Abstract: A tire has a radial carcass reinforcement surmounted radially on the outside by a crown reinforcement which includes at least two working plies and two meridian reinforcement plies. The axially innermost ends of the meridian reinforcement plies are spaced axially apart. Each meridian reinforcement ply has a plurality of reinforcing elements making an angle larger than 60° with the tire's circumferential direction. The crown reinforcement also includes a circumferential reinforcement whose reinforcing elements make an angle no greater than 10° with the tire's equatorial plane. The tensile rigidity of the circumferential reinforcement in the circumferential direction in areas thereof that are radially coincident with the meridian reinforcement plies is lower than the tensile rigidity of the circumferential reinforcement in areas thereof that are not so radially coincident.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a pair of shoulder portions extending between a tread portion and opposed sidewall portions. The tire has at least one ply of a composite fabric. The composite fabric has three layers with the middle layer comprising a plurality of straight warp yarns wherein the three layers are bound together with binder yarns. At a minimum, the composite fabric ply is located in the tire shoulders.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire for two-wheeled motor vehicles 1 comprises a belt layer 7 and a tread reinforcing layer 9 outside of a single carcass ply 6A made of organic fiber cords. The belt layer 7 is comprised of a belt ply 7A in which steel cords are spirally wound substantially parallel to a tire circumferential direction. The tread reinforcing layer 9 is comprised of a reinforcing ply 9A in which organic fiber cords are aligned to be substantially parallel to the tire circumferential direction. A width RW of the reinforcing ply 9A in a tire axial direction is not less than 30 mm and not more than 90% of a tread grounding width CW.

Abstract: A belt durability is improved by effectively suppressing an interlayer separation between each widthwise outer end portion of a belt reinforcing layer 41 and a belt layer 34, in which each widthwise outer end 45 of one widest-width inner belt ply 35a is located outward from each widthwise outer end 46 of widest-width reinforcing plies 42a, 42b in the widthwise direction and hence reinforcing elements of the belt plies are not crossed with each other at the outside from the each widthwise outer end 46 in the widthwise direction. Therefore, the each widthwise outer end portion of the inner belt ply 35a is easily reduced in the widthwise direction, whereby shearing deformation in section to the each widthwise outer end portion of the reinforcing ply 42a, 42b is reduced.

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: Pneumatic tires for service on heavy vehicles having a belt package with widened belts. The tire includes a belt reinforcing structure or belt package having multiple cut belts of which one of the cut belts has a width approximately equal to the tire footprint. Widening two of the cut belts and forming at least one of the widened cut belts from a lighter material serves to improve tire durability in the regions of the tire crown and shoulder without increasing the overall tire weight.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided which enables durability thereof to be improved by preventing oxidation degradation of belt layers. In the pneumatic tire, a carcass layer is laid between a pair of bead portions so that the carcass layer links the bead portions, an air penetration preventing layer is disposed on the inner surface of the tire along the carcass layer, and belt layers are buried in a tread portion at the side of the outer periphery of the carcass layer. In the pneumatic tire, a cord layer, which is formed by repeatedly winding a cord in the tire circumferential direction, is disposed between the carcass layer and the belt layers, and at least one portion of the cord layer is made close to the outer surface of the tire so that a distance between the cord and the outer surface of the tire is not longer than 2 mm.

Abstract: A belt layer 7 of a heavy load radial tire includes second and third belt plies 7B and 7C in which belt cords are arranged at an angle in a range of 10 to 45° with respect to a circumferential direction of the tire, and a fourth belt ply 7D which is disposed outside of the second and third belt plies 7B and 7C and which is spirally wound in the circumferential direction of the tire. When ply widths of the belt plies 7B to 7D are defined as W2 to W4 and at read ground-contact width is defined as Tw, the following relations are established: 0.85Tw?W2, 0.85Tw?W3, (W2?W3)?14 mm, W4?40 mm. A distance K between a tire equator and an outer end of the fourth belt ply 7D is in a range of 35% to 40% of the tread ground-contact width Tw. A reinforcing rubber layer 10 having the maximum thickness T1 of not less than 3.0 mm and a complex elastic modulus E* of in a range of 6.0 to 12.0 MPa is disposed between outer ends of the second and third belt plies 7B and 7C.

Abstract: The heavy duty tire comprises a belt layer 7 comprised of at least three belt plies outside of a carcass 6 in a radial direction. Belt cords of a first belt ply 7A disposed innermost in the radial direction incline at an angle of 45 to 55 degrees with respect to a tire equator C. Belt cords of second and third belt plies 7B, 7C disposed outside thereof incline at an angle of 16 to 22 degrees with respect to the tire equator C and into mutually opposite directions. Width BW3 of the third belt ply 7C is smaller than width BW2 of the second belt ply 7B and is also 77 to 95% of a tread grounding width TW. Width BW1 of the first belt ply 7A is smaller than the width BW3 of the third belt ply 7C by 20 to 35 mm. An inter-cord distance S between the first belt ply 7A and the carcass ply 6A in the tire radial direction is 0.8 to 1.2 mm.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire 1 including a carcass 6 and a belt layer 7 is provided with a cord-reinforced layer 12 with reinforcing cords of organic fiber being disposed at angles of 30 to 60 degrees with respect to a tire circumferential direction at a buttress portion Bs thereof. A ply turnup portion 11 of the carcass 6 is terminated radially outside a tire maximum width point M. The cord-reinforced layer 12 is arranged such that its outer end portion in the radial direction 12U is pinched between the carcass 6 and the belt layer 7 and such that its radially inner end portion 12L is secured between the ply main portion 10 and the ply turnup portion 11 of the carcass 6.

Abstract: A tire (10) includes a carcass (14). The carcass (14) has a first ply (17) and a pair of second plies (18) and (19). The first ply (17) is wound around a bead core (22) and is folded back outward. This portion constitutes an overlapping portion (24). The second plies (18) and (19) are inserted in the overlapping portion (24) and are extended along the first ply (17). A height (h1) of the overlapping portion (24) is set to be 50% or more of a height (H) of the first ply (17). A minimum height (h2) of the second plies (18) and (19) is set to be 8% or more of the height (H) of the first ply. A width (J) of a belt (15) is set to be 80% or more of a width (W) of the tire.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with a radial tire, particularly a heavy duty radial tire aiming at the improvement of durability, and is characterized by rendering a ratio W2/W1 of width W1 of a belt layer located side a carcass to width W2 of the remaining belt layer in small slant belt layers arranged at a width corresponding to 0.25–0.50 times a tread width in a widthwise direction of the tire, whereby growth and progress of cracks in the vicinity of cord ends of cords used in the belt resulting in separation failure at widthwise ends of the belt are effectively prevented to overcome a weak point in the tread reinforcement of the radial tire.

Abstract: A tire for a two-wheeled motorized vehicle and more particularly a motorcycle includes at least one carcass-type reinforcement structure, formed of reinforcement elements, anchored one either side of the tire to a bead intended to be mounted on a rim seat. Each bead is extended radially towards the outside by a sidewall, the sidewalls meeting up radially towards the outside with a tread. Under the tread is a crown reinforcement structure including a layer of circumferential reinforcement elements. In accordance with the profile of the tire in a radial plane, the layer of circumferential elements is at least in part radially to the inside of the part of at least one carcass-type reinforcement structure radially to the outside of the two points of tangency of the curvilinear abscissa of the carcass-type reinforcement structure with perpendiculars to the axis of rotation, and the circumferential reinforcement elements are distributed in the transverse direction with a variable pitch.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a crown-reinforcing insert which extends from under the tread substantially, such as at least one-third of the sidewall height, into the sidewall of the tire. Apexes extend from the beads substantially, such as at least one-third of the sidewall height, into the sidewall of the tire, thereby effecting a substantial, such as at least one-third of the sidewall height, “overlap” between end portions of the crown-reinforcing insert and the apexes. Additionally, at least one belt extends from under the tread substantially into the sidewall, and the turn-ups of at least some of the plies extend quite high, such as at least one-third of the sidewall height, into the sidewall. This combination of features yields superior runflat performance.

Abstract: A tire comprising at least one reinforcement structure of carcass type anchored on each side of the tire in a bead, a crown reinforcement, each bead being extended radially towards the outside by a sidewall, said reinforcement structure being discontinuous over at least a portion of the crown of the tire, said crown reinforcement comprising on the one hand at least one primary reinforcement structure covering substantially the entire width of the crown and comprising on the one hand, on each side of the tire, a lateral primary reinforcement structure portion disposed radially outside the adjacent carcass-type reinforcement structure portion and on the other hand a median primary reinforcement structure portion disposed radially more to the inside than the lateral primary reinforcement structure portions and at least one substantially axial row of median circumferential reinforcements disposed radially to the outside, substantially adjacent the median primary reinforcement structure portion.

Abstract: When a tread thickness from a second belt ply 7B is defined as T, Tmin is provided in a region Y which is away from a tire equator C by a distance of 0.5 to 0.7 times of a tread grounding half width WT/2. A ratio Tmin/Tc between said minimum value Tmin and the tread thickness Tc at the position of the tire equator C is 0.92 to 0.97, and a ratio Tb/Tc between a tread thickness Tb at a position of an outer end of the second belt ply and Tc is 0.95 to 1.10. When a tread thickness from a carcass 6 is defined as K, Kmin is provided in region Y. A ratio Kmin/Kc is 0.97 to 0.998, and a ratio Kb/Kc is 1.2 to 1.5.

Abstract: A tire comprising a carcass extending through sidewall regions and a ground contacting tread region and a tread reinforcing breaker disposed radially outward of the carcass in the tread region, inboard and outboard tread regions each extending between the tread circumferential centerline (X) and axially spaced-apart inboard and outboard tread edges (IE,OE), the inboard tread edge (IE) for mounting nearest to the vehicle longitudinal centerline, characterised in that in the condition that the tire is mounted on its scheduled wheelrim and inflated to its scheduled pressure, the axial width (LR) of the tread between its tread edges (OE, IE) is not less than 75% of the maximum tire width (G), the axial width (LC) of the breaker is not less than 97% of the tread width (LR) and the difference in the breaker width (LC) and the tread width (LR) is not more than 25% of the difference between the maximum tire width (G) and the tread width (LR).

Abstract: A tire (10) comprises a carcass ply (15) and a band ply (16) for reinforcing the carcass ply (15). The carcass ply (15) has an inner ply (17) and an outer ply (18) which are provided in a radial direction. The inner ply (17) is wound from an inside toward an outside in the axial direction of a bead core (22) to constitute a fold-back portion (19). The outer ply (18) is provided to cover the inner ply (17). A width (JW) of the band ply (16) is set to be 80% to 98% of a tread width (TW). An overlap dimension (LW) of the fold-back portion (19) and the band ply (16) is set to be 15% to 35% of the width (JW) of the band ply.

Abstract: A tyre (10) includes a carcass (14). The carcass (14) has a first ply (17) and a pair of second plies (18) and (19). The first ply (17) is wound around a bead core (22) and is folded back outward. This portion constitutes an overlapping portion (24). The second plies (18) and (19) are inserted in the overlapping portion (24) and are extended along the first ply (17). A height (h1) of the overlapping portion (24) is set to be 50% or more of a height (H) of the first ply (17). A minimum height (h2) of the second plies (18) and (19) is set to be 8% or more of the height (H) of the first ply. A width (J) of a belt (15) is set to be 80% or more of a width (W) of the tyre.

Abstract: A tire comprising at least one reinforcement structure of carcass type anchored on each side of the tire in a bead, a crown reinforcement, each bead being extended radially towards the outside by a sidewall, said reinforcement structure being discontinuous over at least a portion of the crown of the tire, said crown reinforcement comprising on the one hand at least one primary reinforcement structure covering substantially the entire width of the crown and comprising on the one hand, on each side of the tire, a lateral primary reinforcement structure portion disposed radially outside the adjacent carcass-type reinforcement structure portion and on the other hand a median primary reinforcement structure portion disposed radially more to the inside than the lateral primary reinforcement structure portions and at least one substantially axial row of median circumferential reinforcements disposed radially to the outside, substantially adjacent the median primary reinforcement structure portion.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a carcass, a belt comprised of at least two belt layers, a belt reinforcement arranged between the carcass and the belt and comprised of at least one belt reinforcing layer, and a tread rubber, in which a widthwise outer end of a widest-width belt reinforcing layer is arranged outward from a widthwise outer end of a widest-width belt layer among the belt layers, and a restraining rubber having a width of not less than 4 mm and a JIS hardness not less than a JIS hardness of a coating rubber for the widest-width belt reinforcing layer is arranged outward from the widthwise outer end of the widest-width belt reinforcing layer.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with a radial tire, particularly a heavy duty radial tire aiming at the improvement of durability, and is characterized by rendering a ratio W2/W1 of width W1 of a belt layer located side a carcass to width W2 of the remaining belt layer in small slant belt layers arranged at a width corresponding to 0.25-0.50 times a tread width in a widthwise direction of the tire, whereby growth and progress of cracks in the vicinity of cord ends of cords used in the belt resulting in separation failure at widthwise ends of the belt are effectively prevented to overcome a weak point in the tread reinforcement of the radial tire.

Abstract: A truck steer tire 10 has a wide decoupling groove 24 that extends inwardly from the tread in a circumferentially continuous fashion. The decoupling groove 24 extends between the tread surface 26 and the belt reinforcing structure 15. The decoupling groove 24 has a width in the range of 4 to 7 mm and a groove bottom having a full radius of curvature RG, RG being at least 2.5 mm. The decoupling groove 24 has a point C, C being centered on the bottom of the full radius of curvature RG, a line K drawn through the center C and the axially outermost end of the belt layers measures at least 10 mm and each axially outer end of the remaining belt layers is spaced greater than 10 mm from the center C.

Abstract: To assure a positive camber thrust for a radial-ply tire including a belt of four or more plies on a carcass with rubber pads interposed therebetween, the width of the outermost belt ply is increased over the width of the adjacent belt ply and the ratio of the difference found by subtracting the tread width from the maximum belt ply width to the difference between the maximum tire width and the tread width is not less than 01 and not more than 0.4.

Abstract: The present invention is a crown-stiffening underlay structure comprised of a flat strip of elastomeric material reinforced with essentially inextensible cords. The cord-reinforced flat strip is wrapped helically around the green tire carcass prior to blowup into the characteristic toroidal shape of a tire carcass. In one embodiment, the underlay structure is disposed between breakers and the radial ply structure. In another embodiment, the underlay is disposed between the radial ply structure and the innerliner. In another embodiment, the afore described underlay structure has an additional and structurally contiguous beam made of elastomeric material.

Abstract: When a tread thickness from a second belt ply 7B is defined as T, a minimum position Qt in which the tread thickness T becomes a minimum value Tmin is provided in a region Y which is away from a tire equator C by a distance of 0.5 to 0.7 times of a tread grounding half width WT/2. A ratio Tmin/Tc between said minimum value Tmin and the tread thickness Tc at the position of the tire equator C is 0.92 to 0.97, and a ratio Tb/Tc between a tread thickness Tb at a position of an outer end of the second belt ply and said tread thickness Tc is 0.95 to 1.10. When a tread thickness from a carcass 6 is defined as K, a minimum position Qk in which a tread thickness K becomes a minimum value Kmin is provided in said region Y. A ratio Kmin/Kc between said minimum value Kmin and a tread thickness Kc at a position of the tire equator C is 0.97 to 0.998, and a ratio Kb/Kc between the tread thickness Kb at a position of the outer end of the second belt ply and said tread thickness Kc is 1.2 to 1.5.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a crown-reinforcing insert which extends from under the tread substantially, such as at least one-third of the sidewall height, into the sidewall of the tire. Apexes extend from the beads substantially, such as at least one-third of the sidewall height, into the sidewall of the tire, thereby effecting a substantial, such as at least one-third of the sidewall height, “overlap” between end portions of the crown-reinforcing insert and the apexes. Additionally, at least one belt extends from under the tread substantially into the sidewall, and the turn-ups of at least some of the plies extend quite high, such as at least one-third of the sidewall height, into the sidewall. This combination of features yields superior runflat performance.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire comprises a radial carcass, a cross belt comprised of at least two belt layers, a belt reinforcing member arranged adjacent to the belt and comprised of at least one belt reinforcing layer containing a reinforcing element embedded therein and extending in a circumferential direction while bending in form of wave or zigzag, and a tread rubber, in which the widthwise outer end of the belt reinforcing member is located outward from the widthwise outer end of the widest-width belt layer, or a belt protection member is disposed in the neighborhood of the belt so that the widthwise outer end of the belt protection member is located outward from the widthwise outer end of the belt reinforcing member in a widthwise direction of the tire.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a reinforcing structure for tyres of vehicles includes the steps of preparing a plurality of strip segments having substantially parallel, longitudinal filiform elements at least partially coated by at least one layer of elastomeric material, and applying the plurality of strip segments along a circumference of a toroidal support, to form at least one continuous reinforcing layer about a geometric axis of rotation of the toroidal support. During the applying step, a relative angular rotation, between at least one of the plurality of strip segments and the toroidal support, occurs about an axis of correction substantially radial to the geometric axis of rotation. A related apparatus for manufacturing a reinforcing structure for tyres of vehicles is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire (10) incorporates a plurality of parallel-aligned, tread-stiffening support members (23) typically disposed laterally between the tread (12) and the ply structure (16). The support members (23) inhibit lateral and circumferential tread lift during runflat operation. Support members (23) can each be a monolithic rib (22) made of a fiber reinforced plastic material. An alternative layered rib (24) has two outer layers (40, 44) of a fiber reinforced plastic material while the central layer (42) is an elastomer.

Abstract: A vehicle tire comprises a carcass ply (1) extending between two bead regions, a tread region disposed between side walls (7,8) and having a tread surface (6) curved in the axial direction and also a breaker (5) reinforcing the tread region and arranged between the carcass ply and tread region, characterised in that in the normally inflated state of the tyre mounted on a tyre rim, the vertical spacing of the tread surface (6) with respect to the breaker continuously reduces, starting from the region of the tyre centre (3), towards the breaker edges (13, 14) and in that the side walls (7, 8) are made at least substantially self-supporting.

Abstract: A tire with radial carcass reinforcement, having a crown reinforcement which includes at least two working crown plies made of inextensible cables, crossed from one ply to the other, and an additional ply, axially continuous and formed of undulating metallic elements orientated essentially parallel to the circumferential direction and positioned between the working plies.

Abstract: A two-piece tire assembly has a removable tread belt 12 for installing about the circumference of a tire carcass 14. The tread belt has a pair of lateral ends each axially extending beyond the inflated unloaded carcass 14 at the circumferential surface by a distance of at least 4% of the width as measured at the tread belt 12 and carcass 14 interface. The carcass 14 has an abrasion resistant rubber layer 82 at the tread belt interface. The tread belt 12 also has the abrasion resistance tread compound 82 at the carcass 14 interface.

Abstract: A radial tire for motorcycles comprises a carcass extending between bead portions through a tread portion and sidewall portions, and a belt disposed radially outside the carcass in the tread portion and comprising two cross breaker plies of cords laid at angles of from 16 to 26 degrees with respect to the tire equator. And the method of making the radial tire comprises vulcanizing the tire in a mold which causes a variable stretch to the belt during vulcanizing the tire, wherein the stretch at the tire equator is in a range of from 6.0 to 7.0%, and the stretch gradually decreases from the tire equator to the axial edges of the belt. The stretch is defined as (BD2/BD1−1)×100 wherein BD1 is the inside diameter of the belt before tire vulcanization, and BD2 is the inside diameter of the belt during tire vulcanization.

Abstract: A medium truck tire (10) and more specifically a super single truck tire (10) includes belt plies (24, 25) reinforced with steel cords which make an angle comprised between 0° and 5° with respect to the equatorial plane. At least one belt ply (24, 25) is helically wound on the carcass ply (16). The steel of the reinforcing cords comprises high elongation steel. Radially outside to the at least one helically wound belt ply (24, 25), there are several spliced belt plies (22, 23), making angles comprised between 45° and 75° with respect to the equatorial plane.

Abstract: It is to provide a pneumatic safety tire capable of continuing safe running even if an internal tire pressure drops to an atmospheric pressure and easily producing the tire, in which a side reinforcing rubber layer having substantially a crescent form at a section in a widthwise direction is mainly arranged on the sidewall portion and at least one annular depression convexly protruding inward in the radial direction and continuously extending in the circumferential direction is arranged on the belt.

Abstract: In a heavy duty radial tire, a reinforcement belt 8 outward in a radial direction of the tire and a high-strength belt 13 inward in the radial direction are arranged between a radial carcass 2 and a tread rubber 4, and an intersect angle between cord 6a of an innermost wide-width slant cord layer 6 in the reinforcement belt 8 and cord 12a of an outermost narrow-width slant cord layer 12 in the high-strength belt 13 is not less than 10° at an acute angle side, and narrow-width slant cord layers 11, 12 of the high-strength belt 13 in the tire mounted onto a rim and inflated under a maximum air pressure have a width corresponding to 20˜60% of a ground contact width of the tread rubber 4, and inclination angles of cords 11a, 12a with respect to an equatorial plane 5 of the tire are not more than 15°, and a rubber gauge t1 of a first rubber layer 14 between cord 6a of an innermost wide-width slant cord layer 6 and cord 12a of an outermost narrow-width slant cord layer 12 is 0.9˜3.

Abstract: A tire having a crown reinforcement formed of at least two working crown plies (32, 34) having axial widths L32, L34 greater than the width L33 of an additional reinforcement (33) of inextensible, substantially radial reinforcement elements, which reinforcement is arranged radially between said plies (32, 34) and is axially composed of three parts, a central part (33′) in the form of a ply formed of inextensible, substantially radial reinforcement elements and two lateral parts in the form of strips (33″), each formed of circumferential reinforcement elements, the modulus of elasticity upon traction per unit of width of a lateral strip being at most equal to the modulus of elasticity upon traction, measured under the same conditions, of the most extensible working ply.

Abstract: An aircraft tire, having a radial carcass reinforcement surmounted radially to the outside by a crown reinforcement and a tread, said crown reinforcement including: a) at least one ply of reinforcement elements of high modulus oriented circumferentially, b) two plies having ends free of reinforcement elements of high modulus, which are parallel to each other within each ply and are crossed from one ply to the next, forming with the circumferential direction an angle &agr;, of between 5° and 35°, and c) radially to the outside, an assembly of at least two layers of textile elements of low modulus which are oriented relative to the circumferential direction at an angle &bgr;, of between 0° and 35°, said two layers being obtained by winding in a zigzag a strip, formed of at least one coated cable, and the assembly of the layers having an axial width greater than the width of the tread, whereas the widths of the textile plies of high modulus are less than said width of the tread.

Abstract: A tire for heavy equipment, having at least one radial carcass reinforcement surmounted radially to the outside by a crown reinforcement formed of at least three so-called working plies formed of inextensible metal cables, crossed from one ply to the next, forming angles of between 15° and 35° with the circumferential direction. At least one half-ply, formed of inextensible metal cables and of width L′, on either side of the equatorial plane XX′, is arranged between the edges of at least two radially adjacent working plies, the cables of said half-ply forming with the circumferential direction an angle, which is firstly greater in absolute value than 25°, and secondly is greater in absolute value than the largest angle formed by the elements of the two working plies by an amount between 5° and 15°.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire comprises a radial carcass of at least one rubberized cord ply, a belt comprised of three rubberized cord layers, an innermost cord layer and a middle cord layer among these cord layers being a cross cord layer that cords of the layers are crossed with each other with respect to an equatorial plane of the tire, and one or more circumferential grooves provided in at least each side region of the tread portion, wherein the cords of each of the innermost cord layer and the middle cord layer have an inclination angle of 10-25° with respect to an equatorial plane of the tire, and cords of an outermost cord layer have an inclination angle of 45-115° with respect to the equatorial plane and the outermost cord layer has a width extending toward an end of the tread portion over an outermost groove edge of an outermost circumferential groove in a widthwise direction of the tread portion.

Abstract: A two-piece tire assembly has a removable tread belt 12 for installing about the circumference of a tire carcass 14. The tread belt has a pair of lateral ends each axially extending beyond the inflated unloaded carcass 14 at the circumferential surface by a distance of at least 4% of the width as measured at the tread belt 12 and carcass 14 interface. The carcass 14 has an abrasion resistant rubber layer 82 at the tread belt interface. The tread belt 12 also has the abrasion resistance tread compound 82 at the carcass 14 interface.

Abstract: A two-piece tire assembly has a removable tread belt 12 for installing about the circumference of a tire carcass 14. The tread belt has a pair of lateral ends each axially extending beyond the inflated unloaded carcass 14 at the circumferential surface by a distance of at least 4% of the width as measured at the tread belt 12 and carcass 14 interface. The carcass 14 has an abrasion resistant rubber layer 82 at the tread belt interface. The tread belt 12 also has the abrasion resistance tread compound 82 at the carcass 14 interface.

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: A tire with a form ratio H/S between 0.3 and 0.8 has a carcass reinforcement (1) which is covered radially by a quasi-cylindrical crown reinforcement (3) and which is tangential at T to a holding circle C. The common tangent at T to the circle C and to the meridian profile of the carcass (1) makes an angle &agr; of between +20° and −80° with respect to a line parallel to the rotation axis and passing through the tangency point T. In its portion located between the tangency point T and the point E of greatest axial width, the carcass reinforcement (1) is provided with a reinforcement armature (6) of circumferentially non-extensible elements. Viewed in meridian cross-section and when the tire is fitted and inflated to the recommended pressure, the carcass (1) has a meridian profile consisting of four circular arcs configured to improve the endurance of the tire while improving its rolling resistance.

Abstract: A heavy duty pneumatic radial tire comprises a carcass ply, a belt disposed at an outside of the carcass ply in the radial direction and comprised of two or more belt layers, at least one auxiliary belt layer disposed in a widthwise central portion of the belt at a width narrower than that of the belt, and a tread, wherein when the tire is mounted onto a design rim defined in TRA standard and inflated under an internal pressure corresponding to 10% of an air pressure defined in the TRA standard, a radius of curvature of an outer profile at both side regions of the tread (Rs) is made larger than a radius of curvature of the outer profile at a central region of the tread (Rc).

Abstract: A heavy duty pneumatic radial tire comprises a radial carcass, a belt and a tread, wherein the belt is comprised of four or more belt layers, cords of adjacent two belt layers among these layers are crossed with each other with respect to an equatorial plane of the tire. In this tire, when a main cross belt is constituted with a widest-width belt layer and a wider-width belt layer in two belt layers adjacent to the widest-width belt layer, an inclination angle of cords in a neighboring narrower-width belt layer arranged at an outside of the main cross belt in the radial direction and adjacent thereto with respect to an equatorial plane of the tire is made larger than an inclination angle of cords in a belt layer arranged outward in the radial direction among the widest-width and wider-width belt layers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method that determines a maximum road friction coefficient for each wheel regardless of whether the tire is in a predetermined drive slip state, and whether the wheel is a driving wheel. The braking force of each wheel is calculated, and the longitudinal force of the tire of each wheel is calculated. Then, the driving force of the vehicle is calculated, and the lateral force of the tire of each wheel is calculated. Next, the reaction force of the road to each wheel is calculated, and the vertical load of each wheel is calculated. Finally, the ratio of variation in reaction force of the road to variation in composite slip ratio is calculated for each wheel. The sum of the ratio of the reaction force of the road to the vertical load, and the product of a predetermined coefficient and the ratio of variation in reaction force of the road to variation in composite slip ratios is calculated for each wheel as the maximum road friction coefficient.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a body, a belt package, and a tread package. The tire includes a layer of rubber disposed between the body and the tread package. The layer of rubber creates a thickness of between about 0.5 millimeters and about 1.5 millimeters between the cords in the body and the cords in the belt package. The layer of rubber is fabricated from a rubber having a stiffness greater than the rubber in the body of the tire. This configuration provides a tire having improved cornering coefficient, reduced vibrational levels, and less coarse road noise with only a small increase in rolling loss.

Abstract: A two-piece tire assembly has a removable tread belt 12 for installing about the circumference of a tire carcass 14. The tread belt has a pair of lateral ends each axially extending beyond the inflated unloaded carcass 14 at the circumferential surface by a distance of at least 4% of the width as measured at the tread belt 12 and carcass 14 interface. The carcass 14 has an abrasion resistant rubber layer 82 at the tread belt interface. The tread belt 12 also has the abrasion resistance tread compound 82 at the carcass 14 interface.