A tire and membrane system includes a tire, an electronics package, and a membrane body attached to the electronics package. A width of the membrane body is less than 120% of a width of a tread of the tire. A length of the membrane body is less than 50% of a circumference of the tire. A bottom surface of the membrane body is configured to lie flat against an inner surface of the tire. The membrane body is not attached to the tire.

A dual, internal, pneumatic, boltless beadlock assembly for effectively securing a tire to a rim is disclosed. The beadlock assembly exerts a force on the two circumferential inner beads of a tire such that the tire stays in secure contact with the rim, even when the inflation pressure of the tire is not sufficient to lock the tire to the rim.

A dual, internal, pneumatic, boltless beadlock assembly for effectively securing a tire to a rim is disclosed. The beadlock assembly exerts a force on the two circumferential inner beads of a tire such that the tire stays in secure contact with the rim, even when the inflation pressure of the tire is not sufficient to lock the tire to the rim.

The invention relates to a toroidal inner tube (30, 130). The invention is characterized by the fact that the inner tube (30, 130) is in the form of a flexible corrugated tube (40, 140) that is curved to form a closed loop, the tube comprising alternating crest rings (46, 146) and trough rings (48, 148), the tube presenting a radius (R) and, when measured in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the tube, the radial thickness of at least one of the crest rings is less than the radial thickness of at least one of the trough rings (48, 148).

A tire tread cover for use with a vehicle wheel having a rim, a hub, and an opening between the rim and the hub. In one embodiment, the tire tread cover includes a flexible body and an attachment portion that extends from the body portion. The flexible body has a shape configured to cover a portion of a tire tread. The attachment portion is configured to (a) insert into the opening of the wheel and (b) engage the rim within the opening to hold the flexible body against the portion of the tire tread.

A tire and securing element assembly includes a tire inflated at a first pressure and a securing element. The securing element is an inflatable hoop inflated at a second pressure at least 10% greater than the first pressure. The securing element abuts an inner surface of the tire across 30-90% of a tread width. The securing element has a cross sectional area between about 0.4 and 47.0 cm.sup.2.

A tire and securing element assembly includes a tire inflated at a first pressure and a securing element. The securing element is an inflatable hoop inflated at a second pressure at least 10% greater than the first pressure. The securing element abuts an inner surface of the tire across 30-90% of a tread width. The securing element has a cross sectional area between about 0.4 and 47.0 cm.sup.2.

A self-inflating tire is provided that includes a pneumatic tire having a tread, and a casing, where the tread includes an outer riding surface, wherein the casing includes an inner inflation surface, and an elastic inflation lumen disposed between the casing and the tread, where the inflation lumen has at least one air through-port.

A self-inflating tire is provided that includes a pneumatic tire having a tread, and a casing, where the tread includes an outer riding surface, wherein the casing includes an inner inflation surface, and an elastic inflation lumen disposed between the casing and the tread, where the inflation lumen has at least one air through-port.

An inflatable electronics band for use in a tire features an annular, flexible, inflatable, tubular body configured to contact an inner portion of a tire opposite the tread surface, such as an innerliner. The inflatable electronics band further features an inflation valve, disposed on the tubular body. The tubular body is configured to inflate to a pressure at least 10% greater than the recommended tire inflation pressure.