadates, and metal arsenates, wherein the inorganic filler has a negative coefficient of thermal expansion in at least part of the temperature range of 0° C. to 200° C.

Abstract: A rubber composition favorably used for a reinforcing layer of a run flat tire, which have both low exothermic property and high strength. A rubber composition for a tire, comprising 10 to 100 parts by weight of carbon black having a nitrogen adsorbing-specific area of 30 to 100 m2/g and a dibutyl phthalate oil absorption amount of at least 50 ml/100 g and at least 2 parts by weight of sulfur or a sulfur compound based on 100 parts by weight of a rubber component containing 10 to 70% by weight of a butadiene rubber obtained by copolymerizing a compound represented by the formula (1): (wherein R1 represents an amino group, an alkoxy group, a silyloxy group, an acetal group, a carboxyl group, a mercapto group or derivatives thereof).

Abstract: A pneumatic radial ply tire incorporating a crown reinforcing structure comprises at least one reinforcing hoop located approximately on the equatorial plane and disposed radially inward of the tread and radially outward of the carcass structure. The hoop is surrounded or encased by a layer of elastomeric transition material providing a flexible structural connection between the hoop and the adjacent carcass structure and belt structure. The hoop may have a substantially lenticular shape, or a complex shape with two thickened sections or lobes connected by a thin waist-like section, or a shape and a location that is asymmetric with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire, and may be made by winding a thin strip of material such as UHMWPE in an elastomeric matrix. The hoop may replace the belt structure of the tire.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire is capable of operation during underinflated condition and the construction of sidewalls are configured to compensate for negative cambers acting upon the tire. The inboard side of the tire is softened in comparison to the outboard side of the tire. This is achieved by either forming an asymmetrical tire in either the tire profile or the internal construction.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a tread portion having a pair of lateral tread edges, a pair of bead portions, a pair of sidewalls that each extend radially from one of the lateral tread edges of the tread portion to one of the bead portions, an inner liner, and a pair of sidewall inserts. Each of the sidewall inserts is disposed between one of the sidewalls and the inner liner. Each of the sidewall inserts includes a top portion and a bottom portion that are each made of high modulus, low hysteresis run-flat stock. Each of the sidewall inserts also includes a center portion made of sidewall stock disposed between the top and bottom portions.

Abstract: There is provided a rubber compound for reinforcing a side portion of a tire and a run flat tire that can maintain satisfactory tensile elongation at break and also provide better run-flat performance. The rubber compound for reinforcing a side portion of a tire contains at least one of natural rubber and isoprene rubber in an amount of 20-80 parts by weight and syndiotactic crystal-containing butadiene rubber in an amount of 80-20 parts by weight to provide 100 parts by weight of a rubber compound, with silica blended therein in an amount of 5-50 parts by weight, the silica having a pH value of 7.0-12.0 in a 5% aqueous solution.

Abstract: A side-reinforcing rubber composition for a run flat tire, which achieves both low heat generating properties and high strength and improves run flat durability, and a run flat tire which uses such a rubber composition, said composition containing 10 to 100 parts by weight of carbon black having nitrogen-adsorbing specific surface area of 30 to 100 m2/g and dibutyl phthalate oil absorption of at least 50 ml/100 g, 5 to 120 parts by weight of a laminated natural mineral having an aspect ratio of 3 to 30 and average particle size of 2 to 30 ?m, and at least 2 parts by weight of sulfur or a sulfur compound, based on 100 parts by weight of a diene rubber component.

Abstract: A run-flat tire comprises a carcass comprising at least one carcass ply of cords extending between a pair of bead portions through a tread portion and sidewall portions, a sidewall reinforcing rubber layer disposed in each sidewall portion and tapering towards its radially inner end and outer end from a central portion to have a crescent shape in a meridian section of the tire, and a reinforcing cord layer disposed axially outside of each sidewall reinforcing rubber layer and comprising at least one reinforcing ply with cords inclined with respect to a radial direction of the tire.

Abstract: There is provided a pneumatic tire having an aspect ratio of not less than 60 and considerably improving run flat durability as compared with the conventional type of the run flat tire, wherein at least one cushion rubber layer having a loss tangent lower than a loss tangent (tan ?) of a coating rubber for cords of a carcass ply is arranged between an end portion of a belt and a reinforcing rubber layer in a shoulder region and between mutually adjacent tire constitutional members. And also, when the carcass is comprised of plural plies, at least one ply is separated off in a zone beneath the belt, whereby the ride comfort against vibrations can be more improved.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rubber composition for a tire, which achieves both low heat generating properties and high strength and improves durability of a run flat tire, and a run flat tire obtained using the rubber composition. Specifically, the present invention provides a rubber composition for a tire comprising 10 to 100 parts by weight of carbon black having nitrogen-adsorbing specific surface area of 30 to 100 m2/g and dibutyl phthalate oil absorption of at least 50 ml/100 g, and at least 2 parts by weight of a vulcanizing agent, based on 100 parts by weight of a rubber component containing 10 to 50% by weight of star-shaped solution polymerization butadiene rubber, and a run flat tire using the composition as the reinforcing rubber layer of the sidewall.

Abstract: A self-supporting tyre for a vehicle wheel includes a carcass structure, a belt structure, a tread band, a pair of sidewalls, and at least one elastic stiffening insert. The carcass structure includes at least one carcass ply provided with end flaps engaged with respective annular reinforcing structures. The annular reinforcing structures are disposed in coaxial relationship with a geometric rotation axis of the tyre at positions axially spaced apart from each other. Each annular reinforcing structure includes at least one first circumferentially inextensible annular anchoring insert. The at least one elastic stiffening insert is incorporated into the carcass structure, at least at one of the sidewalls, and includes a radially internal end portion at least partly disposed in axial side-by-side relationship against the at least one first annular anchoring insert. A method of making the tyre is also disclosed.

Abstract: A self-supporting pneumatic tire is molded in such a manner that ride comfort is improved, durability is increased, and a greater run-flat capability can be achieved. The self-supporting run-flat tire is molded such that the molded bead base width is equal or less than the rim width of the intended rim upon which the tire is to be mounted. By molding the tire with a bead width less than or equal to the rim width, the sidewall inserts are not subjected to additional stress during and after inflation of the tire and the strain energy is more evenly distributed through the sidewall pillar construction.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a tread with shoulders, a belt structure located below the tread, and a carcass with two sidewalls, two inextensible annular beads, and a radial ply structure. The shoulders of the tire have a continuous curving radially outer profile so that the shoulders transition smoothly from the tread profile to the tire sidewalls. The tire has a belt structure formed of an annular layer of parallel cords, the annular layer having a pair of opposing annular edges and a continuous radius curve profile. Located radially inward of the axial edges of the annular layer of the belt structure is an annular reinforcing strip layer. The strip has a width of not greater than 30 mm and extends axially outward of the annular layer edges by a distance of not more than 10 mm.

Abstract: A run-flat tire comprises: a carcass comprising a carcass ply of cords extending between bead portions and turned up around a bead core in each bead portion from the inside to outside of the tire so as to form a pair of turnup portions and a main portion therebetween a belt disposed radially outside the carcass in the tread portion and a reinforcing rubber layer comprising a pair of side parts each provided between the main portion and the turnup portion and extending from the bead core to the proximity of axially outer edge of the belt, and a center part disposed between the carcass and the belt and connected to the side parts of both side.

Abstract: A self-supporting tyre (1) has reinforcing structures at the beads (4) defining rest surfaces (4a) for a corresponding rim (1a) which have a profile converging towards the tyre rotation axis away from the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre itself. The carcass plies (3a, 3b) are each made by sequential deposition of strip-like sections circumferentially distributed on a toroidal support (11). Elastic-support inserts (16, 21) are interposed between the side portions (13a, 14a) of axially internal sections (13), axial intermediate sections (15). In this manner around at least one of said support inserts opening degree of which can be modulated depending on requirements, by modifying the land/empty space ratio determined by the distance existing between the side portions (13a, 14a, 15a) of the strip-like sections (13, 14, 15) covering each of the axially opposite sides of the support insert itself.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pneumatic run-flat tire. The tire has at least one carcass reinforcing ply, at least one pair of sidewall wedge inserts, and a belt reinforcing structure. The belt reinforcing structure is formed from at least a pair of cross cord belt reinforcing plies. Located radially outward of the carcass reinforcing ply is a porous elastomeric layer. The porous elastomeric layer has a porosity level of 20 to 80%, preferably 40–70%, of the total volume of the porous elastomeric layer.