The present invention relates to a rubber composition for run flat tires, containing a rubber component; a low-molecular weight conjugated diene-based polymer having a weight average molecular weight of 10,000 to 40,000 as expressed in terms of polystyrene in an amount of 1 to 10 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the rubber component; and a vulcanization accelerator, with a ratio of the content of the vulcanization accelerator to the content of the low-molecular weight conjugated diene-based polymer (vulcanization accelerator/low-molecular weight conjugated diene-based polymer) being 1 to 3.5, from which a run flat tire with improved run flat durability without impairing the ride comfort is obtained. The run flat tire includes a sidewall section having a side reinforcing rubber layer formed from the rubber composition for run flat tires, a tread, a carcass, a bead core, and a bead filler.

The present invention relates to a rubber composition for run flat tires, containing a rubber component; a low-molecular weight conjugated diene-based polymer having a weight average molecular weight of 10,000 to 40,000 as expressed in terms of polystyrene in an amount of 0.5 to 5 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the rubber component; and sulfur, with a ratio of the content of sulfur to the content of the low-molecular weight conjugated diene-based polymer (sulfur/low-molecular weight conjugated diene-based polymer) being 1.8 or more, from which a run flat tire with improved run flat durability and ride comfort is obtained. The run flat tire includes a sidewall section having a side reinforcing rubber layer formed from the rubber composition for run flat tires, a tread, a carcass, a bead core, and a bead filler.

A run-flat tire includes side reinforcing rubber between a carcass layer and an innerliner layer in sidewall portions, first bead filler rubber arranged inside folded back portions of the carcass layer, and second bead filler rubber arranged outward of the folded back portions of the carcass layer in a lateral direction. In a meridian cross-section, a radial-direction height of the first bead filler rubber is 15% or greater and 40% or less of a cross-sectional height, a radial-direction height of the second bead filler rubber is 35% or greater and 55% or less of the cross-sectional height, a linear distance from a radial-direction outer end to a radial-direction inner end of the second bead filler rubber is 20% or greater and 45% or less of the cross-sectional height, and the second bead filler rubber has a larger cross-sectional area than the first bead filler rubber.

A tire having a pair of high strength sidewalls lying opposite one another, wherein each sidewall has a plurality of plies that are shaped during manufacture to have a series of pleats or corrugations formed therein and stretching from the tire beads radially outward along the sidewalls. Each of the series of sidewall corrugations includes a pattern of alternating inwardly extending depressions and outwardly extending projections that extend continuously around the tire. The corrugations provide the sidewalls with an integral structural reinforcement, whereby the tire is advantageously capable of providing run flat support and avoiding damage to the rim on which the tire is mounted. According to a preferred embodiment, the tire herein disclosed is ideally suited for use on a motorcycle rim.

A pneumatic tire comprises a carcass formed of a carcass ply extending between a pair of bead portions in a toroidal shape, and a bead core disposed in a respective one of the bead portions, the bead core comprising an axially inner core and an axially outer core respectively disposed on an axially inner side and the axially outer side of the carcass ply. The bead portion comprises an inner bead apex rubber extending radially outward from the inner core, and an outer bead apex rubber extending radially outward from the outer core. An outer apex height Ho from a bead base line to a outer end of the outer bead apex rubber is in a range of from 120% to 150% of an inner apex height Hi from the bead base line to the outer end of the inner bead apex rubber.

An exemplary method for monitoring tire performance includes the steps of providing a wheel assembly comprising a tire and a tire characteristic sensor, providing a vehicle sensor configured to measure a vehicle characteristic, providing a controller in electronic communication with the tire characteristic sensor and the vehicle sensor, receiving, by the controller, tire characteristic data from the tire characteristic sensor and vehicle characteristic data from the vehicle sensor, determining, by the controller, whether a first condition is satisfied, if the first condition is satisfied, monitoring, by the controller, the tire characteristic data, determining, by the controller, an acceleration of the tire from the tire characteristic data, determining, by the controller, whether a second condition is satisfied, and if the second condition is satisfied, generating, by the controller, a control signal.

To provide a rubber compound for tires, a pneumatic tire and an airless tire capable of improving the steering stability of the tire while exerting excellent low fuel consumption performance. A rubber compound for tires characterized in that, of vulcanized rubber's physical properties, a complex elastic modulus E*.sub.70 (unit: MPa) and a loss tangent tan .sub.70 under initial strain of 10%, dynamic strain of 2% and temperature of 70 degrees C., satisfy 90<E*.sub.70<250, and E*.sub.70/tan .sub.70>800. A pneumatic tire provided with a rubber member made of the above-mentioned rubber compound. An airless tire provided with a rubber member made of the above-mentioned rubber compound. An airless tire provided in a tread ring with a shear rubber layer made of the above-mentioned rubber compound.

To provide a rubber compound for tires, a pneumatic tire and an airless tire capable of improving the steering stability of the tire while exerting excellent low fuel consumption performance. A rubber compound for tires characterized in that, of vulcanized rubber's physical properties, a complex elastic modulus E*.sub.70 (unit: MPa) and a loss tangent tan .sub.70 under initial strain of 10%, dynamic strain of 2% and temperature of 70 degrees C., satisfy 90<E*.sub.70<250, and E*.sub.70/tan .sub.70>800. A pneumatic tire provided with a rubber member made of the above-mentioned rubber compound. An airless tire provided with a rubber member made of the above-mentioned rubber compound. An airless tire provided in a tread ring with a shear rubber layer made of the above-mentioned rubber compound.

A method of preparing a sidewall support, the method comprising the steps of (i) providing a vulcanizable composition including an elastomer, a filler, a curative, and a eutectic composition; (ii) fabricating the vulcanizable composition into a green sidewall support; and (iii) subjecting the green sidewall support to curing conditions.

The present invention relates to a self-supporting tyre (100) for motor vehicles which comprises sidewall reinforcing inserts (113A, 113B) with different stiffness. In particular, the sidewall reinforcing insert on the side of the tyre most stressed during driving is less rigid than the sidewall reinforcing insert on the less stressed side. The tyre of the invention exhibits a reduced rolling resistance and better comfort in normal driving and an unexpected increase in mileage in run-flat driving.