A tire assembly according to the disclosure may include a wheel having a first outer circumferential surface and a second outer circumferential surface, and a tire mounted on the wheel and having a first portion that mates with the first outer circumferential surface of the wheel, and a second portion that is spaced away from the second outer circumferential surface of the wheel to form a cavity. Furthermore, the first portion may be a solid portion that extends from the first outer circumferential surface of the wheel to an outer circumferential surface of the tire.

A wheel includes: a hub; and a running wheel body, which includes a tread on an outer periphery thereof. The tread includes segments. The segments are essentially planar. First segments of the segments are inclined toward one end face of the running wheel body and second segments of the segments are inclined toward an other end face of the running wheel body.

A tire insert for vehicle wheel which has an annular element made in one piece of polymer material is provided. The annular element has a base portion suitable for being accommodated in a rim seat of a rim and an enlarged portion having a section larger than the base portion. The enlarged portion is shaped to have shape and size to always be spaced apart from an inner tire side when the tire is inflated to a predetermined standard working pressure. When the tire is deflated, the enlarged portion comes into contact with the tire to support the tire while the vehicle wheel is running. A vehicle wheel having a tire, a rim onto which the tire is mounted, and the tire insert is also provided.

Shape memory alloy elements (“SMAs”) are bonded, encased, or encapsulated with one or more polymers to form an integrated component with unique elastic, pseudoelastic, and load-bearing properties.

A method and apparatus for molding non-pneumatic wheels is provided. The exemplary method and apparatus allow for the use of the same molding system to manufacture wheels with different hub constructions. Different configurations of removable mold elements are utilized within the same molding system to provide wheels with different hub constructions.

A shear band and a non-pneumatic tire is described which includes a ground contacting annular tread portion; a shear band, and a connecting web positioned between a hub and the shear band. The shear band is preferably comprised of a three-dimensional spacer fabric having a first and second layer connected by connecting members. The three-dimensional spacer fabric has a defined depth. The three-dimensional spacer structure further includes a plurality of cells formed between the connecting members, and wherein one or more of the cells are filled with a filler material. The filler material may be foam or a thermoplastic elastomer.

A shear band and a non-pneumatic tire is described which includes a ground contacting annular tread portion; a shear band, and a connecting web positioned between a hub and the shear band. The shear band is preferably comprised of a three-dimensional spacer fabric having a first and second layer connected by connecting members. The three-dimensional spacer fabric has a defined depth. The three-dimensional spacer structure further includes a plurality of cells formed between the connecting members, and wherein one or more of the cells are filled with a filler material. The filler material may be foam or a thermoplastic elastomer.

A shear band and a non-pneumatic tire is described which includes a ground contacting annular tread portion; a shear band, and a connecting web positioned between a hub and the shear band. The shear band is preferably comprised of a three-dimensional spacer fabric having a first and second layer connected by connecting members. The three-dimensional spacer fabric has a defined depth. The three-dimensional spacer structure further includes a plurality of cells formed between the connecting members, and wherein one or more of the cells are filled with a filler material. The filler material may be foam or a thermoplastic elastomer.

A wheel assembly incorporating a non-pneumatic tyre, said assembly including first inner web or rib members and one or more second outer web or rib members. The web or rib members comprise flexible or resilient material where the first inner web members are less flexible or substantially more rigid than the second outer web members.

A method of making a tire includes forming a first sheet of material having a circular shape. The first sheet of material includes an upper ring and a lower ring. The first sheet of material further includes a plurality of spoke portions extending from the upper ring to the lower ring. A reinforcement is placed on the first of polymeric material, which includes placing the reinforcement on at least a portion of the upper ring. A second sheet of material having a circular shape is formed. The second sheet of material is placed on the first sheet of material such that the reinforcement is sandwiched between the first and second sheets of material. The method further includes placing additional sheets of material and additional reinforcements on the second sheet of material until a tire is built.