Abstract: A composition including at least one elastomer, and a hydrocarbon polymer additive having a dicyclopentadiene, cyclopentadiene, and methylcyclopentadiene derived content of about 40 wt % to about 80 wt % of the total weight of the hydrocarbon polymer additive, a weight average molecular weight of about 100 g/mole to about 800 g/mole, and a softening point of about 110° C. to about 150° C. as determined in accordance with ASTM D6090.

Abstract: A tire layer application assembly and a method for applying a tire layer around a substantially circular circumferential surface of an object. The assembly is provided with a drive which, during application, is coupled to the object for driving the object in a driven rotation about a concentric axis of rotation with respect to the circumferential surface, wherein the assembly includes a tracking device which, during application, is arranged to be fixed to a part of the tire layer that is applied to the circumferential surface, wherein the tracking device is rotatable in a tracking rotation about the axis of rotation of the object, independent of the driven rotation of the object about the same axis of rotation.

Abstract: A load estimation system and method for estimating vehicle load includes a tire rotation counter for generating a rotation count from rotation of a tire; apparatus for measuring distance travelled by the vehicle; an effective radius calculator for calculating effective radius of the tire from the distance travelled and the rotation count; and a load estimation calculator for calculating the load carried by the vehicle tire from the effective radius of the tire. A center of gravity height estimation may be made from an estimated total load carried by the tires supporting the vehicle pursuant to an estimation of effective radius for each tire and a calculated load carried by each tire from respective effective radii.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread base comprised of a first material, a tread cap comprised of a second material, and a ring comprised of a third material. The tread cap is disposed radially outward of the tread base and in operational contact with a ground surface. The ring is disposed at least partially within the tread cap and extends radially away from the tread base. The ring has a stiffness in the radial direction greater than stiffnesses in the circumferential and lateral directions. The third material has a substantially lower hysteresis than the second material during operation of the pneumatic tire. The third material further provides an electrical conductivity path to the ground surface.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a center rib extending along a tire circumferential direction in a center portion of a tread surface. A width of the center rib is equal to or more than 10% of a grounding width. An outside rubber having a relatively high tension modulus is arranged outside a vehicle and an inside rubber having a relatively low tension modulus is arranged inside the vehicle, by setting an interface formed in the center rib along a tire diametrical direction to a boundary. 300% tension modulus Mo and a rubber hardness Ho of the outside rubber, and 300% tension modulus Mi and a rubber hardness Hi of the inside rubber satisfy the following relationship: (Mo?Mi)/Mo?0.15 Ho?Hi?±3 degree.

Abstract: In the invention, at least a tire outer circumferential side portion of a tread portion is formed of a non-conductive rubber layer. The non-conductive rubber layer is formed by winding and laminating a non-conductive rubber ribbon along a tire circumferential direction. A conductive layer is provided on an outer circumference of the non-conductive rubber ribbon, and the conductive layer continuously and spirally extends along the tire circumferential direction, and is exposed on a tread surface from a bottom surface of the non-conductive rubber layer toward a tire outer circumferential side. Accordingly, an electricity generated in a vehicle body is discharged to a road through the conductive layer. Since the conductive layer is scattered within the non-conductive rubber layer and exposure on the tread surface is preferably secured, it is possible to achieve an excellent conductivity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vegetable oil based rubber cement and tire with fabricated tread. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a tire with a rubber tread with a splice containing a vegetable oil based rubber cement. In one embodiment the tread rubber contains precipitated silica reinforcement. In one embodiment, the vegetable oil is comprised of soybean oil. In one embodiment the vegetable oil is provided in a vegetable oil extended elastomer. In one embodiment, the vegetable oil is provided as an additive to the rubber based adhesive.

Abstract: Methods of making tires with features such as ribs, lugs, or tread blocks include shaping at least one feature onto an uncured tire tread prior to vulcanization. One aspect of these methods may include shaping a feature onto the tread while the tread is associated with the tire. Shaping devices may include shaping rollers, stitching rollers, pre-molds, and annular, curved, or flat stamping plates. An additional aspect of these methods may further reduce the amount of air between a tread and carcass prior to vulcanization. These methods may be used in conjunction with manufacturing processes used on various types of tires, and are particularly suitable for use in large tire manufacturing processes.

Abstract: Provided is an air permeation resistant film in which flexibility can be imparted to the film without remarkably increasing the proportion of a rubber constituting a dispersed phase. An air permeation resistant film comprising (A) a thermoplastic polyester elastomer which comprises a block copolymer containing a polyester as a hard segment and has a melting point of from 180 to 230° C., and (B) a rubber, in a mass ratio (A)/(B) of from 90/10 to 40/60, wherein the component (A) and the component (B) are melt-kneaded to perform dynamic crosslink, thereby forming a continuous phase composed of the component (A) and a dispersed phase composed of the component (B), and the film has an air permeation coefficient at 80° C. of 5×1013 fm2/Pa·s or less and Young's modulus of 120 MPa or less.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire includes: at least one carcass layer suspended across left and right bead parts; a belt layer arranged on an outer circumferential side of the carcass layer; and a tread arranged on an outer circumferential side of the belt layer. The tread has a laminated structure in which a thermoplastic film layer of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition is interposed between a tread-side rubber layer and a belt layer-side rubber layer. The thermoplastic elastomer composition is obtained by blending an elastomer in a thermoplastic resin. A process for producing a retreaded tire includes the steps of: forming a base tire from the pneumatic radial tire by softening the thermoplastic film layer through heating so as to separate and remove the tread-side rubber layer, the pneumatic radial tire having the tread worn away; and subsequently bonding a new tread-side rubber layer onto the base tire.

Abstract: A system for constructing a pneumatic tire includes a tread component having two opposite tread splice ends, a water based adhesive applied to the tread splice ends for securing the tread splice ends to each other; and a heating means applied to the tread splice ends and water based adhesive for reducing drying duration of the water based adhesive.

Abstract: The invention relates to a water based rubber cement and tire with fabricated tread where the tire tread is fabricated by joining ends of an uncured rubber strip containing a high content of hydrophobated precipitated silica content with a water based cement containing a diene-based elastomer and a component reactive with said diene based elastomer and with residual hydroxyl groups on said hydrophobated precipitated silica contained in said uncured rubber strip.

Abstract: Provided are a rubber composition suitable for cushion rubbers of retreaded tires in which tread rubbers of tires such as truck and bus tires (TBR) and aircraft tires are replaced for reuse, and a rubber composition which is suitable for adhesion carried out by interposing the rubber composition between vulcanized rubber members and covulcanizing them in a tire prepared by adhering separately vulcanized rubber members and which is excellent in a productivity. The rubber composition is characterized by comprising 0.3 to 2.5 parts by mass of aldehydeamines, 0.1 to 1.5 part by mass of at least one compound selected from a group consisting of tetra(2-ethylhexyl)thiuram disulfide, 1,6-bis(N,N?-dibenzylthiocarbamoyldithio)-hexane and 1,6-bis{N,N?-di(2-ethylhexyl)thiocarbamoyldithio}-hexane, and 0.1 to 2.5 parts by mass of a thiazole type vulcanization accelerator based on 100 parts by mass of a rubber component.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the subject invention comprise methods and apparatus for mounting a tread ring onto a tire carcass. Such methods may include the step of providing a tire tread ring having opposing side edges; arranging the tread ring in an initial ring arrangement in communication with a pressure source, the pressure source being in communication with an outer side of the tread ring; expanding the tread ring radially outward from the initial ring arrangement to an expanded arrangement, the tread ring being expanded by applying vacuum pressure along the outer side of the tread ring supplied by the pressure source; inserting a tire carcass within a central opening of the tread ring while in the expanded arrangement; contracting the tread ring into an installed arrangement about an outer surface of the tire carcass; and, releasing the vacuum along the outer side of the tread ring.

Abstract: On a building drum, anchoring structures to beads, carcass plies, a belt structure and/or other annular composite components are sequentially assembled with a liner, sidewalls, sidewall inserts, under-belt inserts or other annular elastomer components. Each of the sidewall inserts, sidewalls, or under-belt inserts is made as a one piece construction in a service station operating far away from the building drum for storage on a movable storing device. Actuating members operating on the movable storing device carry the annular elastomer components from the service station to the building drum. A transfer member picks up the annular elastomer components from the movable storing device to transfer them to the building drum.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire is manufactured by vulcanizing the uncured tire formed by assembling uncured rubber tire components, at least one of which is made by winding a plurality of tapes around an axis while traversing the tapes along the axis, wherein the number of stroke of the traversing of the tapes is increased in a thick portion than in a thin portion of the tire component, and an angle between one end and the other end of each of the tapes around said axis is at most 90 degrees. The respective midpoints between the one end and the other end around the axis, of the tapes are sifted from each other in the circumferential direction of the tire.

Abstract: During tyre building, a crown structure is built through the actions of: forming at least one belt layer on an auxiliary drum for manufacturing a belt structure at least partly; turning up axially opposite side flaps of said at least one belt layer formed on the auxiliary drum; transferring the belt structure from the auxiliary drum to at least one service drum; and forming a tread band by winding of at least one continuous elongated element of elastomeric material into coils disposed mutually adjacent around the belt structure carried by the service drum.

Abstract: A method of retreading a tire includes positioning a cured rubber tread around an outer circumferential surface of a tire casing to form a green retreaded tire assembly, the tread having a plurality of radially outwardly extending lugs; and placing the green retreaded tire assembly within an envelope having a plurality of radially outwardly extending recesses, each recess receiving a lug.

Abstract: A tire exhibiting a desired design performance can be manufactured at a low cost using a precured tread having a mounting surface formed flat. In the process of manufacture, a base tire formed with a tread mounting surface having curvatures in the axial and circumferential directions of the tire and a precured tread having amounting surface formed flat, which is to be applied to the tread mounting surface of the base tire, are used. The precured tread has grooves (9) in its tread pattern surface opposite from its mounting surface. And the circumferential and axial lengths of the grooves (9) are formed shorter than desired design values, based on the differences in the circumferential and axial lengths between when the mounting surface of the tread applied to the base tire is curved along the curvatures of the tread mounting surface of the base tire and when the mounting surface of the tread is in a flat state.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a base tire with a uniform degree of cure (vulcanization) by preventing undercure or overcure in curing an uncured base tire, a method for manufacturing a tire using such a base tire, and a base tire thus manufactured are provided. In a method for manufacturing a cured base tire having a tread region where a tread rubber is attached, an uncured base tire is enclosed within a curing mold, the side regions of the base tire are heated by a first heating means, the tread region with a thicker tire thickness than the side regions is heated by a second heating means, and a cure-molding is performed such that the amount of heat given to the tread region by the second heating means is smaller than the amount of heat given to the side regions by the first heating means.

Abstract: The invention includes a retread tire and methods and apparatus for its manufacture, the retread tire including: a tire carcass having a bonding surface arranged along a base layer, the base layer being positioned between the bonding surface and a belt reinforcement package and including at least one base groove open to the bonding surface and a thickness that is variable and asymmetrical; a bonding layer having a thickness that is variable and asymmetrical; and a precured tread band bonded to the tire carcass, the precured tread band comprising a back face bonded to the bonding layer, a front face forming a ground-engaging surface and at least one tread groove extending through at least a portion of the tread band thickness and the back face having a discontinuity associated with the at least one tread groove, which is aligned with one of the at least one base groove.

Abstract: Adhesiveness between the tread member and a tire frame member is raised whilst reducing the volume of a tread member and decreasing rolling resistance. Air holes (18) are formed penetrating through to an opposite side from a ground contact face (12) at bottom portions (16A) of lateral main grooves (16) (grooves) of a tread member (10), such that air between the tread member (10) and a tire frame member (24) is expelled smoothly into the lateral main grooves (16) (grooves) through the air holes (18) when adhering the tread member (10) to the tire frame member (24). This is particularly effective when a gauge (G) at the bottom portions (16A) of the lateral main grooves (16) (grooves) is made thin in order to reduce the volume of the tread member (10).

Abstract: A tire manufacturing apparatus and a tire manufacturing method capable of efficiently manufacturing quality tire by uniformly expanding the diameter of an annular tread and mounting the tread on a base tire without axial deviation. The tire manufacturing apparatus for mounting an annular tread on the outer periphery of a base tire includes a drum for securing a base tire, a plurality of holding means each having a holding surface for holding the outer periphery of the annular tread, a moving means for moving the holding means along the central axis of the base tire, a sealing means for sealing the opening on one side of the annular tread, and an air supplying means for supplying air into a space surrounded by the annular tread and the sealing means.

Abstract: A chuck and a chuck system, and a method for processing a toroidal structure such as a tire carcass. The carcass includes an internal circumference and tapered ends. The chuck system comprises a plurality of chucks wherein each chuck includes a circumferential or substantially circumferential external surface and a plurality of friction reducing members positioned on the external surface. The friction reducing members are positioned to engage the internal circumference of the toroidal structure such as a tire. The method of processing a tire carcass includes positioning the tire carcass on fixed diameter chucks having friction reducing members on the external surface.

Abstract: Tire including a continuous pressure membrane. The tire includes a carcass, a rubber layer surrounding the carcass, and a belt. The carcass includes at least one continuous pressure membrane defining a generally U-shaped cross section. The pressure membrane includes a crown portion, a first sidewall portion, and a second sidewall portion connected with the first sidewall portion by the crown portion. The belt may be composed of at least one additional continuous pressure membrane adjacent the crown portion.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a new tire having a reinforced rubber structure and a polyurethane tread.

Abstract: A rubber composition used for a tire, in which friction on ice is improved, which includes 0.5 to 30 parts by weight of a filler having at least two protuberances and a non-metal fiber based on 100 parts by weight of a diene rubber.

Abstract: A machine and method for applying a tread to a carcass of a tire; the machine has a rotary drum supporting the carcass, a feed conveyor for feeding the tread to the rotary drum, a pressure roller contacting the tread, an actuating device for pushing the pressure roller against the tread with a force of adjustable intensity, and a control unit for regulating the intensity of the force as a function of an error variable calculated as the difference between the length of the remaining portion of the circumference of the carcass, and the length of the remaining portion of the tread; and the control unit regulates the intensity of the force by means of a proportional control block having a gain varying as a function of the value of the error variable and as a function of the rate of change of the error variable.

Abstract: A tyre for a wheel of a vehicle comprises a toroidal carcass provided with axially opposite sidewalls and beads for anchoring the tyre to a rim of the wheel, a tread band located crownwise on the carcass, comprising a surface with a plurality of hollows and grooves defining a raised tread pattern, and a belt structure interposed between the carcass and the tread band, axially extending between the sidewalls. The tread band comprises at least first and second circumferential axially-contiguous portions arranged to contact a road surface. The first portion is formed of a first composition comprising a reinforcing filler having at least 40%-by-weight carbon black and at least some white filler, the second portion is formed of a second composition comprising a reinforcing filler having at least 20%-by-weight white filler, and the first composition is different from the second composition.

Abstract: A tire with a radial carcass reinforcement comprising a crown reinforcement formed from at least two working crown layers of inextensible reinforcing elements and from at least one layer of circumferential reinforcing elements positioned radially between two working crown layers, the working crown layers adjacent to the layer of circumferential reinforcing elements being on each side of the equatorial plane and in the axial continuation of the layer of circumferential reinforcing elements coupled over an axial width, in order thereafter to be decoupled. A layer of polymer blend having a thickness greater than 1.5 mm over an axial width greater than 0.1×d is positioned axially between the axially exterior end of the layer of circumferential reinforcing elements and the axially interior end of the coupling zone of the working crown layers.

Abstract: A new kind of tire utilizes a replaceable tread surface to enable variable tread characteristics determined by a removable riding surface. The tire body defines a slot that extends circumferentially around the tire and receives the removable riding surface. The removable riding surface is attached within the slot by attachment mechanisms. In other embodiments, the variable tread is accomplished via a removable sleeve that fits over the existing tire.

Abstract: A method of laying down at least one elastic element in a process for producing tyres for vehicles includes the following steps: determining a first parameter representative of a laying speed at which at least one elastic element is laid down around a tyre forming drum; determining a second parameter representative of a percent elongation to be applied to the elastic element; adjusting, as a function of the first and second parameters, a rotation speed of a control roller positioned upstream of the forming drum and having a radially external surface at least partly in engagement with the elastic element for controlling the laying profile of the at least one elastic element. A process for producing tyres for vehicles and an apparatus for carrying out the laying method are also described.

Abstract: A cushion gum of having a diene rubber and between 5 and 60 phr of a plasticizing hydrocarbon resin having a glass transition temperature greater than about 20° C., 60° C. or even greater than 70° C. and a number average molecular weight less than 2000. The cushion gum may comprise between 10 and 30 phr of the resin in particular embodiments. The plasticizing resin may be a terpene resin comprising units resulting from the polymerization of limonene, alpha pinene, beta pinene or combinations thereof; homopolymers or copolymers of cyclopentadiene (CPD) or dicyclopentadiene (DCPD), homopolymers or copolymers of terpene, homopolymers or copolymers of a C5 cut and mixtures thereof; and/or copolymers of (D)CPD/vinyl-aromatic, of (D)CPD/terpene, of (D)CPD/C5 cut, of terpene/vinyl-aromatic, of C5 cut/vinyl-aromatic and of combinations thereof.

Abstract: A carcass ply is applied around an outer surface of a building drum, according to an application diameter greater than the fitting diameter of the tyre. An annular anchoring structure defining the fitting diameter is coaxially engaged around each of the end flaps. A n outer sleeve including at least one belt structure possibly associated with a tread band is disposed at a coaxiaily centred position around the carcass sleeve applied onto the building drum. Through axial approaching of two halves forming the building drum, the carcass sleeve is shaped into a toroidal configuration to determine application of same against a radially internal surface of the outer sleeve.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a rubber member for a tire includes a winding step in which a rubber strip is spirally winding and overlapping around a surface of a to-be wound body, thereby forming a tire rubber member around which the rubber strip is overlapped. A plurality of air-vent grooves are formed on at least one of surfaces of the rubber strip. Each air-vent groove extends at an angle ? of 20 to 90° with respect to the longitudinal direction of the rubber strip, the maximum groove width of the air-vent groove is 0.3 to 3.0 mm, and the maximum groove depth thereof is 0.1 to 3.0 mm.

Abstract: In a tyre for vehicle wheels, the tread band sidewalls and/or other structural elements of elastomer material have a layered structure which includes at least one first component and at least one second component of a material with different composition from that of the first component. The first and second components have an undulated interface profile, defining elements of mutual mechanical engagement. Also described is a process and an apparatus for manufacturing a tyre.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making an outer tire layer on a pneumatic tire microcellular closed-cell sponge rubber, method of making the aforesaid product.

Abstract: A chuck and a chuck system, and a method for processing a toroidal structure such as a tire carcass. The carcass includes an internal circumference and tapered ends. The chuck system comprises a plurality of chucks wherein each chuck includes a circumferential or substantially circumferential external surface and a plurality of friction reducing members positioned on the external surface. The friction reducing members are positioned to engage the internal circumference of the toroidal structure such as a tire. The method of processing a tire carcass includes positioning the tire carcass on fixed diameter chucks having friction reducing members on the external surface.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a tread with at least one groove having a groove depth Dg extending from an initial tread surface to the base of the groove. The tread has at least one tread wear indicator having at least two different colored portions. The tread wear indicator is a strip inclined at an angle relative to the tread surface and extending to a depth Dr at least equivalent to the groove depth Dg. In manufacturing the tire, the tread wear indicator is applied to a splice cut edge of the tread rubber such that, after splicing the tread rubber, the tread wear indicator strip is located within the tread splice.

Abstract: A rubber composition is provided with a large friction force even on a body having, for example, an ice face of a low friction coefficient. The composition is constituted by a foamed rubber having a rationalized foaming state. The composition is applied to an upper-layer rubber part of a tread rubber constituting at least a ground contact face to enhance a gripping force on a frozen road surface or a snow covered road surface. The foamed rubber has continuous cells 6 each continuously extending substantially along a particular direction 4 and sealed with a resin protection membrane 5. Also, a method is provided for producing such a tire.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to reduce a high speed FV n-order component of a completed tire by specifying a mounting phase of a raw tire with respect to a vulcanization mold. A variation amount of a total gage of a tread portion of each of non-vulcanized raw tires Pi (i=1 to m) each having a plurality of (k) tire constituent members including a joint portion whose one end and the other end in its circumferential direction are connected to each other, and a high speed FV of each of completed tires Qi (i=1 to m) obtained by vulcanizing and forming the raw tire Pi (i=1 to m) using a vulcanization mold are measured to obtain an estimation equation. Based on the equation, the mounting phase of the raw tire after the m-th can be specified.

Abstract: A tread portion has blocks that are provided with a plurality of sipes having a zigzag part. A tread rubber is formed of short fiber mixed rubber comprising 1.5 to 25 parts by weight of short fibers in 100 parts by weight of rubber component. The sipes comprise a three dimensional sipe in which each wall surface forms bumps and dips whereby the short fibers are three dimensionally arranged. The three dimensional sipe comprises the zigzag part extending from the tread face to a certain depth, while (1) gradually moving towards a direction and then the opposite direction thereto or (2) changing the length of the segments of the zigzag.

Abstract: A tire for a vehicle wheel includes at least one first component and at least one second component. The at least one first component includes a first elastomeric material crosslinked in substantial absence of sulfur. The at least one second component includes a second elastomeric material crosslinked with sulfur. The at least one first component is in contact with the at least one second component. The first elastomeric material includes an elastomeric polymer including carboxylic groups. The first elastomeric material is crosslinked by reacting the elastomeric polymer including carboxylic groups with an epoxidized liquid organic compound. The epoxidized liquid organic compound comprises epoxide groups located internally along a molecule of the epoxidized liquid organic compound. The second elastomeric material includes at least one elastomeric polymer functionalized with at least one epoxide group, at least one carboxylic group, or at least one epoxide group and at least one carboxylic group.

Abstract: The invention is a method for retreading a tire comprising the step of using a supercritical fluid as a carrier to spray a gum cushion layer on the outer surface (radially outermost) of the carcass of a tire. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the supercritical fluid is carbon dioxide. In one embodiment of the invention, the supercritical fluid is a mixture of a rubber product, a solvent, and a supercritical fluid carrier. In another embodiment of the invention, the gum cushion rubber delivered by the supercritical fluid forms a layer less than 300 microns thick between the new tread and the upper surface of the carcass of the tire after curing. In another embodiment of the invention, the gum cushion layer is delivered to the carcass by means of a supercritical fluid as a dual solution system, composed of one solution without sulfur, and one solution without accelerator.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprising a black colored tread with at least one colored groove wherein the top surface of the tread designed to be ground-contacting is essentially free of non-black color. A non-black component is placed over the tread strip and covered with a thermoformable film prior to forming the groove pattern. After vulcanization, the film is removed, and the tread lugs buffed free of color, if necessary, thereby forming a tire having color localized in the tread grooves.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having improved conductivity is disclosed herein whereby the tire is provided with at least one conductive pathway extending through the tread surface and contacting the tread cushion. Conductive pathways are created by introducing small volumes of high carbon black concentration. Such pathways provide low electrical resistance and dissipation of static charge accumulation on a motor vehicle.

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 82A at the tread belt interface. The tread belt 12 also has the abrasion resistance tread compound 82B at the carcass 14 interface.

Abstract: The present invention overcomes several disadvantages in conventional tires by providing a non-marking surface to the tire. The tire can be a pneumatic bias tire having a pair of parallel annular beads, at least one carcass ply wrapped around the beads, a non-marking tread cap, a tread base and sidewalls. A colorant may be added to the composition of the tread cap to create a tire having a colored, non-marking tread cap.

Abstract: An apparatus for retreading tires is disclosed. The apparatus has a rotatable hub for the mounting of a buffed tire casing. The apparatus also has a cushion gum applicator that is configured to stretch a length of cushion gum onto a tire casing. Further, the apparatus has a tread dispenser that is configured to automatically dispense a length of tire tread based on the circumference of at least one of the tire casing and the tire casing plus the cushion gum. Further still, the apparatus includes a tread applicator that is configured to stretch the length of tire tread onto the cushion gum. The entire apparatus including the cushion gum applicator, the tread dispenser, and the tread applicator are integrated into a single tire bench machine.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire constructed with an electrically conductive tire tread that defines a channel extending radially inward through a tread base rubber having a relatively high electrical resistivity so as to provide a conductivity path to a belt layer within the tire. In certain embodiments, a conductivity path extending from the belt layer through a belt cushion section to a carcass section of the tire is also provided.