An insert for a pneumatic tire including an annular member adapted to contact at least 10% of an interior surface of the pneumatic tire and provide an outward pressure thereagainst. An insert for a pneumatic tire including an annular member adapted to contact at least 10% of an interior surface of the pneumatic tire and provide an outward pressure thereagainst, and an inflatable bladder disposed adjacent to the annular member. A tire assembly including a pneumatic tire having an interior surface and an annular member contacting at least 10% of the interior surface and providing an outward pressure thereagainst.

A wheel for a racing bicycle including a rim with a rim body having a rim well and lateral rim flanks provided with rim flanges, the rim flanges showing bulges protruding inwardly, each defining an undercut at the pertaining rim flange. A tire with two circumferential tire beads is accommodated on the rim body between the rim flanges, the tire beads bearing against the inside of the rim flanges and entering the undercut at the bulges of the rim flanges. A tire retaining device is included which is disposed in the internal space between the tire and the rim well. The tire retaining device includes an insert member having a hollow space that extends between the tire beads and contains a radially outwardly peripheral wall and a radially inwardly peripheral wall, wherein at least the radially inwardly peripheral wall extends continuously across an inner axial width of the insert member.

An annular and ring extends around the interior of a wheel/rim on which a tire is mounted. The inner diameter of the annular ring is sized for a snug fit on the wheel rim. A tensioning cable extends through the tubular ring and opposed arms are attached to the ring and are movable between disengaged and engaged positions. The apparatus is selectively movable by actuation of a cable tensioner between a first, disengaged position where the arms do not engage the tire and thereby lock it to the rim, and a second, engaged position in which the arm bear against the tire beads, capturing the tire beads between the rim flanges and the wing members to lock the tire to the rim and to create and/or enhances the air-tight seal between the tire and the rim. The bead lock apparatus may be beneficially used in combination with a foam insert for enhanced tire performance.

A vehicle wheel comprising a wheel rim having first and second sidewalls defining a rim trough and an opening extending through a portion of the wheel rim, a tire having a tire bead positioned in the rim trough in engagement with the first sidewall, and a bead lock positioned in the rim trough adjacent the tire bead. The bead lock is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The bead lock includes an actuator positioned in the opening with a portion accessible from outside the rim, and a band positioned in the rim trough with two free ends movable relative to each other and a side edge engaged with the tire bead. The side edge includes a cut out that creates a recessed edge that is not engaged with the tire bead.

A vehicle wheel comprising a wheel rim having first and second sidewalls defining a rim trough and an opening extending through a portion of the wheel rim, a tire having a tire bead positioned in the rim trough in engagement with the first sidewall, and a bead lock positioned in the rim trough adjacent the tire bead. The bead lock is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The bead lock includes an actuator positioned in the opening with a portion accessible from outside the rim, and a band positioned in the rim trough with two free ends movable relative to each other and a side edge engaged with the tire bead. The side edge includes a cut out that creates a recessed edge that is not engaged with the tire bead.

The present embodiments provide a wheel assembly having a dynamic structure to influence an unloaded profile of a tire. In one embodiment the unloaded profile is also influenced by a centrifugal force on the wheel assembly and an inflation pressure of the tire. In one embodiment, a loaded profile of the tire is influenced by a weight of the wheel assembly, the inflation pressure of the tire, and the centrifugal force on the wheel assembly.

A system. The system includes a wheel, a tire and a bead lock assembly. The wheel defines an axis of rotation and includes an outboard wheel flange and an inboard wheel flange. The tire is mounted on the wheel, and the tire and the wheel cooperate to define a tire cavity. The bead lock assembly is within the tire cavity, and has a radially outermost surface which is a first distance from the axis of rotation. At least one of the outboard and inboard wheel flanges has a radially outermost surface which is a second distance from the axis of rotation. The first distance is greater than the second distance.

A system. The system includes a wheel, a tire and a bead lock assembly. The wheel defines an axis of rotation and includes an outboard wheel flange and an inboard wheel flange. The tire is mounted on the wheel, and the tire and the wheel cooperate to define a tire cavity. The bead lock assembly is within the tire cavity, and has a radially outermost surface which is a first distance from the axis of rotation. At least one of the outboard and inboard wheel flanges has a radially outermost surface which is a second distance from the axis of rotation. The first distance is greater than the second distance.

An enhanced static runflat system is disclosed. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at least one predefined structural stopper provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical section of the wheel rim, whereby at least one predefined structural stopper secures, an inner circumference of the annular static runflat to an outer circumference of the wheel for arresting a movement of the static runflat over the wheel rim.

An agricultural tool includes a wheel body and a flexible tire with a hollow chamber and an inner surface around this hollow chamber; a circular opening on the chamber; a pair of beads bordering this opening; and a spacer at least partially tubular with two axially opposite end faces. Over one portion corresponding to one of the beads, the inner surface extends frustoconically by widening radially outward of the flexible tire, and one of the end faces of the spacer has an axially protruding surface. The spacer is placed across the opening of the tire such that the protruding surface engages the inner surface in an area of the portion corresponding to the bead.