Pneumatic tyre having a reinforced bead structure

A pneumatic tyre, comprising:

• a pair of axially-spaced-apart annular reinforcing elements;
• a carcass structure;
• a pair of bead fillers;
• at least one flipper;
• a tread band;
• a belt structure;
• and
• at least one pair of sidewalls;
• wherein the carcass structure comprises at least one carcass ply,
• wherein the carcass structure extends between the annular reinforcing elements,
• wherein the carcass structure is secured at axially opposite end portions to respective annular reinforcing elements,
• wherein each end portion is turned up around the respective annular reinforcing element,
• wherein each bead filler is disposed radially outward of the respective annular reinforcing element;
• wherein the at least one flipper at least partially envelops an associated annular reinforcing element and bead filler,
• wherein the at least one flipper comprises a plurality of first elongated reinforcing elements that are substantially parallel to each other,
• wherein the tread band extends circumferentially around the carcass structure,
• wherein the belt structure is disposed circumferentially between the carcass structure and the tread band,
• wherein the at least one pair of sidewalls is applied to the carcass structure in axially opposite positions, and
• wherein the first elongated reinforcing elements comprise at least one preformed metallic element having a diameter greater than or equal to 0.05 mm and less than or equal to 0.25 mm.