A support structure for a non-pneumatic tire and a tire incorporating such support structure. A support membrane extends continuously between a radially-inner end and a radially-outer end. Joints may be positioned at each end. An annular band may be connected with the radially-outer end. A wheel, hub, or other structure may be connected with the radially-inner end.

A tire and wheel assembly includes a non-pneumatic tire and a wheel. The non-pneumatic tire has a tread, a plurality of spokes, and an inner liner with a first side, a second side, and at least one taper extending between the first side and the second side. The wheel has an inboard side, an outboard side, and an outer surface with at least one complementary taper extending between the inboard side and the outboard side such that the non-pneumatic tire is serviceably mounted on the wheel. A locking ring can be included and the locking ring can be configured to abut against the inboard side or the outboard side of the wheel. Also, a wheel flange extending inwardly from the inner liner can be included and the wheel flange is configured to abut against the outboard side or the inboard side of the wheel.

A non-pneumatic tire includes a lower ring having a first diameter and an upper ring having a second diameter greater than the first diameter. The upper ring is substantially coaxial with the lower ring. The non-pneumatic tire further includes support structure extending between the lower ring and the upper ring and a tread layer formed of a rubber material. The non-pneumatic tire also has a sidewall formed of the rubber material and extending seamlessly from the tread layer on a first side of the non-pneumatic tire.

A structurally supported non-pneumatic tyre comprises a tread, an annular band, a plurality of spokes extending transversely and radially inside the annular band, and means for connecting the plurality of spokes to a wheel, characterized in that the spokes comprise a polymeric composition based on at least one polymeric matrix comprising 50 to 70% of one or more thermoplastic polymers, the glass transition temperature (Tg) of which is within a range extending from 120 to 250° C. and 30 to 50% of one or more thermoplastic elastomers, said thermoplastic elastomer(s) being compatible with said thermoplastic polymer(s), such that the elongation at break of the mixture of these polymers is greater than or equal to the elongation at break of the thermoplastic polymer(s) alone.

A non-pneumatic tire includes a lower ring having a first diameter and an upper ring having a second diameter greater than the first diameter. The upper ring is substantially coaxial with the lower ring. The non-pneumatic tire further includes support structure extending between the lower ring and the upper ring. The non-pneumatic tire also includes a flexible cover having an annulus shape that covers at least a portion of a first side of the support structure, wherein a lower portion of the flexible cover includes a circumferential projection that projects axially outward relative to a region above the circumferential projection.

A method of making a non-pneumatic tire includes providing an inner ring of elastomeric material and an outer ring of elastomeric material, and arranging the inner ring and the outer ring such that the inner ring is substantially coaxial with the outer ring. The method further includes providing a plurality of sheets of reinforced elastomeric material and forming the plurality of sheets into a plurality of U-shaped sheets. The method also includes arranging the plurality of U-shaped sheets between the inner ring and the outer ring, and curing the inner ring, the outer ring, and the plurality of U-shaped sheets.

A molded article with an axis of rotation about a central axis having an outer interface element, an inner interface element, and a plurality of web spokes positioned therebetween. The common surfaces of the inner and outer interface elements and a pair of adjacent web spokes form a void space. The radially inner surface of an interface element common to one of the voids has a maximum radius of curvature in the longitudinal direction at any given point less than the distance between that point and the axis of rotation.

A tire includes an inner hoop, an outer hoop, and a plurality of spokes extending from the inner hoop to the outer hoop. Each of the spokes includes a y-shaped base, including a radially extending stem, a first concave branch, and a second concave branch. The spokes further include a convex member extending from the first concave branch to the second concave branch.

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 section S of 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, A is the area of contact with the ground, and ΣFr/n is the mean force at break under tension of the n bearing elements made to buckle under compression. Two sidewalls (8) close space (5), forming a closed cavity that can be pressurized.

Various example embodiments of a non-pneumatic tire, and methods for making the same, are disclosed. In one embodiment, a non-pneumatic tire is provided, the non-pneumatic tire comprising: a tread; at least one support ring, wherein the at least one support ring and the tread are concentric; at least one base element oriented between the tread and the at least one support ring; and a hub.