An airless flexible tire comprising a belt, drive lugs, and traction lugs. The drive lugs extend inwardly from the belt and form annularly spaced, rigid, high torque points. The traction lugs extend outwardly from the belt and are annularly offset from the drive lugs so as to form flexible sections that deflect radially inwardly when the tire engages the ground. Each traction lug has an effective height as a function of its actual height, the angle that the traction lug extends relative to a radial axis, the angle of the traction lug's distal surface, and the amount the tire deflects radially inwardly near the traction lug so as to at least partially equalize a rolling radius of the wheel to reduce torque generated near the high torque points.

A structurally supported tire includes a ground contacting annular tread portion, an annular hoop structure for supporting a load on the tire, and a ply structure secured to a vehicle rim and the tread portion. The hoop structure is secured to a radially inner surface of the ply structure. The hoop structure includes a first double layer of steel cords and a second double layer of steels cords sandwiching a first layer of non-woven reinforcement, a second layer of non-woven reinforcement, and a single layer of steel cords.

A structurally supported tire includes a ground contacting annular tread portion, an annular shear band and geodesic ply.

A transport tire is provided for supporting a rim of a machine during transport or storage of the machine. In one form, the transport tire includes a plurality of blocks having a non-annular, handling configuration and an annular, installed configuration. The transport tire includes end portions configured to be releasably connected to secure the blocks in the annular, installed configuration. A method of assembling a transport tire on a rim of a machine is also provided.

A transport tire is provided for supporting a rim of a machine during transport or storage of the machine. In one form, the transport tire includes a plurality of blocks having a non-annular, handling configuration and an annular, installed configuration. The transport tire includes end portions configured to be releasably connected to secure the blocks in the annular, installed configuration. A method of assembling a transport tire on a rim of a machine is also provided.

Tire, comprising an annular massive tire body having an essentially round or oval cross section having a centre M.sub.B, and having an outer circumference Co forming a tread and an inner circumference Ci facing the centre of the annular body, the body containing a longitudinal pull cable channel, the channel containing a pull cable and having a cross section having a centre M.sub.K, wherein the distance between M.sub.K and the inner circumference Ci is between 7 and 18 mm measured along a line connecting M.sub.K and M.sub.B and structure comprising the tire mounted around a wheel rim.

Tire, comprising an annular massive tire body having an essentially round or oval cross section having a centre M.sub.B, and having an outer circumference Co forming a tread and an inner circumference Ci facing the centre of the annular body, the body containing a longitudinal pull cable channel, the channel containing a pull cable and having a cross section having a centre M.sub.K, wherein the distance between M.sub.K and the inner circumference Ci is between 7 and 18 mm measured along a line connecting M.sub.K and M.sub.B and structure comprising the tire mounted around a wheel rim.

An emergency wheel attachment is provided for attachment to an outside of a vehicle wheel so as to enable a driving operation with restricted tire function, and includes an annular mounting unit configured to mount the emergency wheel attachment on the vehicle wheel, and an annular tread unit configured to contact, in the operating state of the emergency wheel attachment, a road on which the vehicle wheel is intended to roll. The annular mounting unit has at least two retaining claws configured to fasten the annular mounting unit to a rim of the vehicle wheel, an annular actuating element forming part of a gear mechanism configured to convert rotation of the annular actuating element into radial movement of the retaining claws, and a drive device configured to be coupled to the annular actuating element and the actuation of which causes a rotation of the annular actuating element.

An emergency wheel attachment is provided for attachment to an outside of a vehicle wheel so as to enable a driving operation with restricted tire function, and includes an annular mounting unit configured to mount the emergency wheel attachment on the vehicle wheel, and an annular tread unit configured to contact, in the operating state of the emergency wheel attachment, a road on which the vehicle wheel is intended to roll. The annular mounting unit has at least two retaining claws configured to fasten the annular mounting unit to a rim of the vehicle wheel, an annular actuating element forming part of a gear mechanism configured to convert rotation of the annular actuating element into radial movement of the retaining claws, and a drive device configured to be coupled to the annular actuating element and the actuation of which causes a rotation of the annular actuating element.