Pneumatic tire with puncture resistance internal safety structure

A pneumatic tire adapted for mounting on a vehicle wheel rim to define therewithin an annular pressure chamber, comprising:

• a toroidal expandable internal safety structure located within said pressure chamber and adapted when said pressure chamber is pressurized to normal tire inflation pressure, to be compressed to a toroidal form of reduced radius and volume within said pressure chamber, and a circumferential radially expandable reinforcing belt having one or more plies, surrounding said safety structure and secured thereto in a relatively narrow central circumferential zone to avoid restraint of said safety structure when said safety structure expands, the plies of the belt also joined to each other in a relatively narrow circumferential zone to avoid restraint of the safety structure when said safety structure expands whereby in the event of deflation of said pressure chamber, said safety structure and reinforcing belt expands to accommodate operation of said vehicle with said tire in a partially supported condition.