Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC

Bridgestone Corporation

Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC

Joseph Lanzarotta

James D Ulmer

Robert G Barned

Lisa Marie Dinger

Yuichi Nagai

Tomohiro Kusano

Zhong-Ren Chen

David Gary Abdallah

William J O'Briskie

David G Abdallah

John F Pawlikowski

Derek Donohue

James Ulmer

A method of preparing a green tire innerliner, the method comprising mixing one or more vulcanizable rubbery polymers, less than 0.75 parts by weight zinc oxide, less than 0.75 parts by weight magnesium oxide, and less than 0.75 parts by weight sulfur, per 100 parts by weight rubber, to form a vulcanizable mixture and extruding the mixture to form a green tire innerliner.

Tire innerliner

Disclosed is a method comprising: (a) mixing in a first mixing step ingredients comprising (i) first polymer, (ii) a low molecular weight polymer having a number average molecular weight of about 5,000 to about 100,000, and (iii) a filler, and (b) mixing in a second mixing step ingredients comprising (i) the mixture obtained in step (a), (ii) a second polymer that is different from said first polymer, and (iii) optionally a filler. In one embodiment, the method further comprises mixing sulfur and vulcanization accelerator(s) into the composition, forming the rubber composition into a sidewall for a tire, and vulcanizing the rubber composition.

Method for mixing a rubber composition

Reduced hysteresis silica-containing black sidewall compounds having increased toughness properties are provided, as are methods for preparing the same. Tires comprising the black sidewall compounds prepared according to the present embodiments are also provided.

Silica containing black sidewall compounds and tires comprising same

The addition of a surfactant containing a thio functionality of the formula-S&#x2014;, and specifically a polyether thioether surfactant to a rubber formulation results in a rubber compound having a glossy film on the outer, exposed surface.

Non-staining black sidewall

A pneumatic tire having improved conductivity is disclosed herein whereby the tire is provided with at least one conductive pathway extending through the tread surface and contacting the tread cushion. Conductive pathways are created by introducing small volumes of high carbon black concentration. Such pathways provide low electrical resistance and dissipation of static charge accumulation on a motor vehicle.

Conductive pathways in tire treads for reduced static charge buildup

Growing community of inventors

Uniontown, OH, United States of America

Joseph Lanzarotta