Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC

Bridgestone Corporation

Bridgestone/firestone Research, Inc.

James P Kleckner

Benjamin C Galizio

Anthony M Unger

William J O'Briskie

Disclosed herein are tire tread rubber compositions comprising a specified elastomer component, reinforcing silica filler, a specified hydrocarbon resin, a cure package, and optionally oil. The elastomer component includes styrene-butadiene rubber and polybutadiene.

Tire tread rubber composition

A pneumatic tire includes a tire body having a crown portion and a pair of sidewalls. At least one reinforcing belt is disposed in the crown portion of the tire. A tag is carried by the reinforcing belt. In one embodiment, the tag is disposed in the location of one of the reinforcing cords that is disposed in the reinforcing belt. In another embodiment, the tag is disposed at the splice of the reinforcing belt. An alternative version of the tire has the tag carried in a depression formed in the outer surface of the tire sidewall. The tag may be encapsulated with an encapsulation material that is also disposed in the depression.

Tire with tire tag

Method for mounting a tag in a tire sidewall

Tire with tire tag embedded within reinforcing belt

Provided is a composition comprising a rubber and a polymer nano-particle comprising a poly(mono-vinyl aromatic) core and a poly(mono-vinyl aromatic-conjugated diene) surface layer, wherein the core of the polymeric nano-particle has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of between about 150&#xb0; C. and about 600&#xb0; C. Also provided is a composition comprising at least two (mono-vinyl aromatic-conjugated diene) copolymer rubbers and a polymeric nano-particle comprising a poly(mono-vinyl aromatic) core and a poly(mono-vinyl aromatic-conjugated diene) surface layer; wherein the core of the polymeric nano-particle has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of between about 150&#xb0; C. and about 600&#xb0; C., and the poly(mono-vinyl aromatic-conjugated diene) surface layer of the polymeric nano-particle comprises a mono-vinyl aromatic content that is between about 50 percent and about 150 percent that of the mono-vinyl content of one of the (mono-vinyl aromatic-conjugated diene) copolymer rubbers.

Rubber composition containing a polymer nanoparticle

A tread pattern having at least one circumferential groove and transverse grooves extending from the circumferential groove defining tread blocks there between. The tread blocks include sidewalls limiting the longitudinal groove laterally and projections projecting from the sidewalls into the circumferential groove. The width of each of the projections is less than 10% the circumferential dimension of the respective tread block. To convert a mold having elements that produce tread blocks with substantially flat sidewalls into a mold that produces the tread pattern, channels are machines into the sidewalls of the mold elements.

Growing community of inventors

Akron, OH, United States of America

James P Kleckner