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.

The assembly (24) comprises: a woven first fabric (26) extending in an overall direction (G1) and comprising filamentary warp elements (64) extending in a direction (C1) parallel to the overall direction (G1) comprising first and second filamentary members, a woven second fabric (28), a bearing structure (30) comprising filamentary bearing elements (32) connecting the woven first and second fabrics together, each filamentary bearing element (32) comprising a filamentary bearing portion (74) extending between the woven first and second fabrics (28). For a length at rest L of the woven first fabric (26): for any elongation of the woven first fabric (26) less than or equal to (2H)/L, the first filamentary member has a non-zero elongation and is not broken; there is an elongation of the woven first fabric (26), less than or equal to (2H)/L, beyond which the second filamentary member is broken, in which H0KH where H0 is the distance between the woven first and second fabrics (26, 28) when each filamentary bearing portion (74) is at rest, and K=0.50.

The assembly (24) comprises: a first structure (10) extending in a first overall direction (G1), a second structure (12), and a bearing structure (30) comprising filamentary bearing elements (32) comprising at least one filamentary bearing portion (74) extending between the first structure (10) and the second structure (12), the first structure (10) being arranged such that, for a length at rest L of the first structure (10) in the first overall direction (G1), the elongation at maximum force Art of the first structure in the first overall direction (G1) satisfies: Art(2H)/L, in which H0KH where H0 is the mean straight-line distance between an internal face (42) of the first structure (10) and an internal face (46) of the second structure (12) when each filamentary bearing portion (74) is at rest, and K=0.50.

Provided is a pneumatic tire where a total width (SW) and an outer diameter (OD) satisfy the relationship SW/OD0.3; an inner diameter (ID) and an outer diameter (OD) satisfy the relationship ID/OD0.7; as viewed in a tire meridional cross section, an area (X1) (mm.sup.2) of a first region (R1) and a periphery length (Y1) (mm) of an inner peripheral surface of the first region (R1) have a ratio X1/Y1 of 12 or greater and 30 or less; and an area X2 (mm.sup.2) of a second region (R2) and a periphery length (Y2) (mm) of an inner peripheral surface of the second region (R2) have a ratio X2/Y2 of 10 or greater and 15 or less.

In a pneumatic tire including an annular tread portion extending in a tire circumferential direction, a pair of sidewall portions disposed on both sides of the tread portion, and a pair of bead portions disposed on an inner side of the sidewall portions in a tire radial direction, a load support body is disposed extending along the tire circumferential direction on an inner side of each of the sidewall portions, and the load support body is removably mounted to an inner surface of the sidewall portion via a mechanical engagement device.

A motor vehicle tire is disclosed with a pair of post-cure run-flat inserts, each of the pair of post-cure run-flat inserts is disposed within a tire cavity between a shoulder region and a respective upper sidewall region of the tire. The tire further includes a cylindrical sidewall defining an interior cylindrical cavity, each of the cylindrical sidewall and the interior cylindrical cavity extending 360 degrees about a rotational axis of the tire, the cylindrical sidewall having an exterior surface contacting a radially inner surface of an inner liner between the shoulder region and the respective upper sidewall region during a normal inflation condition of the tire.

The invention relates to a run-flat device for a mounted assembly of a motor vehicle and such a mounted assembly incorporating it.

This device comprises a wheel rim having a rim base of diameter D and a tire mounted on the rim, the device being suitable for supporting the tire in a run-flat situation and comprising: a ring comprising a multitude of axial portions juxtaposed over a circumference of the ring and defining an inner mounting face on the rim base and an outer support face of the tire in a run-flat situation, each portion having at least one support situated radially between the mounting and support faces, and at least one belt which surrounds the ring over the circumference thereof so as to support it substantially in contact with the rim base and which passes through the portions by being applied on the supports thereof.

According to the invention, the portions are not hinged to one another and are tight or spaced apart from one another over the circumference by a total sum of consecutive spaces, measured between the portions at the mounting face thereof, which is less than .Math.D/2.

The invention relates to a run-flat device for a mounted assembly of a motor vehicle and such a mounted assembly incorporating it.

This device comprises a wheel rim having a rim base of diameter D and a tire mounted on the rim, the device being suitable for supporting the tire in a run-flat situation and comprising: a ring comprising a multitude of axial portions juxtaposed over a circumference of the ring and defining an inner mounting face on the rim base and an outer support face of the tire in a run-flat situation, each portion having at least one support situated radially between the mounting and support faces, and at least one belt which surrounds the ring over the circumference thereof so as to support it substantially in contact with the rim base and which passes through the portions by being applied on the supports thereof.

According to the invention, the portions are not hinged to one another and are tight or spaced apart from one another over the circumference by a total sum of consecutive spaces, measured between the portions at the mounting face thereof, which is less than .Math.D/2.

A runflat device, and a method of fitting a runflat device. The runflat device can include a chain of segments which is flexible enough to be manipulated for fitting, while also being laterally stable to ensure correct positioning and to avoid misalignment when tightening onto a wheel. The fitting method initially expands the runflat device within the cavity of the tire, retaining the runflat device securely in place against the inside of the tire's tread area. This advantageously leaves the beads of the tire unobstructed for fitting to a wheel.

The present invention provides apparatus for transferring a load, comprising at least one unitary element of adsorptive material that increases an effective working volume of an enclosure for containing a pressurized gas that transfers a load between a first load transfer element and a further load transfer element. Use of at least one unitary element of adsorptive material is also provided to increase an effective working volume of an enclosure for containing a pressurized gas that transfers a load between a first load transfer element and a further load transfer element. A method of transferring a load is also provided.