Abstract: The run-flat tire has a tread for contacting a ground surface and a belt package with belt plies interior to the tread for support of the tread. A plurality of radially reinforced carcass layers are positioned interior to the belt plies and include at least one carcass layer that extends between spaced apart annular beads. The tire has a pair of sidewalls each extending radially inward from shoulders at lateral edges of the belt package to the annular beads. The sidewalls have a plurality of sidewall stiffening members to support the tire during a loss of inflation pressure. The carcass layers are disposed with the sidewall stiffening members to help support the run-flat tire with a loss of inflation pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a run-flat low inflation pressure all terrain vehicle (ATV) tire 10,11, wherein the tire 10,11 has at least one pair of elastomeric inserts 42,46, one insert 42,46 extending radially inward from each tread edge 14,16 toward a bead core 26. The radially inner end of the insert is radially inward of an elastomeric apex 48 located above the respective bead cores 26. The bead cores 26 have a wide substantially flat radially inner base which when the tire 10,11 is mounted on a conventional ATV design rim enable the tire 10,11 to remain seated onto the rim even when operating without any inflation. The preferred tire 10,11 has a unique tread 12. The central portion 13 of the tread 12 has circumferential rows of blocks or lugs 94. The lugs of laterally adjacent rows in a central region 13 of the tread 12 are connected by tie bars 93 which when employed on these run-flat tires keeps the tread lugs 94 in ground contact even when the tire is operated uninflated.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire 10 has a pair of sidewall portions 20, a pair of bead regions 22 and a carcass 30 reinforced with at least two sidewall fillers or inserts 42, 46 for each sidewall portion and at least one cord reinforced ply 38 and two bead cores 26 one in each bead region and a reinforcing belt structure 36. This tire is preferably a runflat radial ply tire. The at least one cord reinforced ply 38 has a pair of turnup ends 32 wrapped around the pair of bead cores 26. The turnup ends 32 each extend radially outwardly to a terminal end 33 located under the reinforcing belt structure 36. The first insert 42 for each sidewall portion lies radially inward and adjacent the at least one ply 38. The second insert 46 for each sidewall portion is radially between the at least one ply 38 and its turnup end 32.

Abstract: A runflat radial ply pneumatic tire 10 has a carcass 30 which has a pair of sidewalls 20, each sidewall being reinforced with at least two sidewall fillers or runflat inserts 42, 46 and at least two cord reinforced plies 38, 40 and a bead core 26. The tire has one or more reinforcing belts 36. Each sidewall has at least one ply 38 or 40 reinforced with cords, the cords have a modulus E of X, X being at least 10 GPa. At least one ply has a turnup end 32 wrapped around the bead core 26. A second ply 38 or 40 is reinforced with substantially inextensible cords having a modulus E greater than X of the cords of the other ply. The second ply 38 or 40 is spaced from the first ply 38 or 40 by the second filler or runflat insert in the sidewall 20.

Abstract: A radial pneumatic tire having excellent run-flat durability. The tire is equipped with a belt (4), which includes a plurality of metal cord layers, and a tread (5) successively placed at a periphery of a crown portion (3) of a toroidal radial carcass (2), and is equipped with, at an inner peripheral surface of the side portion (6) of the carcass, a rubber reinforcing layer (7) having a crescent moon shaped cross-section and bearing and supporting load. The tire has an auxiliary belt (8) disposed between the carcass and the belt and including organic fiber cords which are oriented substantially cross to the cords of the carcass and the cords of the belt with respect to a central equatorial plane, the cords of the auxiliary belt substantially crossing the central equatorial plane.

Abstract: The run-flat tire has a tread for contacting a ground surface and a belt package with belt plies interior to the tread for support of the tread. A plurality of radially reinforced carcass layers are positioned interior to the belt plies and include at least one carcass layer that extends between spaced apart annular beads. The tire has a pair of sidewalls each extending radially inward from shoulders at lateral edges of the belt package to the annular beads. The sidewalls have a plurality of sidewall stiffening members to support the tire during a loss of inflation pressure. The carcass layers are disposed with the sidewall stiffening members to help support the run-flat tire with a loss of inflation pressure.

Abstract: A radial ply pneumatic tire has a carcass with a bead portion, a carcass reinforcing structure, and a bead filler. The carcass reinforcing structure has at least two plies. The turnup ends of a first or a second ply are wrapped about each bead and terminates in radial proximity of the maximum section width of the tire. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tire carcass includes elastomeric first and second filers the first filler being located between the first ply and the innerliner of the tire, and the second filer being located between the first and second ply. The fillers stiffen the sidewalls to permit the tire to be driven while uninflated. The tire may further include an aramid overlay radially outwardly of the reinforcing belt.

Abstract: The run-flat tire of this invention includes a pair of bead regions, a crown region with a tread and a tread reinforcing package including a cap ply and self supporting sidewalls between each bead region and the crown region. An innerliner ply maintains air within the inflated tire. The self supporting sidewalls each include a first crescent-shaped reinforcing member, an inner carcass layer, an inner sidewall supporting complex and an outer sidewall and bead protecting complex. The supporting sidewalls effectively have a plurality of crescent-shaped reinforcing members and a plurality of carcass layers. The sidewall supporting complexes are realized by providing first and second partial carcass layers along with a filler rubber portion and a second crescent-shaped reinforcing member, which can be formed by a separate tire building operation. The sidewall protecting complexes can be formed in a similar operation.

Abstract: A pneumatic passenger tire has an aspect ratio of greater than 50%, having bead portions with a height of not less than 30% of the tire section height, but no greater than the height of the maximum section width of the tire, and a pair of crescent-shaped sidewall inserts on either side of the belt package, disposed axially inward of the carcass structure, wherein the sidewall insert has a first inner end located at a position between 15% and 45% of height H of the bead portions, and a second outer end which extends to an axial position of not less than 40% of a half width of the outermost belt, as measured from the lateral edge of the belt toward an equatorial plane EP of the tire. The tire construction has sidewall insert is comprised of a sulfur-vulcanizable rubber compound having high compressive flex fatigue, high modulus and low hysterisis subsequent to vulcanization.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire or run flat tire comprises a pair of bead cores, a radial carcass of a rubberized cord ply, a belt comprised of rubberized belt layers, a tread disposed outside the belt in the radial direction, and a side portion reinforcing layer extending along an inner surface of the carcass over a full region of each side portion and having a crescent shape at a radial section thereof, in which when a periphery length of the side portion reinforcing layer is divided into three equal parts along an inner surface of the tire, a thickness of the side portion reinforcing layer at a section in a radial direction of the tire is thickest in the vicinity of the 1/3 point located outward in the radial direction.

Abstract: A run-flat radial ply pneumatic tire 10 has a carcass structure reinforced with pairs of elastomeric sidewall fillers 42,46,48 and at least three bead cores 26,26' and 37. At least one bead core 37 lies axially between the lateral edges of the tread 12 and extends radially inwardly of the tread 12 and reinforcing belts 36 and radially outwardly of the first and second bead cores 26,26' and a carcass reinforcing structure 30. In several embodiments improved wet traction tread designs are employed.

Abstract: A radial ply pneumatic tire is described. The tire has a carcass with a bead portion, a carcass reinforcing structure, and a bead filler. The carcass reinforcing structure has at least two plies. The turnup ends of a first and second ply are wrapped about each bead. The turnup end of one of the plies terminates in radial proximity of the maximum section width of the tire. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tire carcass includes elastomeric first and second fillers the first filler being located between the first ply and the innerliner of the tire, and the second filler being located between the first and second ply. The fillers stiffen the sidewalls to permit the tire to be driven while uninflated. The tire may further include an aramid overlay radially outwardly of the reinforcing belt.

Abstract: Tire components are assembled on a tire building drum by laying a first liner on a surface of the drum, positioning first sidewall inserts below the cylindrical surface of the drum and around the drum at insert locations spaced from each end of the drum, laying a first carcass ply around the drum, positioning second inserts over the first ply at the insert locations, laying a second carcass over the first ply and the second inserts, positioning beads at each end of the drum, expanding the drum to increase the diameter of the cylindrical surface of the drum and provide shoulders at each end of the drum, turning edges of the first ply and the second ply over each of the beads, positioning a belt and tread assembly around the second ply, and contracting the drum for removal of the assembled tire components from the drum. The inserts are positioned in grooves extending radially inwardly in the outer surface of the building drum.

Abstract: A pneumatic runflat tire includes ribs mounted axially outwardly of the carcass ply. The ribs are each made of a non-elastomeric material. The preferred rib is compound composite material having first, second, and third layers. The first and third layers of the rib are a fiberglass and epoxy composite and the second layer is an elastomer. The ribs provide primarily radial stiffness support capability of a sufficient level to support the weight of the vehicle in the absence of tire inflation.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire comprising a pair of bead portions and sidewall portions and a tread portion connecting the sidewalls. At least one radial carcass layer reinforcing said portions is positioned between two beads embedded in the bead portions. A belt comprises at least two layers having cords crossing each other from one layer to the next, a cap circumferentially wound having organic fiber cords therein and reinforcing rubber layers in an entire region of the side wall portions supporting a load of the tire having a crescent shaped cross section along an inner side of the carcass. At least one tie-element layer resisting force generated in width directions of the tire and having many cords oriented substantially orthogonally with respect to an equatorial plane of the tire is arranged between the belt and the cap.

Abstract: A tire, intended to be inflated but capable of running in a deflated condition, the carcass (2) of which incorporates, at each of the sidewalls (5) thereof, a first and a second reinforcing insert (16, 17) having in section a substantially lenticular form tapering to the ends, interposed between a first carcass ply (10) and a second carcass ply (11) and mutually joined at the tire maximum-chord point. Also applied to each sidewall against the carcass ply (10) turned to the inner part of the tire is an elastic support insert (13) of lenticular section having a maximum thickness portion (13a) disposed at the junction point (18) between the two reinforcing insertions (16, 17). The elastic support insert (13) comprises a substantially stiff counter core (14) of lenticular section, and a cover (15) made of elastomeric material have a low modulus of elasticity, coating the counter core (14) at one side thereof turned towards the carcass plies.

Abstract: The run-flat tire includes thickened load bearing sidewall portions, a belt package plus a cap ply, three pairs of sidewall rubber crescent-shaped reinforcing members, a specially designed bead seat area with a rim seat ply and three carcass layers. The three carcass layers are positioned between the crescent-shaped members in each load bearing sidewall.

Abstract: A sulfur-vulcanizable rubber compound, being devoid of peroxide components, having high modulus and low hysteresis properties subsequent to vulcanization. Such compounds comprise from about 25 to 55 parts by weight of polyisoprene; and from about 75 to 45 parts by weight of a diene polymer selected from the group consisting of homopolymers of conjugated diene monomers and copolymers thereof with monoolefin monomers and EPDM terpolymers to total 100 parts by weight of rubber polymer; from about 50 to 70 parts by weight of a reinforcing filler, per 100 parts by weight wherein at least a portion of at least one of the rubber polymers is grafted with a polymeric metal salt of an .alpha., .beta.-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid to form an uncured graft rubber copolymer and at least about 4 parts by weight of a curative selected from the group consisting of sulfur and sulfur donors, per 100 parts by weight of rubber.

Abstract: A sulfur-vulcanizable rubber compound, being devoid of peroxide components, having high modulus and low hysteresis properties subsequent to vulcanization. Such compounds comprise from about 25 to 55 parts by weight of polyisoprene; and from about 75 to 45 parts by weight of a diene polymer selected from the group consisting of homopolymers of conjugated diene monomers and copolymers thereof with monoolefin monomers and EPDM terpolymers to total 100 parts by weight of rubber polymer; from about 50 to 70 parts by weight of a reinforcing filler, per 100 parts by weight wherein at least a portion of at least one of the rubber polymers is grafted with a polymeric metal salt of an .alpha., .beta.-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid to form an uncured graft rubber copolymer and at least about 4 parts by weight of a curative selected from the group consisting of sulfur and sulfur donors, per 100 parts by weight of rubber.

Abstract: The weight, space and convenience advantages of a run-flat tire can be substantial. This is especially true for the urban-economy car or family type vehicles which have limited space available for a spare tire and inadequate space for the removed flat tire. These vehicles also have higher comfort requirements that must be addressed. The mini-spare solution to the flat tire problem has very limited performance capabilities. Other solutions include major modifications in the rim and/or the tire, which are not cost effective or compatible with a conversion to standard tires on the same rims.The run-flat tire of this invention includes thickened sidewall portions, a belt package with a cap ply, lower sidewall rubber support portions, a specially designed bead seat area with a rim seat ply and three carcass layers. The classical problems of inflated vs. deflated performance tradeoffs in ride comfort, handling, radial stiffness and endurance of the tire are substantially improved.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire comprising a pair of bead portions and sidewall portions and a tread portion connecting the sidewalls. At least one radial carcass layer reinforcing said portions is positioned between two beads embedded in the bead portions. A belt comprises at least two layers having cords crossing each other from one layer to the next, a cap circumferentially wound having organic fiber cords therein and reinforcing rubber layers in an entire region of the side wall portions supporting a load of the tire having a crescent shaped cross section along an inner side of the carcass. At least one tie-element layer resisting force generated in width directions of the tire and having many cords oriented substantially orthogonally with respect to an equatorial plane of the tire is arranged between the belt and the cap.

Abstract: A tire, intended to be inflated but capable of running in a deflated condition, the carcass (2) of which incorporates, at each of the sidewalls (5) thereof, a first and a second reinforcing insert (16, 17) having in cross-section a substantially lenticular form tapering to the ends, interposed between a first carcass ply (10) and a second carcass ply (11) and mutually joined at the tire maximum-chord point. Also applied to each sidewall against the carcass ply (10) turned to the inner part of the tire is an elastic support insert (13) of lenticular cross-section having a maximum thickness portion (13a) disposed at the junction point (18) between the two reinforcing insertions (16, 17). The elastic support insert (13) comprises a substantially stiff counter core (14) of lenticular cross-section, and a cover (15) made of elastomeric material have a low modulus of elasticity, coating the counter core (14) at one side thereof turned towards the carcass plies.

Abstract: A radial ply pneumatic tire is described. The tire has a carcass with a bead portion, a carcass reinforcing structure, and a bead filler. The carcass reinforcing structure has two plies with turnup ends wrapped about each bead. The turnup end of the first ply terminates in radial proximity of the maximum section width of the tire. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tire carcass includes elastomeric first and second fillers the first filler being located between the first ply and the innerliner of the tire, and the second filler being located between the first and second ply. The fillers stiffen the sidewalls to permit the tire to be driven while uninflated. The bead core of the preferred embodiment has a flat base and a first and second surface extending from the base and inclined relative to the base thereby forming acute included angles of .alpha. and .beta. whereby .alpha. is greater than or equal to .beta..

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprising a cylindrical tread, a pair of sidewalls, bead rings, a radial carcass, rubber fillers each arranged between each turn-up portions and a main body of the carcass and extending from above the bead ring toward the tread portion such that the radially sectional shape of the rubber film becomes narrower toward the tread portion, and a pair of thick rubber reinforcement layers arranged on respective axially inner sides of the carcass in the sidewall portions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a run-flat tire comprising an inner sidewall disposed on an axially inner curved face of the carcass in each sidewall portion, the inner sidewall tapered to have a crescent cross-sectional shape, the radius of the curvature of a primary portion of the axially inner face being 0.30 to 0.50 times the tire section height, the total thickness of each sidewall portion satisfying the following conditions: 0.18.ltoreq.x/H.ltoreq.0.34; y<x; 300<(x+y).sup.yx/y .ltoreq.450, wherein x equals the total thickness (mm) measured along a straight line drawn normal to the carcass from the axially outer edge of the radially innermost belt ply; y equals the total thickness (mm) measured at the maximum section width point at which the cross section width of the tire is maximum; H equals the section height of the tire.

Abstract: A run-flat pneumatic radial tire having an aspect ratio of up to 50%, which includes a reinforcing liner layer made of a rubber having a complex modulus at 20.degree. C. E*.sub.20, a ratio of a complex modulus at 100.degree. C. to the complex modulus at 20.degree. C., a 100% modulus and a loss tangent (tan .delta.) at 100.degree. C. which satisfy certain specified numeric values. The liner has a crescent sectional shape and is disposed in sidewall portions of a carcass layer with its end portions overlapping the end portions of a belt layer and a bead filler having a specified hardness and height h from a wheel rim base. The carcass layer consists of an inner carcass layer turned up around the bead core from inside to outside the tire so that its end portion is positioned at a position higher than the height h of the bead filler and an outer carcass layer having an end portion disposed axially outward of the bead core.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a carcass 1 and at each sidewall 5 thereof are a first and a second elastomeric reinforcement inserts 13, 15 interposed between a first and a second carcass plies 10, 11. Each insert is thinner towards the respective opposite radial ends of its section. The reinforcement inserts 13, 15 are adjacent and in alignment with the maximum width of the tire 2 at a point 14. A third elastomeric insert 16 of lenticular section, internally covers the first carcass ply 10 and has an area of maximum thickness 16a in substantial alignment with the point of adjacency 14 between the reinforcement inserts 13, 15. The first and second reinforcement inserts 13, 15 behave like stiff arms, mutually hinged at their point 14 of adjacency. The movement of the arms toward each other is counteracted by a third elastomeric insert 16 acting as a spring therebetween.

Abstract: A pneumatic safety tire, of the type preferably having a section height of five inches or greater, having a pair of crescent shaped elastomeric reinforcing members located between the innerliner and side wall and extending from adjacent the tread shoulders to at least the apex of the bead fillers of the tire. A pair of bias reinforcing plies are located between the elastomeric reinforcing members and the side walls of the tire and extend along the side walls from adjacent the tread shoulders to below the top most turn-up ends of the body ply. The elastomeric reinforcing members preferably are similar in composition to that of the bead fillers and have a low hysteresis value preferably within the range of 0.03 and 0.11, a high modulus preferably within the range of 2600 psi and 2800 psi and a Shore A hardness preferably within the range of between 85 and 91.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having an annular band is provided, the annular band for reinforcing a bead portion and a sidewall portion of the pneumatic tire. In one embodiment, the annular band comprises a plurality of filaments having a high extensional modulus of elasticity and a high tenacity bonded together in a matrix of resin. Further, the annular band is cured or formed with a cross-section which tapers from the tire's bead portion to the tire's sidewall portion. Preferably, the annular band may be cured or formed in situ during the curing of the tire in which it is placed. In another embodiment, a structural element having a high resistance to compression is bonded to and circumferentially within the annular band. In a third embodiment the structural element is wedge-shaped in cross-section.

Abstract: A run flat pneumatic radial tire having a flatness of 50% or less, comprising a reinforcing liner layer comprised of a high-hardness rubber having a crescent cross section disposed on the inside of a side wall portion and an inner liner layer comprising a rubber composition mainly composed of a butyl rubber provided all over the internal surface of the tire, wherein the inside of the inner liner layer in at least a region covering said reinforcing liner layer is covered with a rubber layer comprising a rubber composition mainly composed of a diene rubber having a polybutadiene rubber content of 50% by weight or more based on the rubber component.

Abstract: A run-flat pneumatic radial tire having an aspect ratio of up to 50%, which includes a reinforcing liner layer mode of a rubber having a complex modulus at 20.degree. C. E*.sub.20, a ratio of a complex modulus at 100.degree. C. to the complex modulus at 20.degree. C., a 100% modulus and a loss tangent (tan .delta.) at 100.degree. C. which satisfy certain specified numeric values. The liner has a crescent sectional shape and is disposed in sidewall portions of a carcass layer with its end portions overlapping the end portions of a belt layer and a bead filler having a specified hardness and height h from a wheel rim base. The carcass layer consists of an inner carcass layer turned up around the bead core from inside to outside the tire so that its end portion is positioned at a position higher than the height h of the bead filler and an outer carcass layer having an end portion disposed axially outward of the bead core.

Abstract: An off-the-road heavy duty pneumatic radial tire running on severely rough roads comprises a rubber reinforcing layer having a partial crescent shape in section and a JIS hardness of 55.degree..about.75.degree. and a particular thickness distribution over a range from the bead portion to the vicinity of the belt end portion as a reinforcement for the sidewall portion, whereby the stable running performances and the carcass durability in bead portion can simultaneously be improved to give good resistance to lateral rolling and followability on uneven road surface to the vehicle running on rough roads.

Abstract: A pneumatic safety tire in which each sidewall portion is provided with a minimum thickness at a position E between an outer edge point A and a 65% height point B both located on each side of the tire equator, where the outer edge points A are defined as the axially outer edges of a ground contacting region on the tread surface in a standard loaded state in which the tire mounted on a regular rim and inflated to a regular pressure is loaded with a regular load, and the 65% height points B are defined as the positions at 65% height of the tire section height H from the bead base in a standard unloaded state in which the tire mounted on the regular rim and inflated to the regular pressure is kept free of load, and further the thickness of each sidewall portion is gradually increased from the minimum thickness position E toward the 65% height point B.

Abstract: A large annular ring is secured to a wheel rim to augment the load capability of a tire when it is partially or nearly fully deflated. The ring includes an outer elastomeric pad which contacts the ground as a tire collapses. An intermediate length of the ring serves as a brace against the buckling sidewall. As a result, the majority of load is assumed by the ground-engaging ring but the ring, in a state of equilibrium, braces the outwardly buckling sidewalls of the tire so that the collapsing tire is still capable of assuming a portion of the load.

Abstract: To improve the load supporting capability of a pneumatic safety tire and to prevent the tire bead portion from coming off from the rim seat both during run-flat (flat punctured tire) travel, the pneumatic safety tire comprises a pair of crescent-shaped cross-section reinforcing rubber layers each having the thicknest portion at the tire side portion and a pair of beak-shaped cross-section rim-fixed protruding hard-rubber members each disposed under the reinforcing rubber layer in such a way that annular circumferential bonding surfaces between the two are inclided axially outwardly or inwardly in annular wedge shape. Further, to prevent creases from being produced during green tire forming process and cracks from being produced during run-flat travel in or near the bonding surfaces, crescent-shaped reinforcing layer and the beak-shaped rim-fixed protruding members are extrusion-formed simultaneously before a green tire is formed.

Abstract: To improve the durability and the riding comfortableness of a pneumatic safety tire having at least one carcass ply, at least one belt layer, and a pair of crescent-shaped cross-section reinforcing layers, each of the reinforcing layers comprises a higher elastic rubber layer with a hardness of 70 to 85 in Shore A and an elastic modulus of 25 to 60 kg/cm.sup.2 and an anticrack rubber layer with a hardness of 55 to 70 in Shore A and an elastic modulus of 10 to 30 kg/cm.sup.2. The maximum thickness of the reinforcing layer is preferably 4 to 12 mm. Load applied to the tire during run-flat travel is supported mainly by the higher elastic rubber layer, and crack generation due to tire deformation is reduced by the presence of the anticrack rubber layer.