A non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly which includes a rim, and a spoke ring structure having an inner ring that is mounted on an outer surface of the rim. The inner ring has one or more retention nubs aligned for reception in complementary shaped grooves on the outer surface of the rim, wherein the spoke ring structure has a plurality of spoke members, and an outer tread ring is mounted on the outer circumference of the spoke ring.

A non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly which includes a rim, and a spoke ring structure having an inner ring that is mounted on an outer surface of the rim. The inner ring has one or more retention nubs aligned for reception in complementary shaped grooves on the outer surface of the rim, wherein the spoke ring structure has a plurality of spoke members, and an outer tread ring is mounted on the outer circumference of the spoke ring.

A non-pneumatic tire includes an annular inner ring, an annular outer ring, and a support structure extending from the annular inner ring to the annular outer ring. The support structure includes a multilayer structure. The multilayer structure includes a skim layer, a plurality of cords embedded in the skim layer, and an outer protective layer covering at least a portion of a surface of the skim layer. The outer protective layer has greater resistance to ozone exposure than the skim layer. Methods of making a non-pneumatic tire include forming a multilayer structure by applying an outer protective layer to at least a portion of a surface of a skim layer having a plurality of cords embedded in the skim layer.

A non-pneumatic tire (10) comprising a tread band having a ground engaging surface, a first reinforcement layer (250) comprised of at least one reinforcement (251) oriented in the tire's circumferential direction, a second reinforcement layer (254), located radially outward from said first reinforcement layer (250), said second reinforcement layer (254) comprised of a plurality of reinforcements oriented at an angle in a first direction to said tire's circumferential direction, a third reinforcement layer (258), located radially outward from said second reinforcement layer (254), said third reinforcement layer (258) comprised of a plurality of reinforcements oriented at an angle in a second direction to said tire's circumferential direction and a fourth reinforcement layer (262), located radially outward from said third reinforcement layer (258), comprised of at least one reinforcement oriented in the tire's circumferential direction.

A flexible wheel may include a flexible tire section which is deformable in a radial direction from a circumference thereof, and an anti-bending guide section coupled with the flexible tire section. The anti-bending guide section is connected to a driving shaft, and the flexible tire section and the anti-bending guide section are concentric. The flexible tire section includes a ring-shaped outer layer, one or more inner layers, and a plurality of spokes. In addition, the anti-bending guide section includes a plurality of plates, a hub, and a plurality of guides.

A non-pneumatic tire includes an annular inner ring, an annular outer ring, and a support structure extending from the annular inner ring to the annular outer ring. The support structure includes a plurality of spokes, webbing, cells, or other open-sided support structure. The tire includes a bump stop. The bump stop includes an inner member radially extending from a radially outer surface of the annular inner ring. The inner member has a radially outer surface facing a radially inner surface of the annular outer ring. The bump stop includes an outer member radially extending from a radially inner surface of the annular outer ring. The outer member has a radially inner surface facing a radially outer surface of the annular inner ring.

A non-pneumatic tire includes a plurality of axially adjacent wheel portions. Each wheel portion has an inner ring, an outer ring, and a flexible, interconnected web extending between the inner ring and the outer ring. The flexible, interconnected web includes a plurality of web sectors disposed circumferentially about the tire to form a generally annular web. Each of the plurality of web sectors is hingedly connected to a pair of oppositely adjacent web sectors.

A spoke for a wheel attaching an outer tread to a hub, the spoke having a first and second spoke elements joined by a joint body comprised of an elastomer connecting the first spoke element to a second spoke element.

A variable compliance non-pneumatic wheel which comprises a stationary tubular body (32) attached to the vehicle chassis. A tubular member is freely rotatable relative to the stationary tubular body and has a series of peripheral mounting rods (12, 13) on sides of the wheel. A plurality of interconnected and freely rotating caterpillar-like tiles (5), which are in contact with the ground during wheel operation, are coupled to the outer periphery of the wheel. A plurality of connecting spring members, (3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11), each connecting a specific mounting rod on a side of the hub (1, 2) are configured to connect the tiles (5) to the hub. The tubular member is split in two parts (1, 2) which are each free to rotate relative to one another. Each part carries approximately half number of mounting rods and connecting springs on a respective side of the wheel.

Tire-type device having bearing elements (7) within annular space (5) between inner and outer coaxial structures of revolution, the latter contacting the ground in contact patch (A). The bearing elements are independent in pairs and buckle under compression in contact patch (A). The smallest characteristic dimension E of the section S of any bearing element (7) is at most equal to 0.02 times the mean radial height H of the inner annular space (5), the surface density D of the bearing elements (7) per unit area of the radially outer structure of revolution, expressed in 1/m.sup.2, is at least equal to Z/(A*ΣFr/n), where Z is the nominal radial load, expressed in N, A is the area of contact with the ground, expressed in m.sup.2, and ΣFr/n is the mean force at break under tension of the n bearing elements made to buckle under compression, expressed in N.