A rapid inflation system is provided for the tires of a machine such as an agricultural machine which must periodically move between field conditions and road conditions. The system can relatively rapidly inflate the tires from a lower field ready state to a higher pressure road ready state by the use of a high pressure reservoir chamber defined within the tire.

A non-pneumatic tire having at least two tire sections that are operable to be coupled together. Each tire section includes an inner wall, an outer wall, and a plurality of radial supports that extend from the inner wall to the outer wall such that there is no interior volume enclosed by any combination of the inner wall, the outer wall, and the plurality of radial supports.

A method of manufacturing a tread for agricultural tires, the method comprising providing an agricultural tire casing, providing a cured rubber component having first and second planar surfaces, providing a plurality of cushion gums, wherein the plurality of cushion gums contains a cure system comprising a stable dinitrile oxide compound, providing a plurality of lugs, and forming an agricultural tread composite by mating the lugs to a planar surface of the cured rubber component using the cushion gum.

A method for adapting a tire inflation pressure of an agricultural vehicle includes ascertaining a current vehicle position by a navigation system, correlating the current vehicle position by a control unit with a cartographically captured field boundary, detecting a travel-induced entry into a cultivation region surrounded by a field boundary, and selecting a set tire inflation pressure designated for field cultivation from a database by the control unit. The method further includes applying the selected set tire inflation pressure to at least one tire of the agricultural vehicle by a tire-pressure regulating system.

A wheel assembly for an agricultural implement and method of forming the agricultural wheel assembly includes a tire body, an annular ring, and a hub. The tire body has an inner wall and an outer wall collectively defining an annular pocket therebetween. The inner wall defines a central, axial hole through the tire body and has a circumferential slot extending therethrough. The annular ring is positioned within the circumferential slot and secured to the tire body such that the annular ring projects radially inward through the circumferential slot to the axial hole. As such, the annular ring is configured to operatively engage the hub such that the tire body mounts to the hub.

Tread of a tire for an agricultural vehicle. The tread (2) comprises a first, median portion (21) having an axial width L.sub.1, at least equal to 0.25 times and at most equal to 0.75 times the axial width L, and second and third, lateral portions (22, 23) that respectively extend axially outwards from the first, median portion (21) as far as an axial end (E, E′) and have respective axial widths (L.sub.2, L.sub.3). Each lug portion (311) that is axially contained in the first, median portion (21) and extends radially inwards, from the contact face (6) as far as a first interface (7), over a radial distance D.sub.1 at least equal to 0.5 times and at most equal to 1 time the radial lug height H, includes a first elastomeric compound. Each lug portion (321) that is axially contained in one of the second or third, lateral portions (22, 23) and extends radially inwards, from the contact face (6) as far as a second interface (8), over a radial distance D.sub.2 at least equal to 0.5 times and at most equal to 1 time the radial lug height H, includes a second elastomeric compound.

A low compaction cantilevered tire construction is provided which is designed for use at relatively low inflation pressures and which has sidewalls with a relatively uniform bending resistance through the majority of the sidewall. When the tire is placed under high loads at low inflation pressures the sidewall deflects substantially radially and allows the tread portion of the tire to maintain its intended shape thus improving the contact area of the tire and providing a tire having a relatively high contact area and thus relatively low soil compaction for a given loading.

An agricultural tire has an equatorial plane separating first and second sides. First and second inner sixths of the treads extend between the equatorial plane and circumferential reference planes disposed axially one-sixth of a tread width on either side of the equatorial plane. First and second middle sixths of the tread extend between inner circumferential planes and middle circumferential reference planes one-sixth of the tread width from the inner circumferential reference planes. Outer sixths extend between the middle circumferential reference planes and outer circumferential reference planes disposed one-sixth of the tread width from the middle planes. Net tread volume ratio is approximately 40 percent, where between 36 and 39 percent of lug volume is in the inner sixths, between 32 to 35 percent in the middle sixths, and 27 to 30 percent in the outer sixths of the tread.

A device for tire pressure monitoring of a vehicle tire of a vehicle system includes a tire inflation system in communication with the vehicle tire. A control unit calculates a set pressure value to be maintained for the tire pressure. A storage unit is in communication with the control unit such that the control unit adjusts the calculated set pressure value in dependence on an operating state classification derived from operating state parameters of the vehicle system. The control unit determines a geoposition of the vehicle system correlating with the derived operating state classification and stores it with the operating state classification in the storage unit. The control unit further recalls from the storage unit the relevant operating state classification for purposes of anticipatory adjustment of the set pressure value of the tire pressure when a renewed approach of the vehicle system to the stored geoposition is detected.

A tire has a carcass with a tread, a bead, a shoulder, and a sidewall. The bead, shoulder, and sidewall partially define a first internal cavity. At least one stiffening line for a pressurized fluid with a second cavity is within the carcass. The second cavity is aligned in an approximately transverse direction relative to the periphery of the tire. The second cavity is connectable to pressurized fluid supply system and can be inflated or deflated to adjust the stiffness of the tire. The stiffening lines may be inflated using a hydraulic fluid to increase the stiffness of the tire. Related wheels, vehicles, and methods are also disclosed.