Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited

Sumitomo Electric Industries, Limited

Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.

Advics Co., Ltd.

Yasuhiro Kubota

Kazuo Asano

Shiro Nakajima

Akira Katagiri

Masatoshi Tanaka

Yoshihide Kojima

Takaaki Ishida

Hiroaki Kajita

Yurie Tanami

[Object] A pneumatic tire that allows reduction of the occurrence of a TGC and, at the same time, allows reduction of rolling resistance, is provided. [Solution] The tireincludes a banddisposed radially inward of a tread, and a beltdisposed radially inward of the band. The bandincludes a cord that is helically wound and extends substantially in a circumferential direction. The beltincludes an inner layer, and an outer layerthat is layered over the inner layerand disposed radially outward of the inner layer. The inner layerand the outer layereach include multiple cords aligned with each other. The cords in the inner layerand the cords in the outer layerare inclined relative to an equator plane. A direction in which the cords in the inner layerare inclined relative to the equator plane is opposite to a direction in which the cords in the outer layerare inclined relative to the equator plane. Absolute values of inclination angles of the cords in the inner layerand the cords in the outer layerrelative to the equator plane are greater than or equal to 35&#xb0;, and not greater than 55&#xb0;.

Pneumatic tire

A pneumatic tire includes a carcass extending between bead cores of bead portions through a tread portion. A tire section width Wt (unit: mm) in relation to a bead diameter Db (unit: inch) satisfies the following equations, Wt&#x2264;&#x2212;0.7257&#xd7;(Db)+42.763&#xd7;Db&#x2212;339.67, and Wt&#x2265;&#x2212;0.7257&#xd7;(Db)+48.568&#xd7;Db&#x2212;552.33. In a tread thickness distribution curve f(y) represented by equation f(y)=1&#x2212;t(y)/t(0), when y=0.4, the value of f(y) is of from 0.03 to 0.06, and a rate of change of the value of f(y) increases to y=0.4 and decreases thereafter, where t(y) denotes a tread thickness at each tire axial position Py, and y represents a ratio of an axial distance from the tire equatorial plane, to the maximum-width L of the carcass.

Pneumatic tire with specified tread thickness distribution and specified section width in relation to bead diameter

When a pneumatic tire is in a reference state of being fitted with a rim that is one inch larger than a regular rim in width, of holding 15 kPa internal pressure, and of being under no load, then a tread thickness distribution curve represented by f(y)=1&#x2212;t(y)/t(0) is 0.01 to 0.03 when y=0.3; 0.03 to 0.06 when y=0.4; and 0.06 to 0.10 when y=0.5, where y denotes a ratio of a distance in an axial direction from an equator surface relative to a distance L in the axial direction between the equator surface and a maximum width position of a carcass, and t(y) denotes a tread thickness corresponding to a distance in a radial direction between an outer surface of the carcass and an outer surface of a tread at an axial direction position corresponding to y.

Pneumatic tire with specified tread thickness distribution

A detection method for at least one of acting forces on tire among a back-and-forth directional force, a lateral force, vertical force, and a moment about a tire axis, detects the forces by strain outputs of strain sensors, which are attached on the tire and measure the strains of a sidewall portion. The method includes a strain measuring step to measure the strain of the sidewall portion with each of the above-mentioned strain sensors simultaneously at the rotational position P based on the tire rotational standard position X and to obtain the strain output per each strain sensor, and an acting force calculating step to calculate the above-mentioned force acting on the tire based on the strain output per strain sensor obtained on this strain measuring step.

Detection method for forces acting on tire and pneumatic tire used therein

A runflat tire system comprises a pneumatic tire, a wheel rim on which the pneumatic tire is mounted, and a support ring made of an elastic material and disposed in a cavity surrounded by an inner surface of the rim and an inner surface of the tire mounted thereon, wherein the support ring comprises an annular body extending in a circumferential direction of the tire and being provided with a plurality of recesses each opening at the cavity, and at least two sound reflectors each being attached to the recess and including an outer surface made of a non-porous material so as to reflect sound in the cavity.

Runflat tire system and support ring therefor

A vibration damping device for use in a automotive suspension system, adapted to be disposed at a linking portion between a body of the vehicle and a suspension member that connects and supports a wheel on the body is disclosed. The vibration damping device comprises a load sensing unit adapted to sense a signal corresponding to a load exerted between the body and the suspension member. A suspension system equipped with the same is also disclosed.

Vibration damping device for use in automotive suspension system and suspension system using the same

A puncture sealant supplying/removing apparatus includes a pressure-resistant bottle, an apparatus body on which the pressure-resistant bottle can be mounted, supply hose means which supplies or returns a puncture sealant accommodated in the pressure-resistant bottle to or from a tire, and a high pressure air source. The apparatus body comprises a venturi flow-path having a venturi portion, a first flow-path extending from the venturi portion into the pressure-resistant bottle, and a second flow-path extending from an inside of the pressure-resistant bottle and connected to one end of the supply hose means. The venturi flow-path is provided at its one end with an air intake which is connected to the high pressure air source, the venturi flow-path is provided at its other end with an opening/closing tool capable of opening and closing the other end.

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Kobe, Japan

Yasuhiro Kubota