Asymmetrical pneumatic run-flat tire
AssigneeThe Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
InventorsMarc Hedo, Johan Dahlberg, Walter Allen, Laurent Colantonio, Filomeno Corvasce
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pneumatic tire is capable of operation during underinflated condition and the construction of sidewalls are configured to compensate for negative cambers acting upon the tire. The inboard side of the tire is softened in comparison to the outboard side of the tire. This is achieved by either forming an asymmetrical tire in either the tire profile or the internal construction.
Claims24
Method of manufacturing a run-flat tire, the method comprising the following steps:
- a) building a symmetrical green tire, the green tire having an equatorial plane (EP) and comprising a tread, a pair of opposing beads, at least one carcass reinforcing ply, a belt structure located radially outward of the carcass reinforcing ply, and a sidewall insert axially inward of at least one of the carcass reinforcing ply in a sidewall portion of the tire,
- b) curing the symmetrical green tire in a mold having an asymmetrical configuration to form a cured tire, wherein the cured tire has the following characteristics:
- the beads of the molded tire are symmetrically distanced from the equatorial plane (EP) of the tire, and
- the tread on each side of the equatorial plane having different radius of curvature and different widths, the widths being measured perpendicular to the equatorial plane to a line tangent to the maximum width of the belt structure.
An asymmetric run-flat pneumatic tire, the tire having an equatorial plane (EP), a pair of opposing bead portions, a pair of opposing sidewalls, at least one carcass reinforcing plies, a sidewall insert axially inward of at least one of the carcass reinforcing plies in each sidewall portion, and a belt structure located radially outward of the carcass reinforcing plies, the tire being characterized by:
- the bead portions being symmetrically distanced from the equatorial plane (EP) of the tire, and
- the tread on each side of the equatorial plane (EP) having different radius of curvature and different widths, the widths being measured perpendicular to the equatorial plane (EP) to a line tangent to the maximum width of the belt structure.
An asymmetric run-flat pneumatic tire, the tire having an equatorial plane (EP), a pair of opposing bead portions, a pair of opposing sidewalls, at least one carcass reinforcing plies, a sidewall insert axially inward of at least one of the carcass reinforcing plies in each sidewall portion, and a belt structure located radially outward of the carcass reinforcing plies, the tire being characterized by:
- one bead portion comprising an additional reinforcing layer not present in the opposing bead portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.