Apparatus and method of enhancing run-flat travel for pneumatic tires
AssigneeBridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
InventorJames M. Kirby
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pneumatic tire in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a tread portion having a pair of lateral tread edges, a pair of bead portions, a pair of sidewalls that each extend radially from one of the lateral tread edges of the tread portion to one of the bead portions, an inner liner, and a pair of sidewall inserts. Each of the sidewall inserts is disposed between one of the sidewalls and the inner liner. Each of the sidewall inserts includes a top portion and a bottom portion that are each made of high modulus, low hysteresis run-flat stock. Each of the sidewall inserts also includes a center portion made of sidewall stock disposed between the top and bottom portions.
Claims9
A pneumatic tire, comprising:
- a tread portion having a pair of lateral tread edges;
- a pair of bead portions, each bead portion including a bead filler;
- a pair of sidewalls, each of the sidewalls extending radially from one of the lateral tread edges of the tread portion to one of the bead portions;
- an inner liner;
- and
- a pair of sidewall inserts, each of the sidewall inserts being disposed between one of the sidewalls and the inner liner, each of the sidewall inserts including a top portion and a bottom portion, each of the top and bottom portions being made of high modulus, low hysteresis run-flat stock, each of the sidewall inserts also including a homogenous center portion made of sidewall stock disposed between and separating the top and bottom portions,
- wherein the center portion in each sidewall insert fills a volume formed by the top portion, the bottom portion, the inner liner and said one of the sidewalls.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.