A method for applying a magnetic element to a surface includes the steps of providing a magnetized surface capable of holding a magnetic element, providing a substrate having a surface to be modified by the addition of the magnetic element, bringing the magnetic element into contact with the surface of the substrate, eliminating the magnetism of the magnetized surface to create an un-magnetized surface, and withdrawing the un-magnetized surface from contact with the surface of the substrate, thereby leaving behind the magnetic element on the surface of the substrate.

The needle (12) of the device for inserting a wire into a tire has: a piercing zone (18) having an axis of symmetry, and a duct (30) having a proximal opening and a distal opening (36) opening into the zone (18) and off-center relative to the axis, the duct consisting of the proximal opening and of a rectilinear profiled section including the distal opening.

Provided by the present invention are a rubber composition for studless winter tires capable of improving performance on snow and ice while maintaining good abrasion resistance, and a studless winter tire including the rubber composition. The present invention relates to a rubber composition for studless winter tires containing a rubber component and bionanofibers, the bionanofibers having an average fiber diameter of 0.1 m or less, the rubber component having a combined amount of natural rubber and polybutadiene rubber of 30% to 100% by mass based on 100% by mass of the rubber component, the rubber composition containing the bionanofibers in an amount of 1 to 10 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the rubber component.

Provided are a rubber composition provided with excellent reinforcement properties by improving the dispersibility of fibers in a rubber component when the fibers are added to the rubber, a method for manufacturing the same, a vulcanized rubber, and a tire. A rubber composition comprising a rubber component and short fibers, wherein the short fibers are cationized. A method for manufacturing the rubber composition, comprising a mixing step for mixing cationized short fibers and rubber latex to prepare a rubber-short fiber mixed solution, and a drying step for drying the rubber-short fiber mixed solution to give a rubber composition.