Pneumatic tire having gum strips encasing a carcass turnup

A pneumatic tire for heavy duty use comprising a radial carcass and two bead portions each reinforced by a bead core, with the bead portion comprising a rubber apex strip of a substantially triangular cross-section extending radially outwardly from the bead core and having a Shore A Hardness greater than 70, and with the radial carcass comprising at least one cord reinforced elastomeric ply, extending between the bead cores and passing around each bead core from the axially inner side to the axially outer side, end portions of the carcass ply turn-up being encased in a pair of non-fiber cord reinforced gum strips wherein said gum strips are formed from an elastomeric compound having a Shore A Hardness comprised between 55 and 65, a 300% Modulus comprised between 5 and 7 MPa, and a minimum Elongation-at-break which is comprised between 550 and 700%;

• each turn-up has one of said gum strips located between said turn-up and the respective apex, and the other gum strip located axially outside of the turn-up, the two gum strips being joined together radially outwardly of the carcass ply end and extending radially inwardly to encapsulate at least 50% of the length of the turn-up, and wherein the thickness of the gum strips is comprised between 1.0 mm and 2.0 mm.