Vehicle systems and components are set forth, which aim to reduce rolling friction caused in part by the contact between the vehicle's tires and the ground surface over which the vehicle is traversing. These systems and/or components thereof may increase the overall fuel efficiency of a vehicle. In the examples provided, the systems and/or components change the tread contact patch of one or more tires during movement of the vehicle.

A tire with improved handling having a stiffening structure with a stiffening element extending continuously in the toroidal interior cavity from a crown interface connected to a radially inner face of the crown to a bead interface connected to an axially inner face of the bead. The stiffening structure is distributed circumferentially over the circumference of the tire, the axially outermost stiffening element interface is positioned, with respect to the equatorial plane (XZ), at an axial distance A at most equal to 0.45 times the axial width S, and the radially outermost stiffening element bead interface is positioned, with respect to a radially innermost point (I) of the axially inner face of the bead at a radial distance B at most equal to 0.5 times the radial height H.

Wheel for a motor vehicle, including a rim and an air-filled tire mounted thereon, wherein, in the interior of the wheel, a material adsorbing molecules contained in the air is provided.

Wheel for a motor vehicle, including a rim and an air-filled tire mounted thereon, wherein, in the interior of the wheel, a material adsorbing molecules contained in the air is provided.

A control circuit for controlling the pressure of a wheel enclosing a first volume and a second volume includes a controlled pressure line, a first line, connectable to the controlled pressure line and connected to the first volume for introducing air inside the first volume, and a second line, connectable to the controlled pressure line and connected to the second volume for introducing air inside the second volume. The control circuit further includes a first spool valve, which is a three way-two positions valve, having a first position in which the controlled pressure line is connected to the first line, and a second position, in which the controlled pressure line is connected to the second line. The first spool valve switches from the first position to the second position if the pressure in the first volume exceeds a predetermined pressure.

The invention concerns a device and a method for detecting a tire on a vehicle to determine whether there is a single or twin tire on an axle. The device has an optical sensor for this purpose, the sensor detecting at least one region of a rim on which a tire to be determined is mounted. An evaluation unit is also provided which is designed to determine a shape of the area of the rim from the sensor signals and to generate a signal from the shape which represents the type of tire.

The invention concerns a device and a method for detecting a tire on a vehicle to determine whether there is a single or twin tire on an axle. The device has an optical sensor for this purpose, the sensor detecting at least one region of a rim on which a tire to be determined is mounted. An evaluation unit is also provided which is designed to determine a shape of the area of the rim from the sensor signals and to generate a signal from the shape which represents the type of tire.

Provided is a tire assembly includes a tire, a power generating body disposed inside the tire, and an electronic device that receives supply of power that is output from the power generating body. The power generating body includes a first insulating film, a second insulating film, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The first insulating film has a first surface. The second insulating film has a second surface. The first and second electrodes have conductivity. The power generating body is configured such that a true area of contact between the first surface and the second surface changes according to deformation of the tire.

Provided is a tire assembly includes a tire, a power generating body disposed inside the tire, and an electronic device that receives supply of power that is output from the power generating body. The power generating body includes a first insulating film, a second insulating film, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The first insulating film has a first surface. The second insulating film has a second surface. The first and second electrodes have conductivity. The power generating body is configured such that a true area of contact between the first surface and the second surface changes according to deformation of the tire.

A flat tire airbag system has an inner tube having an inner portion adapted to be mounted upon the wheel of the pneumatic tire, and an outer portion adapted to support the tire when inflated. A tire pressure monitoring system is operably mounted to monitor pressure within the pneumatic tire, and an airbag inflation mechanism is provided for automatically inflating the inner tube responsive to the tire pressure monitoring system detecting a loss of pressure within the pneumatic tire.