The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising a tread portion having (i) circumferential grooves and (ii) circumferential ribs or rows of tread blocks; an inner surface defining a tire cavity; and a sealant material layer at least partially covering the inner surface radially below the tread portion within the tire cavity. The sealant material layer comprises elevations of sealant material, wherein an elevation of sealant material is provided radially below each of at least two of the circumferential grooves, and wherein the sealant material layer has a larger radial thickness in said elevations than in areas radially below the circumferential ribs or rows of tread blocks.

An assembly of a pneumatic tire and of a wheel, the pneumatic tire (10) being fitted to the wheel. The assembly comprises first and second self-sealing products housed in the internal volume (V) of the pneumatic tire (10). The first self-sealing product, referred to as solid self-sealing product (OS), covers a predetermined part of the internal surface of the pneumatic tire (10). The relative position of this predetermined part in the pneumatic tire (10) does not substantially vary under the effect of gravity. The second self-sealing product, referred to as liquid self-sealing product (OL), is in the liquid form.

An application system and method for applying a sealing agent to the inner surface of a pneumatic tire comprises: a support device operable for rotating the pneumatic tire around an axis of rotation; a dispensing head operable to be arranged inside the pneumatic tire in order to apply a layer of sealing agent to the inner surface of the pneumatic tire itself; a main extrusion device which is connected to the dispensing head and that is operable for supplying the dispensing head with a first throughput of sealing agent; and an additional extrusion device which is connected to the dispensing head, and which is separate and independent from the main extrusion device, and is operable for supplying the dispensing head itself with a second throughput of sealing agent that merges with the first throughput of sealing agent.

An application system and method for applying a sealing agent to the inner surface of a pneumatic tire includes: rotating, by means of a support device, the pneumatic tire about an axis of rotation; applying a layer of sealing agent to the inner surface of the pneumatic tire by means of a dispensing head arranged within the pneumatic tire itself; pressing, by means of a pressure roller, the just applied layer of sealing agent against the inner surface of the pneumatic tire; pushing the pressure roller against the just applied layer of sealing agent by means of an actuator which generates a force having a desired value; determining, by means of a force sensor, a measured value of the force generated by the actuator; and cyclically varying the force generated by the actuator as a function of the measured value of the force.

Disclosed herein are a sealant composition for use with tires, a tire having at least one component with at least one surface at least partially coated with the sealant composition, and related methods for applying the sealant composition to tires. The sealant composition comprises biorubber and a softener comprising at least one of plant oil or plant resin and has a non-petroleum content of at least 70% by weight.

A sealing device comprising a flexible holding strip having an adhesive layer on a first surface, wherein the strip is configured for attachment to an inner surface of a tubeless tire via the adhesive layer, and a plurality of flexible flags attached to a second surface of the flexible holding strip opposite the first surface, wherein the plurality of flags is attached to the second surface at a fixed widthwise edge of each of the plurality of flags and wherein the plurality of flags are configured to seal a hole in the tubeless tire when the strip is attached to the inner surface of the tubeless tire is provided. Methods of protecting tires by attaching a sealing device are also described.

Processes for producing a sealant layer-tire inner liner combination as well as a sealant layer-containing tire and related processes involving the sealant layer-containing tire are disclosed. The sealant layer is adhered to the tire inner liner, has a thickness of 2-8 mm and comprises 100 parts of at least one rubber, 300-500 phr of at least one tackifier, optionally one or more extenders, optionally at least one hydroscopic substance, and a cure package.

A method and system for applying a sealing agent to a surface (2) of an inner cavity (3) of a pneumatic tyre; the method provides for detecting the weight of the pneumatic tyre (4) before and after the application of the sealing agent to the surface (2); calculating the difference between the quantity of sealing agent applied to the surface (2) and a reference quantity of sealing agent, storing said difference within a short-term memory buffer (24) and a long-term memory buffer (26); determining a short-term compensation factor (K.sub.ST) and a long-term compensation factor (K.sub.LT) and calculating a correction factor (K.sub.EA) using alternately the short-term compensation factor (K.sub.ST) or else the long-term compensation factor (K.sub.LT); and using said correction factor (K.sub.EA) to actuate an applicator device (7) during the subsequent step of applying the strip of sealing agent to the surface (2).

A self-sealing pneumatic tire having at least one cohesive sandwich radially inward of the pneumatic tire is provided. The at least cohesive sandwich may include a cohesive material under pressure, facilitating a recovery capacity upon being pierced by a sharp object, whereby the molecules of the cohesive material cohesively reattach, self-sealing any passageway or space created by the sharp object. The self-sealing pneumatic tire may also provide a loculated-diamond-section layer located radially inward of the outer cohesive sandwich, further supporting the self-sealing pneumatic tire. The external rubber tread are disposed along the circumference of the tire in some embodiments can be separate from the surface of the tire yet secured in place by attachments. Once fully utilized, this external rubber tread can be replaced by a new version without having to replace the entire tire.

A method is for applying sealing agent to an inner surface of a pneumatic tire. The method includes using a first extrusion device to form at least a part of a first throughput having base elastomer, using a second extrusion device to form at least a part of a second throughput having a curing agent, and mixing the first throughput with the second throughput to form the sealing agent. In addition, a layer of the sealing agent is applied to the inner surface of the pneumatic tire by a dispensing head.