A non-pneumatic tire includes an inner ring having an axis of rotation and an outer ring coaxial with the inner ring. The non-pneumatic tire further includes support structure extending from the inner ring to the outer ring. The support structure is constructed of a thermoplastic material and having reinforcement cords embedded therein. The non-pneumatic tire also includes a circumferential tread extending about the outer ring.

A tire includes a central region configured to be mounted to a wheel and a crown region including a circumferential tread and a shear element disposed below the circumferential tread. The shear element includes an upper reinforcement layer, a lower reinforcement layer, and an elastic region disposed between the upper reinforcement layer and the lower reinforcement layer. A radial distance between the upper reinforcement layer and the lower reinforcement layer varies along an axial width of the tire. The tire also includes an intermediate region extending from the central region to the crown region.

A tire includes a central region configured to be mounted to a wheel and a crown region including a circumferential tread and a shear element disposed below the circumferential tread. The shear element includes an upper reinforcement layer, a lower reinforcement layer, and an elastic region disposed between the upper reinforcement layer and the lower reinforcement layer. A radial distance between the upper reinforcement layer and the lower reinforcement layer varies along an axial width of the tire. The tire also includes an intermediate region extending from the central region to the crown region.

A non-pneumatic tire is described which includes a ground contacting annular tread portion, a shear band, and a reinforcement structure positioned radially inward of the tread. The reinforcement structure is formed from a plurality of strips, wherein each strip has a first end located radially outward of the shear band and a second end secured to a bead, wherein the plurality of strips do not extend completely across the annular tread portion.

A shear band that may be used e.g., in a non-pneumatic tire is provided. The shear band uses interlaced reinforcing elements positioned within a shear layer of elastomeric material. A variety of configurations may be used to create the interlaced positioning of the reinforcing elements including e.g., a horizontal diamond or vertical diamond configuration. The shear layer formed from a rubber composition having a very low hysteresis reinforced with silica.

A wheel and tire assembly a plurality of includes support elements for supporting part of a load of a vehicle and an annular shear band extending circumferentially around the support elements. The shear band has a radially inner circumferential membrane, a radially outer circumferential membrane, and a shear layer interconnecting the inner membrane and the outer membrane for controlling shear deflection between the inner membrane and the outer membrane. The shear layer defines a connecting film layer radially sandwiched between a first radially inner, cylindrical flat film layer and a second radially outer, cylindrical film layer. The connecting film layer defines a periodic wave shape as the connecting film layer extends circumferentially between the first and second film layers.

A non-pneumatic tire is described which includes a ground contacting annular tread portion, a shear band, and a reinforcement structure positioned radially inward of the tread. The reinforcement structure is formed from a plurality of strips, wherein each strip has a first end located radially outward of the shear band and a second end secured to a bead, wherein the plurality of strips do not extend completely across the annular tread portion.

The purpose of the present invention is to minimize decline in endurance, while improving vibration performance. The spokes of an airless tire are provided, as an integrated unit, with an outside annular portion joined to the inside peripheral surface of a tread ring, an inside annular portion joined to the outside peripheral surface of a hub, and a spoke plate portion of constant thickness providing linkage therebetween. The radial inner edge and the radial outer edge of the center plane of thickness of the spoke plate portion are respectively diagonal with respect to a tire axial-direction line. The intersection line at which the center plane of thickness intersects a plane that is at a right angle to the tire axial-direction line constitutes a straight line. The spoke length, which is the length from the radial inner edge to the radial outer edge along the intersection line, is constant for any given location in the tire axial direction.

The purpose of the present invention is to minimize decline in endurance, while improving vibration performance. The spokes of an airless tire are provided, as an integrated unit, with an outside annular portion joined to the inside peripheral surface of a tread ring, an inside annular portion joined to the outside peripheral surface of a hub, and a spoke plate portion of constant thickness providing linkage therebetween. The radial inner edge and the radial outer edge of the center plane of thickness of the spoke plate portion are respectively diagonal with respect to a tire axial-direction line. The intersection line at which the center plane of thickness intersects a plane that is at a right angle to the tire axial-direction line constitutes a straight line. The spoke length, which is the length from the radial inner edge to the radial outer edge along the intersection line, is constant for any given location in the tire axial direction.

A wheel and tire assembly includes a plurality of support elements for supporting part of a load of a vehicle and an annular shear band extending circumferentially around the support elements. The band has a radially inner circumferential membrane, a radially outer circumferential membrane, and a shear layer interconnecting the inner membrane and the outer membrane. The shear layer has a plurality of closed cells for controlling shear deflection between the inner membrane and the outer membrane.