A bead core for a tire, which is substantially rotationally symmetrical about an axis, comprises a plurality of windings of at least one metallic wire with diameter d arranged next to one another in a direction P forming an angle α with the axial direction in a radial sectional half-plane R, on N layers superposed on one another in the radial direction, wherein: α ranges from 0° to 10°; in the sectional half-plane R, the windings form a structure consisting of a base structure and a cap structure, wherein the radially inner base structure in the shape of a parallelogram is directly in contact in the radial direction with the radially outer cap structure in the shape of a trapezium. The product of the diameter d times the number of windings L ranges from 13.0 mm to 25.0 mm, and N is less than or equal to 16.

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a pneumatic tire including a tread, sidewalls and a first bead and a second bead, which beads are spaced apart, the first bead and the second bead including: a drop shaped bead core , the drop shaped bead core having a cross sectional area including or consisting of a circular portion and a tapering portion, and an apex positioned adjacent and/or against the bead core, the method including: connecting the apex to the drop shaped bead core, thereby obtaining an assembly including the drop shaped bead core and the apex, pre-forming a tire including the assembly, and vulcanizing the pre-formed tire, thereby obtaining the pneumatic tire. Also disclosed is a pneumatic tire.

In a tire or a tire manufacturing method, a bead section includes a bead member formed by integrally molding a bead core, in which a resin material covers bead cords, and a bead filler made with a resin material covering the bead core, and around which a carcass ply, in the tire, is folded. In a cross-section along a tire widthwise direction and a tire radial direction of the bead member, the bead core is arranged by being shifted with respect to a width-directional center of the bead member.

An apparatus for looping anchoring annular structures of a tyre for vehicle wheels, includes at least three looping drums. Each looping drum has a longitudinal axis thereof, with respect to which it is radially expandable/contractible in a manner so as to turn up the loop around an anchoring annular structure. The apparatus also includes a loop deposit station, a loading station configured for loading the anchoring annular structures on the looping drum and an unloading station configured for unloading the looped anchoring annular structures from the looping drum. The loop deposit station, loading station and unloading station are angularly offset from each other. A turret transfer apparatus supports the looping drums in positions angularly offset with respect to each other and is configured for transferring the looping drums between the loop deposit station, the loading station and the unloading station rotating around a vertically-arranged transfer axis.

An apparatus for looping anchoring annular structures of a tyre for vehicle wheels, includes at least three looping drums. Each looping drum has a longitudinal axis thereof, with respect to which it is radially expandable/contractible in a manner so as to turn up the loop around an anchoring annular structure. The apparatus also includes a loop deposit station, a loading station configured for loading the anchoring annular structures on the looping drum and an unloading station configured for unloading the looped anchoring annular structures from the looping drum. The loop deposit station, loading station and unloading station are angularly offset from each other. A turret transfer apparatus supports the looping drums in positions angularly offset with respect to each other and is configured for transferring the looping drums between the loop deposit station, the loading station and the unloading station rotating around a vertically-arranged transfer axis.

A coated wire includes a steel alloy coated with a coating comprising one or more amino alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane compounds selected from the group consisting of an amino alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane, an amino/mercaptan co-alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane, an amino/blocked mercaptan co-alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane, or a salt of one or more thereof. A rubber composition and a process for coating wire is also disclosed.

A coated wire includes a steel alloy coated with a coating comprising one or more amino alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane compounds selected from the group consisting of an amino alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane, an amino/mercaptan co-alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane, an amino/blocked mercaptan co-alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane, or a salt of one or more thereof. A rubber composition and a process for coating wire is also disclosed.

A process for producing tyres including building a green tyre having two bead structures. Each bead structure includes a bead filler. The bead filler or another rigid component of the green tyre includes a final elastomeric compound produced by the following: feeding elastomeric polymer and reinforcement filler to a first batch mixing device; mixing and dispersing the reinforcement filler in the elastomeric polymer and unloading the obtained elastomeric compound; feeding the obtained elastomeric compound, along with at least 5 phr of reinforcement resin, to a continuous mixing device of intermeshing and co-rotating twin-screw or multi-screw type or of planetary type; mixing the reinforcement resin in the elastomeric compound and unloading the obtained elastomeric compound; and feeding the obtained elastomeric compound along with the components capable of facilitating the cross-linking to a second batch mixing device and mixing to obtain the final elastomeric compound. The first and second batch mixing device have two counterrotating rotors.

A process for producing tyres including building a green tyre having two bead structures. Each bead structure includes a bead filler. The bead filler or another rigid component of the green tyre includes a final elastomeric compound produced by the following: feeding elastomeric polymer and reinforcement filler to a first batch mixing device; mixing and dispersing the reinforcement filler in the elastomeric polymer and unloading the obtained elastomeric compound; feeding the obtained elastomeric compound, along with at least 5 phr of reinforcement resin, to a continuous mixing device of intermeshing and co-rotating twin-screw or multi-screw type or of planetary type; mixing the reinforcement resin in the elastomeric compound and unloading the obtained elastomeric compound; and feeding the obtained elastomeric compound along with the components capable of facilitating the cross-linking to a second batch mixing device and mixing to obtain the final elastomeric compound. The first and second batch mixing device have two counterrotating rotors.

A pneumatic tire having a bead filler molded over a bead bundle to form an over-molded bead. The bead bundle may include at least one bead wire. The bead bundle may be over-molded with the bead filler, forming an over-molded bead. The over-molded bead may be formed into a variety of shapes and may be constructed from a variety of materials.