Low-Metal Tire
AssigneeBridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
InventorsJon I. Stuckey, Kathleen Clemmer, Kent D. Weatherwax
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tire includes a carcass ply and at least one annular structure associated with the carcass ply. The tire further includes a metal-free circumferential belt region comprising a first metal-free belt ply and a second metal-free belt ply. The tire also has a metal-free cap ply disposed radially outward of the first metal-free belt ply and the second metal-free belt ply. The tire also includes a metal-free circumferential tread that contacts a road, and a pair of sidewalls associated with at least one annular structure and the metal-free circumferential tread.
Claims20
A tire comprising:
- a first annular bead and a second annular bead;
- a body ply extending between the first annular bead and the second annular bead;
- a circumferential belt disposed radially outward of the body ply and extending axially across a portion of the body ply;
- a first reinforcement ply disposed radially outward of the circumferential belt and extending axially across a portion of the body ply;
- a circumferential tread disposed radially outward of the first reinforcement ply and extending axially across a portion of the body ply;
- a first sidewall extending between the first annular bead and a first shoulder, the first shoulder being associated with the circumferential tread;
- and
- a second sidewall extending between the second annular bead and a second shoulder, the second shoulder being associated with the circumferential tread,
- wherein the tire has a 1 degree cornering coefficient of between 0.09 and 0.40, and only the first and second annular beads contain metal.
A tire comprising:
- a carcass ply;
- at least one annular structure associated with the carcass ply;
- a metal-free circumferential belt region, the metal-free circumferential belt region further comprising a first metal-free belt ply and a second metal-free belt ply;
- a metal-free cap ply, the metal-free cap ply disposed radially outward of the first metal-free belt ply and the second metal-free belt ply;
- a metal-free circumferential tread, the metal-free circumferential tread being a portion of the tire that contacts a road;
- and
- a pair of sidewalls associated with at least one annular structure and the metal-free circumferential tread.
A tire comprising:
- a pair of annular beads configured to secure the tire to a vehicle wheel;
- a non-metallic body ply associated with the annular beads, wherein the non-metallic body ply forms a radially inner portion of the tire;
- a non-metallic annular belt disposed radially outward of the non-metallic body ply, wherein the non-metallic annular belt forms a radially intermediate portion of the tire;
- a first non-metallic reinforcement, wherein the first non-metallic reinforcement further forms a radially intermediate portion of the tire;
- a second non-metallic reinforcement, wherein the second non-metallic reinforcement further forms a radially intermediate portion of the tire;
- a tread disposed radially outward of the first and second non-metallic reinforcements, wherein the tread forms a radially outer portion of the tire;
- and
- a pair of sidewalls, wherein the sidewalls form axially outer portions of the tire.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.