A non-pneumatic tire with an annular body of resilient elastomeric material comprises circumferential web members supported by a plurality of circumferentially spaced crossed spoke pairs. The thickness and angle of the spokes in each crossed spoke pair varies.

A non-pneumatic tire compries a tire wheel; a rim which is made of a rigid material and concentrically disposed at an interval with respect to the tire wheel; spokes each of which has one side fastened to a circumference of the tire wheel and the other side fastened to a circumference of the rim and elastically supports the interval between the tire wheel and the rim; and a tire cover which is coupled to cover the rim and has a tread pattern formed on an outer surface of the tire cover, wherein the rim has a plurality of circular rings having a width and a thickness, the plurality of rings is disposed to face one another at intervals in a width direction of the tire cover, and interval support members, which elastically support the intervals among the rings and bind the rings, are provided among the rings.

A wheel assembly includes a rigid wheel and an airless flexible tire with certain performance characteristics of a pneumatic tire. The rigid wheel includes a central portion and a plurality of circumferentially spaced mounting elements removably attached to a radially outer margin of the central portion. The tire is mounted on the wheel and engages the mounting elements such that portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements are separated radially from the wheel by a space. The tire is configured such that portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements flex inwardly toward the wheel when subject to ground engaging pressure, thereby minimizing ground penetration and soil disruption. The tire may include one or more tension elements embedded in the tire to increase the tire's strength and resilience.

A wheel assembly includes a rigid wheel and an airless flexible tire with certain performance characteristics of a pneumatic tire. The rigid wheel includes a central portion and a plurality of circumferentially spaced mounting elements removably attached to a radially outer margin of the central portion. The tire is mounted on the wheel and engages the mounting elements such that portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements are separated radially from the wheel by a space. The tire is configured such that portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements flex inwardly toward the wheel when subject to ground engaging pressure, thereby minimizing ground penetration and soil disruption. The tire may include one or more tension elements embedded in the tire to increase the tire's strength and resilience.

A shear band and a non-pneumatic tire is described which includes a ground contacting annular tread portion; a shear band, and a connecting web positioned between a hub and the shear band. The shear band is preferably comprised of a three-dimensional spacer fabric having a first and second layer connected by connecting members. The three-dimensional spacer fabric has a defined depth. The three-dimensional spacer structure further includes a plurality of cells formed between the connecting members, and wherein one or more of the cells are filled with a filler material. The filler material may be foam or a thermoplastic elastomer.

A non-pneumatic tire is described that includes a ground contacting annular tread portion, a shear band, wherein the shear band is formed of a first and second inextensible layer, and a low modulus material positioned between the first and second inextensible layer. The non-pneumatic tire further includes a connecting web positioned between a hub and the shear band, wherein the connecting web is formed of one or more spokes extending from an inner ring to an outer ring, wherein the one or more spokes are formed from a material reinforced with a three dimensional spacer structure.

A non-pneumatic tire which includes a ground contacting annular tread portion; a shear band, and a connecting web positioned between a hub and the shear band. The shear band is preferably comprised of a three dimensional spacer fabric having a first and second layer, wherein the first and second layers have reinforcing members which are inextensible.

A shear band comprising a three-dimensional spacer structure, wherein the three-dimensional spacer structure is formed from a first and second layer of material, each layer of material having first reinforcement members which extend in a first and direction, and second reinforcement members which extend in a second direction, wherein each layer of material is connected to each other by a plurality of connecting reinforcement members which extend in a third direction, wherein the shear band further comprises a first membrane layer located radially outward of the three-dimensional spacer structure. The invention further comprises a non-pneumatic tire which includes the above described shear band.

A multiple layer foam insert replacement for a pneumatic inner tube for a tire. The multiple layer foam insert emulates the effect of air pressure, across a range of pressures, while still approaching the weight of the air filled tube. Through the use of different density materials and the orientation and thickness of such materials, the desirable characteristics of the pneumatic tube structure and performance can be emulated to a high degree. This multiple layer foam insert can be produced in varying levels of quality and function through the method of extrusion of foam materials in different sizes and layering.

An airless tire has a tread ring provided with a reinforcing rubber layer disposed radially inside a tread rubber layer and made of a rubber compound [A] comprising: 100 parts by mass of the rubber component containing 10 to 100% by mass of butadiene rubber; 10 to 80 parts by mass of an metal salt of an alpha beta unsaturated carboxylic acid; and a peroxide. A barrier layer, which restrains sulfur in an adjacent rubber compound from migrating into the reinforcing rubber layer, is disposed between the reinforcing rubber layer and the adjacent rubber compound.