Abstract: A tire for vehicles, particularly for motorcycles, includes a 0°-cord coil incorporated in vulcanized rubber. The cord utilized for the 0°-cord coil has at least one rubberized strand of wires wound into a coil and has a load-elongation curve with an at least approximately linear region. The cord remains in the approximately linear region when the tire is in the finished, uninflated state as well as when the tire is inflated to the operating pressure. As a result, the running characteristics of the tire are improved. The slope in the approximately linear region of the load-elongation curve is between 0.05% and 0.2% per 10 N.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire allowing to improve the high speed endurance and the road noise considerably. The pneumatic radial tire has a carcass layer mounted between a pair of right and left bead portions and a belt layer embedded in the outer peripheral side of the carcass layer in a tread portion, and a belt cover layer comprising fiber cords made of filaments of polyolefin ketone having a structure represented by the following formula (1) is disposed around the outer peripheral side of the belt layer, and an elongation rate of the fiber cords composing the belt cover layer is equal or inferior to 2.5% in the tire.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a breaker disposed radially outside a carcass crown portion, and a band disposed radially outside of the breaker and comprising a full-width band ply extending over the substantially overall width of the breaker, wherein a cord or cords of said full-width band ply existing in a tread crown region satisfy the following conditions: T>0.8; 0≦K+6.67T−21.7; 0≦45−10T−K; 0≦106.8−57.5T−K; and 7≦E≦13, wherein the symbol “K” is an stretch-resistance index (N) of a cord which is defined as the product of the sectional area S in sq.mm and 2% modulus M in N/sq.mm of the cord divided by 100, the symbol “T” is an stretch in % of the cord in the tire being in its natural state without being mounted on a wheel rim, and the symbol “E” is a cord count per 1 cm width of the full-width band ply.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a carcass comprised of one or more carcass plies and a belt disposed on an outer periphery side of a crown portion of the carcass and comprised of one or more belt layers, wherein each of at least one carcass ply and at least one belt layer is constituted with organic fiber cords having a modulus of elasticity within a specified range.

Abstract: Reinforced ply material having a plurality of reinforcement elements (e.g., steel monofilaments) embedded in an elastomeric (e.g., rubber) sheet. The reinforcement elements are grouped in untwisted sets and each set includes a plurality of reinforcement elements. In an apparatus and/or method for making the reinforced ply material, the reinforcement elements are guided by a guide insert having passages corresponding to the desired grouped arrangement of the reinforcement elements. The reinforced ply material can be used to make steel belts for pneumatic tires.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bracing ply comprising reinforcing elements, which are made of steel cords, for a vehicle pneumatic tire, in particular, for a pneumatic tire used on transporters or light trucks and reinforced pneumatic tires. Said bracing ply is provided with two steel cord plies (bracing plies) which are stacked in a radial direction, whereby the radially inner steel cord ply is wider in the axial direction of the tire than the radially outer steel cord ply. In addition, the individual steel cords of a ply run diagonally with a slope ranging from 18° to 25° with regard to the zenithal plane of the tire. The radially inner and the radially outer steel cord plies have opposed slopes, are comprised of individual filaments with a filament diameter of 0.32 mm, and are provided with a U+T structure (untwisted+twisted), whereby the radial distance between steel cord plies is smaller in the zenithal plane of the tire than in the shoulder areas.

Abstract: A tire whose crown has a ply of bimodulus reinforcements circumferentially oriented and spiral-wound, the ply being so arranged that, in the new tire, its reinforcements have a high-temperature contraction potential identical to that of the adhesive yarn before it is introduction in the tire. The tire has an appreciably diminished running noise.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a belt disposed radially outside a carcass in a tread portion, the belt comprising two cross plies of monofilament metallic cords laid at angles of from 15 to 30 degrees with respect to the circumferential direction of the tire, each monofilament cord composed of a waved single filament, the filament having a circular sectional shape having a diameter in a range of from 0.40 to 0.50 mm, or alternatively a non-circular sectional shape having an aspect ratio in a range of from 0.65 to 0.95 and a cross-sectional area in a range of 0.09 to 0.20 sq.mm.

Abstract: As the present invention there is disclosed a pneumatic radial tire comprising a carcass having a smaller tensile rigidity than that of conventional pneumatic radial tires by application of a steel cord having a smaller Young's modulus to the carcass or by application of a smaller amount of a high strength steel cord formed with carcass filaments having a greater tensile strength to the carcass while maintaining the necessary strength of the carcass. In accordance with the present invention, extension of the carcass increases and extension of a belt in the circumferential direction of the tire is suppressed when the tire is inflated by an inner pressure. As a result, compression stress working on the carcass when a vehicle turns decreases and buckling deformation of the steel cord can be prevented. Accordingly, durability is improved.

Abstract: A front tire for two-wheeled vehicles comprising a carcass of toric form having a high transverse curvature and provided with a central crown and two sidewalls terminating in a pair of beads for anchoring to a corresponding mounting rim, a tread band located on the crown and a circumferentially-inextensible belt structure disposed between the carcass and tread band. The belt structure at a radially external position is comprised of a layer of cord coils substantially disposed at a zero angle to the equatorial plane of the tire in axial side-by-side relationship and extended from one axial extremity of the belt to the other axial extremity of the belt. The winding thickness of the cord coils increasingly grows from the equatorial plane to the belt axial extremities.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises: a carcass ply extending between bead portions and including a topping rubber layer, the topping rubber layer facing the inside of the tire and made of a butyl rubber compound containing at least 10 parts by weight of butyl rubber or butyl rubber derivative; and a belt disposed radially outside the carcass in the tread portion, the belt comprising at least one ply of monofilament cords laid at an angle of from 10 to 40 degrees with respect to the circumferential direction of the tire, and each of the monofilament cord consisting of a single filament. The belt further comprises one ply of multifilament cords or one ply of monofilament cords. The height of a bead apex, which is disposed between a carcass ply turnup portion and main portion in each bead portion, can be reduced into a range of from 10 to 20 mm, and in this case, the carcass ply turnup portion is extended radially outwardly beyond the radially outer end of the bead apex so as to adjoin the carcass ply main portion.

Abstract: A method for constructing an elastomeric composite ply comprises using parallel S and Z twisted cords to reinforce an elastomeric matrix. The S and Z cords are made inexpensively by using a yarn twist that is less than the cord twist. Composite plies made by the method can be used in elastomeric articles such as tires.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a belt disposed radially outside a carcass in a tread portion, the belt comprising two cross plies of monofilament metallic cords laid at angles of from 15 to 30 degrees with respect to the circumferential direction of the tire, each monofilament cord composed of a waved single filament, the filament having a circular sectional shape having a diameter in a range of from 0.40 to 0.50 mm, or alternatively a non-circular sectional shape having an aspect ratio in a range of from 0.65 to 0.95 and a cross-sectional area in a range of 0.09 to 0.20 sq.mm.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of tire for high speed two-wheeled vehicles comprising making a cylindrical sleeve, attaching annular bead wires to the axial ends of said sleeve and shaping the sleeve into a toroidal configuration. A belt structure made of coils of cords is applied to the crown of said toroidal configuration. The belt is reinforced with HE cords which can be deformed to enable the tire carcass to be so largely expanded into the sold to achieve completely molding of a tread band.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a carcass extending between the bead portions and a band disposed radially outside the carcass in a tread portion and made of at least one cord laid at an angle of not more than 5 degrees with respect to the tire equator, and the band cord is made of steel filaments twisted together so as to have a variable elasticity modulus which has a transitional point from under 1000 kgf/sq.mm to over 1000 kgf/sq.mm at an elongation percentage in a range of from 1% to 5%. Preferably, the average elasticity modulus ELn of the cord from zero elongation to the transitional point is in a range of from 500 to 750 kgf/sq.mm, and the average elasticity modulus EHn of the cord from the transitional point to a breaking point of the cord is in a range of from 1200 to 3000 kgf/sq.mm.

Abstract: A tire having a radial carcass reinforcement, a crown reinforcement including at least two working crown plies of inextensible reinforcement elements, crossed from one ply to the other ply, forming angles of between 10° and 45° with the circumferential direction, and an additional, axially continuous, ply formed of continuous, inextensible and substantially radial metallic reinforcement elements made of steel, the additional ply being placed radially between the working plies, and having an axial width which is at least 1.1 times the axial width of the widest working crown ply.

Abstract: Disclosed is a radial tire for an automobile, in which lyocell having a dry/wet tenacity ratio S1/S2 of 1.2 to 1.6, a tensile strength at high temperature/a tensile strength at room temperature ratio S3/S4 of more than 0.8, and a shrinkage E of less than 0.01 is applied to a carcass part, thereby a resistance to fatigue and dimensional stability in running of a tire are improved.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a rubber reinforcing steel cord is provided, wherein the steel cord has a steel wire plated with metal containing copper and having on its surface an oil layer containing a cobalt compound, and includes an application step in which the oil containing a cobalt compound is applied to the steel wire or a steel cord plated with metal containing copper, and a step of twisting the steel wires.

Abstract: A radial medium radial truck (RMT) tire has belt or breaker plies which are reinforced by organic reinforcement cords or filaments. In one embodiment, organic monofilaments are used in the belt or breaker plies which have the following characteristics: at least 2,000 denier (2,200 dTex), a tenacity of at least 3.5 g/denier (31 cN/Tex), an initial modulus of at least 30 g/denier (265 cN/Tex) and a shrinkage of at most 6%. When an organic polymer reinforcement is used in the top belt or breaker in the belt package of a tire, scrapping of tires during a retreading operation because of corrosion is greatly reduced. In addition, acceptance for retreadability is increased because of reduced top belt or breaker damage, allowing for easier preparation for the retreading.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire comprises a pair of bead portions, a pair of sidewall portions, a tread portion, a radial carcass toroidally extending between a pair of bead cores and comprised of at least one rubberized ply containing organic fiber cords therein, and a belt superimposed about a crown portion of the carcass and comprised of at least two cross belt layers, wherein the organic fiber cord used in the carcass is a double-twisted polyester cord of 1000-10000 dtex having dynamic moduli at tensions of 200 g and 1500 g within specified ranges.

Abstract: A radial medium truck (RMT) tire has belt or breaker plies which are reinforced by organic reinforcement cords or filaments. In one embodiment, organic monofilaments are used in the belt or breaker plies which have the following characteristics: at least 2,000 denier (2,200 dTex), a tenacity of at least 3.5 g/denier (31 cN/Tex), an initial modulus of at least 30 g/denier (265 cN/Tex) and a shrinkage of at most 6%.

Abstract: A self-supporting tire for vehicle wheels includes a carcass structure having at least one carcass ply, a belt structure, a tread band, at least one pair of sidewalls, and at least one pair of resilient stiffening inserts incorporated into the carcass structure. The at least one carcass ply includes axially-inner strip lengths and axially-outer strip lengths, and may also include axially-intermediate strip lengths. Each of the strip lengths extend in a U-shaped configuration around a cross-section outline of the carcass structure to define two side portions spaced apart from each other in an axial direction and a crown portion extending at a radially-outer position between the side portions. The resilient stiffening inserts are axially interposed between the side portions of the axially-inner strip lengths and the side portions of the axially-outer strip lengths.

Abstract: A reinforcing ply for rubber articles includes a plurality of parallel cords enclosed in an elastomeric matrix. Each cord includes three internal core wires and six external crown wires. The core wires and the crown wires have a same diameter. In a cross section of the reinforcing ply, a ratio between an area of the cords and an area of the elastomeric matrix is not greater than 6:10. A tire including a carcass provided with at least one carcass ply, a tread band, and a belt package is also disclosed. The belt package is provided with at least two reinforcing layers between the at least one carcass ply and the tread band. At least one of the reinforcing layers includes the reinforcing ply.

Abstract: A high transverse-curvature tire for two-wheeled vehicles comprises a belt structure (10) provided in a radially inner layer (10a) with a strip (11) made of an elastomeric material incorporating a plurality of reinforcing cords inclined with respect to the equatorial plane of tire (1) and provided in a radially outer layer (10b) with a plurality of circumferential coils (14a), axially arranged side by side, of a cord (14) wound at a substantially null angle with respect to the equatorial plane (x-x) of the tire along a winding direction adapted to compression-stress portions made of an elastomeric material interposed between consecutive reinforcing cords (12) incorporated in the strip (11) of the radially inner layer (10a). Such tire (1) advantageously associates optimum performances of wear regularity, road behavior both in straight stretches and in curve, good kilometric yield and low weight.

Abstract: A method for constructing an elastomeric composite ply comprises using parallel S and Z twisted cords to reinforce an elastomeric matrix. The S and Z cords are made inexpensively by using a yarn twist that is less than the cord twist. Composite plies made by the method can be used in elastomeric articles such as tires.

Abstract: A strand 41, which is formed by twisting filaments 41a, is inserted through an untwisting device 48. The filaments 41a are untwisted and a predetermined space S is formed between the filaments. In this state, a rubber membrane coating is formed on the periphery of each filament 41a. Then, the filament is retwisted to form a rubber membrane coated strand 59. Therefore, the rubber membrane coated strand 59 has a predetermined strength against external force and is adequately adhered to the rubber so that the rubber membrane coated strand resists corrosion, absorbs vibration, and suppresses frictional heating. A belt and a ply, which use the strand, are provided.

Abstract: The invention improves rubber permeability while making a cord diameter compact. A metal cord is constituted by a layered structure having a core comprising totally 6 to 12 filaments sectioned into 1 to 4 filament bundles, and a sheath comprising 8 to 15 filaments arranged around the core. Each of the filament bundles includes a waved filament modeled in a two-dimensional wave shape and a non-waved filament, in a state before being bundled. The core makes the wave of the waved filament three-dimensional within the core by applying torsion to each of the filament bundles.

Abstract: A runflat pneumatic tire has a tread stiffening member radially inward of the tread 12. The tire has a deflected section height H30 under load at 30 psi inflation and a deflected section height H0 at 0 psi wherein the deflection D30 are equal to or less than D0−D30 and the net contact area at 0 psi has a perimeter dynamic contact shape of at least U shaped or rectangular.

Abstract: A method of forming a headliner includes providing a lap mat including a first region having a first material composition, and a second region having a second material composition different than the first composition, wherein the second region is configured as at least one of an energy management region and a support region; positioning the mat between two mold sections of a mold; and moving at least one of the mold sections toward the other mold section to shape the mat into a desired shape. A method for forming the mat is also disclosed.

Abstract: Steel cord is manufactured by: forming a plurality of bends, per filament length equivalent to one twist pitch, on each of filaments which constitute an outer layer sheath, with the filament length equivalent to one twist pitch being a cycle; twisting these filaments while the bends belonging to the same phase are aligned in a cord axial direction; and subjecting cord side surfaces to compression processing. As a result, flat side surface portions are formed, in which a plurality of filaments forming the outer layer sheath are positioned substantially in the same plane. The steel cord thus formed is used in reinforcement plies for pneumatic radial tires such that the reinforcement plies are laminated in a manner in which the flat side surface portions are mutually parallel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic tire wherein the crown has a ply comprised of substantially circumferentially oriented cords which are spirally wound. The winding pitch p of said cords is greater than 2.5 times the cord diameter &PHgr;. The tread compound is applied directly on said cords. This arrangement facilitates tire fabrication and assures good adherence between the tread compound and the rest of the crown of the tire.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire includes a belt comprised of at least two rubberized steel wire element layers, in which the belt comprises an outermost slant element layer containing the steel wire elements obliquely arranged with respect to an equatorial plane of the tire and at least one circumferential element layer located inward from the outermost slant element layer in a radial direction of the tire and containing the steel wire elements arranged substantially in parallel to the equatorial plane, and a coating rubber for the steel wire element in the outermost slant element layer has a given modulus of elasticity at compression, and a sum of sectional area of the steel wire elements in the circumferential element layer per unit length is larger than a sum of sectional area of the steel wire elements in the outermost slant element layer per the same unit length.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire which comprises: a carcass extending between bead portions through a tread portion and sidewall portions; a breaker disposed radially outside a crown portion of the carcass; a pair of axially spaced high modulus edge bands disposed radially outward of edge portions of the breaker and each made of one or more high modulus cords having a sectional area SH and a 2% modulus MH and wound substantially parallel to the tire circumferential direction at a cord count DH; a low modulus middle band disposed radial outward of the breaker between the high modulus edge bands and made of one or more low modulus cords having a sectional area SL and a 2% modulus ML less than the 2% modulus MH and wound substantially parallel to the tire circumferential direction at a cord count DL; and an elongation resistance index PH of each of the high modulus edge bands, which is defined as the product of the 2% modulus MH in N/sq.mm, the sectional area SH in sq.

Abstract: The invention is directed to fabric-based inserts and layers for use with tires in order to provide an improved level of puncture resistance to the tire. Disclosed embodiments of the invention include tire anti-puncture layers including puncture-resistant layers that comprise a single or multiple layers of fabric. Preferably, for low cost and low abrasion, the puncture-resistant layers comprise fibers having a tensile strength or tenacity of less than about 15 g/denier. In some preferred constructions, especially where the puncture-resistant layer comprises a single layer of fabric, the puncture-resistant layer comprises a high cover factor, tightly woven fabric, for example having a round packed cover factor of at least about 40% of full in the warp direction and at least about 65% of full in the fill direction.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire is reinforced by a thin annular composite band embedded in the crown portion of the tire to enable the tire to resist compressive forces in the tire when in an uninflated condition. The band is formed of a plurality of wound layers of first and second resin coated fiber tows wherein the first tow is formed of fibers twisted at a greater angle than the fibers in the second tow. Layers of the first tow are located adjacent the neutral axis of the band to provide interlaminar shear strength with the tow layers located adjacent the inner and outer surfaces of the band being formed predominately of the second tow to provide a high level circumferential stiffness. The intermediate tow layers are formed of both type of tows to provide a transition zone between the central interlaminar shear strength and the outer circumferential stiffness.

Abstract: A tire includes a carcass; a tread band on the carcass; a belt, positioned between the tread band and the carcass, including at least one layer of rubberized fabric; and at least one reinforcing metal strap in the at least one layer of rubberized fabric. The at least one reinforcing metal strap is made of a shape-memory material oriented at about 0° to an equatorial plane of the tire. The at least one reinforcing metal strap has a width of no less than about 1 mm. And the at least one reinforcing metal strap has coils disposed side-by-side in a direction substantially perpendicular to a radius of the tire.

Abstract: A high transverse-curvature tire for two wheeled-vehicles comprises a carcass structure, a belt structure including radially-inner and radially-outer layers, and a tread. The radially-inner layer comprises at least one strip made of an elastomeric material incorporating a plurality of reinforcing cords essentially parallel to one another and oriented along directions inclined with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire. The radially-outer layer includes a plurality of circumferential coils, axially arranged side-by-side, of at least one circumferentially-inextensible cord wound at a substantially null angle with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire according to a winding direction adapted to compression-stress elastomeric material portions interposed between consecutive reinforcing cords incorporated in the at least one strip of the radially-inner layer.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire for passenger car comprises a circumferential belt layer in addition to a slant belt layer, in which specified PET, nylon, PEN or vinylon fiber cords or steel cords are used in the circumferential belt layer.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire for passenger cars comprises a circumferential belt layer in addition to a slant belt layer, in which specified PET, nylon, PEN or vinylon fiber cords or steel cords are used in the circumferential belt layer.

Abstract: The belt of a pneumatic tire is a laminate of a circumferential belt layer and an inclined belt layer, the circumferential belt layer comprising a plurality of reinforcing elements arranged substantially in parallel with the equatorial plane of the tire and coated with rubber, and the inclined belt layer comprising a plurality of reinforcing elements inclined with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire and coated with rubber, wherein at least in the coating rubber of the circumferential belt layer and the coating rubber of the inclined belt layer adjoining each other, the modulus of elasticity of the coating rubber of the circumferential belt layer is lower than that of the coating rubber of the inclined belt layer. The pneumatic tire of the invention avoids the disadvantage generated by addition of a circumferential belt layer while strengthening the circumferential rigidity by the circumferential belt layer.

Abstract: A tire, in particular an elastomeric pneumatic tire, reinforced by lengths of a monofilament elongate composite element of long glass fibers impregnated in a thermoset resin having a glass transition temperature Tg greater than 130° C., in which the fibers are all parallel to each other, the elongate composite element having, under a bending stress an elastic deformation in compression of at least 2%, in flexion a breaking stress in compression greater than the breaking stress in extension.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial ply runflat tire (200) has a tread (210), belt structure (212), a carcass (216), and an underlay (234) disposed between the belt structure and the carcass. The carcass (216) comprises two sidewalls (226), two beads (220), and one or more radial plies (222,224). The tire (200) is characterized by the underlay (234) having reinforcement cords (236) with turns aligned parallel to the tire's equatorial plane, the cords (236) exhibiting negligible modulus of elasticity (“modulus”) below a threshold elongation and high modulus above the threshold elongation. The underlay (234) stiffens the tire during runflat operation but not during normal inflated operation.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises at least one carcass ply of textile cords and a belt comprised of two cross belt layers containing textile cords arranged at a cord inclination angle of 10-45° with respect to the equatorial plane, in which a difference of cord inclination angle between the two cross belt layers with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire is within a range of 5-35° in the widthwise direction, and is mounted onto at least either left-side or right-side front wheel of a four-wheeled vehicle.

Abstract: A tire, the H/S form ratio of which is at most 0.6, formed radially from the inside to the outside by a triangulation ply of metal cables oriented at least 60°, two working crown plies formed of inextensible metal cables oriented at angles of between 10° and 45°, between which there is inserted a first additional ply of metallic elements which are oriented substantially parallel to the circumferential direction of the tire, a second additional ply being arranged, on either side of the tire, radially above the outermost working ply and substantially centered on the end of the first additional ply.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a metallic cord for the reinforcement of elastomers. The cord has (a) a core composed of two filaments, (b) a single filament surrounding said core and (c) a sheath of nine filaments surrounding said core and single filament.

Abstract: A run flat pneumatic tire includes a thin annular monolithic band embedded in the crown portion of the tire wherein the band has a helical cut extending between opposite band edges. The cut has an arcuate length between 45° and 360° and provides a circumferentially expandable band which enhances molding of the tire by enabling the band to expand during molding to minimize porosity and reduce entrapment of air between the band and tread rubber. Alternately, a pair of helically cut bands are joined by an intervening band of rubber and a reinforcing layer of reinforcing cords in a rubber skim may extend about the outer surface of the expandable band or bands.

Abstract: In the pneumatic tire of this invention, at least the outermost one of a plurality of rubber layers between the carcass and tread has been reinforced with a plurality of steel cords. Each of these steel cords is a single-strand steel cord with an elongation at break of not less than 4% and at least one of its component wires does not form a common circumcircle with the remaining wires. The curve circumscribing the cross-sections of the constituent wires of each steel cord is not a true circle. Furthermore, a high resistance to nail penetration is assured by arranging the steel cords in such a manner that, for a large majority of steel cords, the direction of maximum offset span of the circumscribing curve is substantially coincidental with the width direction of the outermost layer of rubber.

Abstract: Reinforcing fabric for articles made from elastomeric material, particularly for pneumatic tires, comprising a plurality of filamentary elements having at least tensile strength, parallel and adjacent to each other in a plane, lying in a predetermined direction. The reinforcing elements, preferably cords, are incorporated in an elastomeric material and constitute at most the 40% of the volume of the fabric.

Abstract: Polyvinyl alcohol based fibers having good fatigue resistance, dipped cords comprising the polyvinyl alcohol based fibers and having good fatigue resistance, and a method for producing the dipped cords. The polyvinyl alcohol based fibers have a tan&dgr; at 90° C. of at least 0.12, substantially one peak of tan&dgr; within a temperature range of from 60 to 120° C., and an elongation at break of at least 12%.

Abstract: A radial tire is provided with a metal belt comprising two load-bearing strips, respectively a first one and a second one, with reinforcing elements inclined in opposite directions in the two strips relative to the equatorial plane, and a pair of lateral bands radially superimposed on the ends of the second strip. The second strip has an axial width less than the first one and has edges staggered axially inwards with respect to the edges of the first strip. Each band comprises a single layer of circumferential metal reinforcing elements and has its axially external edge staggered axially inwards with respect to the edge of the second strip. A third strip with inclined reinforcing elements is arranged in the radially outermost position of the belt and covers at least two thirds of the width of each band. The pair of bands covers at least partially the two ends of the second strip in a diverging configuration relative to the two ends of the first strip.